Empowered Funds LLC Has $10.59 Million Stock Holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Empowered Funds LLC reduced its holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 43.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 29,189 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 22,126 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $10,589,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Caterpillar by 89.6% in the fourth quarter. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC now owns 1,365 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $495,000 after acquiring an additional 645 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Wealth Strategies Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Pacific Wealth Strategies Group Inc. now owns 5,899 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $2,140,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Counterweight Ventures LLC boosted its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Counterweight Ventures LLC now owns 3,966 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,439,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Forbes J M & Co. LLP increased its position in shares of Caterpillar by 30.1% during the fourth quarter. Forbes J M & Co. LLP now owns 1,701 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $617,000 after buying an additional 394 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its holdings in Caterpillar by 6.2% in the fourth quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 22,432 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $8,137,000 after buying an additional 1,303 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Stock Performance

Shares of Caterpillar stock opened at $363.84 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $175.66 billion, a PE ratio of 16.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Caterpillar Inc. has a 52 week low of $307.05 and a 52 week high of $418.50. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $376.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $371.48.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 58.18% and a net margin of 16.65%. Equities analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 20.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Caterpillar Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st will be paid a $1.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 21st. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.55%. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CAT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Truist Financial decreased their price target on Caterpillar from $455.00 to $438.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com downgraded Caterpillar from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Caterpillar from $515.00 to $490.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $420.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $383.13.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 6,279 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction on Friday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $408.59, for a total transaction of $2,565,536.61. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 33,565 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,714,323.35. This trade represents a 15.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Gerald Johnson acquired 100 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 4th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $398.57 per share, with a total value of $39,857.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,176,977.21. This trade represents a 3.51 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Company Profile

Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.