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STOCK COMPARISON

Caterpillar vs Eaton Corporation: Fair Value & Quality

Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Caterpillar (CAT) and Eaton Corporation (ETN) compare, as of Oct 22, 2026.

As of Oct 22, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Eaton Corporation as the less overvalued of the two: Caterpillar trades at $725 versus a fair value of $308 (−57.5%), while Eaton Corporation trades at $382 versus $174 (−54.3%).
Caterpillar
CAT · USD · Industrials
−57.5%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$725
Fair Value$308
Quality65/100
Eaton Corporation
ETN · USD · Industrials
−54.3%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$382
Fair Value$174
Quality70/100
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Head-to-head numbers

Green is the better side of a row, red the weaker one (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper). Grey rows are for reference only and are not scored.

betterweakerfor reference, not scored

CaterpillarEaton Corporation
Valuation
31.4×P/E (TTM)38.8×
22.3×Forward P/E (FY2027)23.5×
17.5×Median P/E at FY-end (ex one-offs where documented)27.6×
4.49×P/S (TTM)4.96×
15.73×P/B7.66× · book value is mostly goodwill
21.9×EV/EBITDA23.6×
1.42×PEG2.67×
−57.5%Fair value upside−54.3%
0.8%Dividend yield1.1%
$6.16Dividend per share$4.28
Profitability
22.2%Operating margin16.6%
1.52×EBIT margin trend (5Y)1.47×
57.0%Return on equity19.7%
9.0%Return on assets9.9%
Growth
24.0%Revenue growth (YoY)21.4%
4.4%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)9.8%
10.1%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)9.0%
+12.8%Value creation/yr+19.1%
Balance & size
10.9×Interest coverage (EBIT/interest)19.8×
1.44×Debt / equity0.45×
$335BMarket cap$149B
healthyGrowth qualityhealthy
Caterpillar, median P/E at fiscal year-end, 9 fiscal years (2017 to 2025), reported earnings, FY2025 ex one-offs: 17.5. Eaton Corporation, median P/E at fiscal year-end, 10 fiscal years (2016 to 2025), reported earnings, 9 of the years ex one-offs: 27.6.
Forward P/E: price divided by the analyst consensus for the first fiscal year that has not started yet. The current year carries special items from quarters already reported.

Even match: 7 to 7 metric wins.

n/a = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.

Quality in detail

The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.

Caterpillar Eaton Corporation
ProfitabilityHow much profit the company makes from its sales and capital
61
59
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns getting better?
22
49
CashflowDo the profits arrive as real cash?
68
61
Financial strengthDebt, balance sheet and risk of trouble
51
69
InvestmentDoes it invest with discipline instead of growing at any price?
72
81
Low VolatilityHow calm the share price moves, does not count
31
48
MomentumPrice trend of the last 3 to 12 months, does not count
47
41
Near the 52-week highDistance to the 52-week high, does not count
58
42
New sharesBuys back shares or issues new ones?
97
87

What the models say

How far the median fair value (base case) per model family sits from the current price, in percent. The amount in the currency of the trading venue is shown underneath.

above the price, more than 15% above close to the price, 85% to 115% of the price below the price, more than 15% below

Model familyCaterpillarPrice $725Eaton CorporationPrice $382
DCF Models−54.7%below the price$328−55.2%below the price$171
Earnings-Based−81.4%below the price$135−79.4%below the price$78.54
Dividend Discount−87.7%below the price$88.93−82.9%below the price$65.14
Multiples−58.5%below the price$301−52.5%below the price$182
Asset-Based−96.8%below the price$22.97n/a
Growth DCF−59.8%below the price$291−61.6%below the price$147
Economic Profit−80.0%below the price$145−75.1%below the price$95.21
Growth Earnings−50.2%below the price$361−50.3%below the price$190
Minimum−96.8%below the price$22.97−82.9%below the price$65.14
Maximum−50.2%below the price$361−50.3%below the price$190
Median−69.9%below the price$218−61.6%below the price$147
Geometric mean−78.0%below the price$159−67.8%below the price$123

Minimum, maximum, median and geometric mean refer to the family values in this table. Geometric because deviations are ratios: half the price and twice the price average to 100%, not 125%.

Caterpillar: 26 of 26 models see the stock below the current price.

Eaton Corporation: 24 of 24 models see the stock below the current price.

Scenario ranges

From our cautious bear scenario to the optimistic bull scenario. The white tick is the current price (value above it), the green tick the fair value (value below it): if the price sits left of the fair value, there is room to rise.

Caterpillar
Price $725
Fair Value $308
Bear $203Bull $404
Eaton Corporation
Price $382
Fair Value $174
Bear $109Bull $234

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Ranked within their sector

Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.

Caterpillar · Industrials

Quality score65 · Top 25%
Fair value upside−57.5% · bottom 25%

Eaton Corporation · Industrials

Quality score70 · Top 25%
Fair value upside−54.3% · bottom 25%

Bottom line

As of Oct 22, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Eaton Corporation as the less overvalued of the two: Caterpillar trades at $725 versus a fair value of $308 (−57.5%), while Eaton Corporation trades at $382 versus $174 (−54.3%).

Eaton Corporation has the higher quality score (70/100).

Open Eaton Corporation live analysis →

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A model-based valuation snapshot from 26 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.