SmarterDividends
CAT

Caterpillar Inc.

CAT32 yrs growth

Industrials · Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery · Stock · quarterly payer

$730.76

Overvalued · -48% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

0.89%

Annual Dividend

$6.52

Payout Ratio

26%

5-Yr Growth

7.2%

Ex-Date

Oct 19, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about CAT's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 19, 2026, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has a forward dividend yield of 0.89%, based on an annual dividend of $6.52 per share and a share price of $730.76.
  • As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (92 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has raised its dividend for 32 consecutive years as of Oct 19, 2026, which makes it a Dividend Aristocrat by the 25-year definition.
  • CAT last cut its regular dividend in 1992.
  • CAT's next ex-dividend date is Oct 19, 2026, with payment on Nov 19, 2026. Shares must be owned before that date to receive the dividend.
  • As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT pays out 26% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • CAT's dividend has grown at an average rate of 7.2% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT's 0.89% yield is 52% below its five-year average yield of 1.84%.
  • As of Oct 19, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for CAT is $377.48 per share, 48% below the $730.76 share price, so CAT screens as overvalued.
  • Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has raised its regular dividend 33 times and cut it 3 times across the 179 payments on record since 1982. Its most recent change was a 7.9% increase to $1.63 per share, going ex-dividend on Jul 20, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Jan 14, 1992.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "CAT Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 19, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/CAT

Summary

As of Oct 19, 2026, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) yields 0.89% ($6.52 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (92/100) and has 32 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is CAT a good dividend stock?

Yes

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.89% ($6.52/yr), with 32 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • Dividend Aristocrat — 32 consecutive years of growth
  • Comfortable payout ratio (26%)
  • Strong 7.2% 5-yr dividend growth
  • 278% total price return over 5 years
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 1992

Key Data

Dividend Yield
0.89%
Payout Ratio
26%
Annual Dividend
$6.52
5-Yr Avg Growth
7.2%
Ex-Dividend Date
Oct 19, 2026
Years of Growth
32
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
1.58
Market Cap
$335.9B
P/E Ratio
31.5
5-Yr Total Return
278%
52-Week Range
$510.21 – $1,073.46
Dividend Safety
A · 92/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (1992)

CAT dividend raises and cuts

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has raised its regular dividend 33 times and cut it 3 times across the 179 payments on record since 1982. Its most recent change was a 7.9% increase to $1.63 per share, going ex-dividend on Jul 20, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Jan 14, 1992.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Jul 20, 2026Raise$1.51 → $1.63+7.9%
Jul 21, 2025Raise$1.41 → $1.51+7.1%
Jul 22, 2024Raise$1.30 → $1.41+8.5%
Jul 19, 2023Raise$1.20 → $1.30+8.3%
Jul 19, 2022Raise$1.11 → $1.20+8.1%
Jul 19, 2021Raise$1.03 → $1.11+7.8%
Jul 19, 2019Raise$0.860 → $1.03+19.8%
Jul 19, 2018Raise$0.780 → $0.860+10.3%
Jul 18, 2017Raise$0.770 → $0.780+1.3%
Jul 16, 2015Raise$0.700 → $0.770+10.0%
Jul 17, 2014Raise$0.600 → $0.700+16.7%
Jul 18, 2013Raise$0.520 → $0.600+15.4%
Show all 36 changes since 1982
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Jul 18, 2012Raise$0.460 → $0.520+13.0%
Jul 18, 2011Raise$0.440 → $0.460+4.5%
Jul 16, 2010Raise$0.420 → $0.440+4.8%
Jul 17, 2008Raise$0.360 → $0.420+16.7%
Jul 18, 2007Raise$0.300 → $0.360+20.0%
Jul 18, 2006Raise$0.250 → $0.300+20.0%
Jul 20, 2005Raise$0.205 → $0.250+22.0%
Jul 16, 2004Raise$0.185 → $0.205+10.8%
Oct 16, 2003Raise$0.175 → $0.185+5.7%
Jul 18, 2001Raise$0.170 → $0.175+2.9%
Jul 18, 2000Raise$0.163 → $0.170+4.6%
Jul 16, 1999Raise$0.150 → $0.163+8.3%
Jul 16, 1998Raise$0.125 → $0.150+20.0%
Jul 17, 1997Raise$0.100 → $0.125+25.0%
Jul 18, 1996Raise$0.0875 → $0.100+14.3%
Jul 18, 1995Raise$0.0625 → $0.0875+40.0%
Jan 13, 1995Raise$0.0375 → $0.0625+66.7%
Jul 14, 1994Raise$0.0188 → $0.0375+100.0%
Jan 14, 1992Cut$0.0375 → $0.0188−50.0%
Jan 13, 1989Raise$0.0238 → $0.0375+57.9%
Jul 14, 1988Raise$0.0234 → $0.0238+1.6%
Jan 13, 1988Raise$0.0156 → $0.0234+49.6%
Oct 16, 1984Cut$0.0469 → $0.0156−66.7%
Oct 19, 1982Cut$0.0844 → $0.0469−44.4%
Every CAT payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
CAT ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Oct 19, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →CAT dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CAT a good dividend stock?

Yes. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.89% ($6.52/yr), with 32 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is CAT undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, CAT's fair value is about $377.48 versus a $730.76 share price — so it looks overvalued (-48% vs. fair value).

Is CAT's dividend safe?

CAT has a dividend-safety grade of A (92/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 32-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 1992, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is CAT's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for CAT is about $377.48 per share, about 48% below the current $730.76 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is CAT a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data CAT screens as "yes" and overvalued. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.89% ($6.52/yr), with 32 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will CAT cut its dividend?

CAT earns a dividend-safety grade of A (92/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 1992). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does CAT pay a dividend?

Yes. Caterpillar Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $6.52 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 0.89%.

What is CAT's dividend yield?

As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT's forward dividend yield is 0.89%, based on a $6.52 annual dividend and a $730.76 share price.

What is CAT's dividend per share?

As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT pays $6.52 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is CAT's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT's payout ratio is 26% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has CAT grown its dividend?

As of Oct 19, 2026, CAT has increased its dividend for 32 consecutive years.

When is the next CAT ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 19, 2026, the next ex-dividend date on record for CAT is Oct 19, 2026.

CAT Dividend News

CAT
IncreaseCAT·Aug 24, 2026

Caterpillar Raises Quarterly Dividend 8.0% to $1.63

Caterpillar lifted its quarterly dividend 8.0% to $1.63, extending a 32-year growth streak with a 26% earnings payout ratio and an A safety grade.

Income Calculator

At $6.52 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$163.00
Annual$652.00
Monthly avg$54.33

Similar Dividend Stocks

GEGEGE Aerospace0.60%IndustrialsCTATCTATFContemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited0.36%IndustrialsRTXRTXRTX Corporation1.51%33 yrCYATCYATYContemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited0.93%Industrials

Compare CAT

CAT vs GECAT vs CTATFCAT vs RTXCAT vs CYATY

Explore more

Lists and tools related to CAT