We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Have you been paying attention to shares of Caterpillar (CAT - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 7.4% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $367.93 in the previous session. Caterpillar has gained 23% since the start of the year compared to the 11.8% move for the Zacks Industrial Products sector and the 22.5% return for the Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on February 5, 2024, Caterpillar reported EPS of $5.23 versus consensus estimate of $4.76 while it missed the consensus revenue estimate by 0.45%.
For the current fiscal year, Caterpillar is expected to post earnings of $21.25 per share on $67.55 billion in revenues. This represents a 0.24% change in EPS on a 0.74% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $22.74 per share on $70.24 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 7% and 3.98%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
Caterpillar may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Caterpillar has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 17.1X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 10.9X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 14.2X versus its peer group's average of 7.9X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.74. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks Rank
We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Caterpillar currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Caterpillar meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Caterpillar shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
How Does CAT Stack Up to the Competition?
Shares of CAT have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES - Free Report) . HEES has a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of C.
Earnings were strong last quarter. H&E Equipment Services, Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 22.50%, and for the current fiscal year, HEES is expected to post earnings of $5.02 per share on revenue of $1.59 billion.
Shares of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. have gained 7.1% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.54X and a P/CF of 4.02X.
The Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry is in the top 25% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for CAT and HEES, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?
Have you been paying attention to shares of Caterpillar (CAT - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 7.4% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $367.93 in the previous session. Caterpillar has gained 23% since the start of the year compared to the 11.8% move for the Zacks Industrial Products sector and the 22.5% return for the Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on February 5, 2024, Caterpillar reported EPS of $5.23 versus consensus estimate of $4.76 while it missed the consensus revenue estimate by 0.45%.
For the current fiscal year, Caterpillar is expected to post earnings of $21.25 per share on $67.55 billion in revenues. This represents a 0.24% change in EPS on a 0.74% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $22.74 per share on $70.24 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 7% and 3.98%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
Caterpillar may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Caterpillar has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 17.1X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 10.9X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 14.2X versus its peer group's average of 7.9X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.74. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks Rank
We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Caterpillar currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Caterpillar meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Caterpillar shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
How Does CAT Stack Up to the Competition?
Shares of CAT have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES - Free Report) . HEES has a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of C.
Earnings were strong last quarter. H&E Equipment Services, Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 22.50%, and for the current fiscal year, HEES is expected to post earnings of $5.02 per share on revenue of $1.59 billion.
Shares of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. have gained 7.1% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.54X and a P/CF of 4.02X.
The Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry is in the top 25% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for CAT and HEES, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.