Head-to-head · Stock vs Stock
Caterpillar vs Deere & Company
vs
CAT vs DE: the verdict
How CAT and DE compare today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
The verdict
CleaRank Financial AI favours
DE
CAT
DE
49/100
AI score
72/100
+2.4%
1-year change
+45.0%
59.2%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
24.9%
30.9
RSI (14-day)
60.6
22.9x
P/E ratio
37.1x
1.07%
Dividend yield
0.94%
The verdict
Deere & Company (DE) comes out ahead on CleaRank's model, scoring 72/100 (Buy) against 49/100 (Hold) for Caterpillar (CAT). The widest gap is the trend: for DE, the price is 12.67% above its 200-day average and 2.80% above its 50-day average, and the 50-day average is 9.64% above the 200-day. For CAT, the price is 27.66% below its 200-day average and 22.27% below its 50-day average, and the 50-day average is 6.44% below the 200-day.
Key difference
Momentum also favours DE: the 14-day RSI of 60.6 is in the bullish zone and the MACD line is positive. For CAT, the 14-day RSI of 30.9 is in the bearish zone and the MACD line is negative.
Outlook
CAT would need to regain its 50-day average at $756.32 and its 200-day at $808.39 to turn its downtrend. DE's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $668.23 and its 200-day at $609.48.
Price, side by side
Both prices start at 0% on the first day of the period you pick, so the moves compare directly.
Rebased price
-30%-20%-10%0%+10%+11%-27%
Nov '26
-30%-20%-10%0%+10%+11%-31%
Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-40%-20%0%+20%+17%-36%
Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
0%+20%+40%+60%+80%+45%+2.4%
Dec '25Feb '26Apr '26Jul '26Sep '26Nov '26
0%+50%+100%+150%+200%+78%+72%
Oct '24Mar '25Aug '25Jan '26Jun '26Nov '26
Over 1 year: CAT gained 2.4% and DE gained 45.0%, a gap of 42.5 points in DE's favour.
Valuation and profitability
What each costs relative to its earnings and sales, and how much of its revenue it keeps.
Side by side
Valuation
Lower multiples mean you pay less for each dollar of earnings or sales.
CAT
DE
$267.5B
Market cap
$185.4B
22.9x
P/E ratio
37.1x
3.4x
Price / sales
3.9x
12.4x
Price / book
6.7x
17.3x
EV / EBITDA
28.4x
Profitability
How much of each dollar of revenue becomes profit, and how hard the capital works.
CAT
DE
+24.0%
Revenue growth (quarter, y/y)
+4.5%
15.2%
Net margin
10.2%
56.1%
Return on equity
18.2%
9.1%
Return on assets
3.8%
2.10
Debt / equity
2.30
On valuation
DE trades on the higher trailing P/E, 37.33 against 23.50 for CAT. Against an Industrials median of 34.0, CAT's P/E is at a discount to peers and DE's is broadly in line with peers. On sales, DE is valued higher, at 3.89 times against 3.52. CAT is the larger company, worth $274.0B against $186.4B.
On profitability
CAT turns more of its sales into profit, with a net margin of 15.21% compared with 10.17% for DE. CAT's return on equity is also the higher of the two, at 56.14% against 18.24%. Year on year, latest-quarter revenue grew 23.98% at CAT and 4.53% at DE. On yield, CAT pays a trailing dividend yield of 1.05%, while DE's is 0.94%.
Earnings reality check
CAT
CAT beat the estimate in 6 of its last 8 reports (latest Oct '26); the shares fell in the first session after 2 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
Apr '25Oct '25Apr '26Oct '26
DE
DE beat the estimate in 5 of its last 6 reports (latest Aug '26); the shares fell in the first session after 2 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
May '25Nov '25Aug '26
Momentum and sentiment
The indicators behind each AI score, side by side.
Indicators side by side
CAT
DE
49/100
AI score
72/100
30.9
RSI (14-day)
60.6
-22.3%
Price against 50-day average
+2.8%
-27.7%
Price against 200-day average
+12.7%
Technicals
CAT is in a downtrend, trading 22.27% below its 50-day average and 27.66% below its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 30.9, in the bearish zone, with the MACD line negative. DE is in an uptrend, trading 2.80% above its 50-day average and 12.67% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 60.6, in the bullish zone, with the MACD line positive. DE sits higher in its 52-week range, at 89% against 12% for CAT.
Sentiment
Of the 29 analysts covering CAT, 17 rate it buy, 11 hold and 1 sell; their median target is $827.50, 38.2% above the price. Of the 25 analysts covering DE, 16 rate it buy, 9 hold and 0 sell; their median target is $728.00, 5.3% above the price.
Risk and practical tips
How much each moves, how much return each has paid for that risk, and what to watch if you hold either.
Risk measures
CAT
DE
59.2%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
24.9%
1.64
Beta against the S&P 500
0.90
0.74
Sharpe ratio
0.88
Risk
CAT typically moves more in a day, 3.30% against 1.89% for DE. Against the S&P 500, CAT has a beta of 1.64 and DE 0.90. Their worst falls in the price history were 47.8% for CAT (June 2026 to November 2026) and 37.9% for DE (November 2019 to March 2020). On these measures together, CAT is the riskier of the two.
ProTips
- For CAT, watch the 20-day EMA at $664.23 above the price and the 52-week low at $537.08 below it.
- For DE, watch the 52-week high at $721.22 above the price and the 50-day SMA at $668.23 below it.
CAT vs DE: long-term scenarios
Simulated paths from each price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Simulated growth of $10,000
$20K$40K$60K$80K$82.3K$80.4K$24.8K$24.1K
202620282030203220342035
CAT
DE
$7,069
Downside, 2035 (10th)
$7,626
$24,116
Base case, 2035 (median)
$24,759
$82,266
Upside, 2035 (90th)
$80,389
In the median simulated path, $10,000 in CAT grows to about $24,100 and $10,000 in DE grows to about $24,800 by 2035. The paths come from each asset's own volatility and capped historical trend; they are statistical outcomes, not forecasts. CAT and DE's upside columns reach an extreme multiple of the starting amount; treat them as a statistical tail, not a likely outcome.
CAT vs DE: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, CAT or DE?+
On CleaRank's model DE scores higher, 72/100 (Buy) against 49/100 (Hold) for CAT. This describes the data on this page and is not a personal recommendation.
Which has performed better over the past year, CAT or DE?+
Over the past year DE has done better. Its price rose 47.78%, while CAT's rose 6.35%.
Which is cheaper on earnings, CAT or DE?+
The lower trailing P/E belongs to CAT, at 23.50, against 37.33 for DE.
Which pays more income, CAT or DE?+
CAT offers the higher yield, at 1.05% against 0.94% for DE. Yield is the payout divided by the price, so it moves whenever either of those changes.
Which is riskier, CAT or DE?+
CAT is the riskier of the two on the measures we track. Average daily move: 3.30% for CAT, 1.89% for DE. Beta against the S&P 500: 1.64 for CAT, 0.90 for DE. Worst fall in the price history: 47.8% for CAT, 37.9% for DE.
Which has stronger momentum right now, CAT or DE?+
The MACD line is negative for CAT and positive for DE. Readings above 70 or below 30 mark stretched momentum.
Which is the bigger company, CAT or DE?+
CAT is the larger company by market value, at $274.0B compared with $186.4B for DE.
What do analysts say about CAT and DE?+
CAT has 17 buy ratings out of 29, and its median target is 38.2% above the price. DE has 16 buy ratings out of 25, and its median target is 5.3% above the price.
How would $10,000 have grown in CAT or DE?+
Invested in December 2016, $10,000 would be worth $76,901 today in CAT and $78,332 in DE.