Caterpillar Inc.
CAT32 yrs growthIndustrials · Stock · quarterly payer
Forward Yield
0.74%
Annual Dividend
$6.52
Payout Ratio
30%
5-Yr Growth
7.2%
Ex-Date
Jul 20, 2026
Frequency
Quarterly
Summary
As of July 2026, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) yields 0.74% ($6.52 per share annually), with a blended fair-value estimate of $485.27 — -45% downside, so it screens as overvalued. Dividend safety grade: A (89/100). 32 years of dividend growth.
Is CAT a good dividend stock?
YesCaterpillar Inc. (CAT) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.74% ($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 (30%)
- Strong 7.2% 5-yr dividend growth
- 317% total price return over 5 years
- Top-tier dividend safety score
Risks
- Cut its dividend in 1992
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 0.74%
- Payout Ratio
- 30%
- Annual Dividend
- $6.52
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- 7.2%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Jul 20, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 32
- Frequency
- quarterly
- Beta
- 1.56
- Market Cap
- $405.4B
- P/E Ratio
- 43.9
- 5-Yr Total Return
- 317%
- 52-Week Range
- $405.46 – $1,073.46
- Dividend Safety
- A · 89/100
- Ever Cut?
- Yes (1992)
Frequently Asked Questions
CAT Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
+110%
3 Years
+213%
5 Years
+317%
52-Week Range
$405.46 – $1,073.46
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is CAT worth?
Overvaluedmedium confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for Caterpillar Inc. is $485.27 per share, versus a market price of $880.28. That implies 45% of downside.
Fair Value
$485.27
Current Price
$880.28
Downside
-45%
Margin of Safety
-81%
How we get there
Discounted cash flow
Discounts projected free cash flow back to today.
Earnings multiple (Graham)
Graham's earnings-multiple formula, anchored to bond yields.
At today's price, the market is pricing in about 40.0% annual free-cash-flow growth. We model 20.0% — so the price already assumes faster growth than we think is likely.
Assumptions: 12.0% discount rate (CAPM), 20.0% stage-1 growth, 2.5% terminal growth, $20.07 EPS, $6.52 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
CAT Dividend Safety Score
Very Safe
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2026 | — | $1.5100 | regular |
| Jan 20, 2026 | — | $1.5100 | regular |
| Oct 20, 2025 | — | $1.5100 | regular |
| Jul 21, 2025 | — | $1.5100 | regular |
| Apr 21, 2025 | — | $1.4100 | regular |
| Jan 21, 2025 | — | $1.4100 | regular |
| Oct 21, 2024 | — | $1.4100 | regular |
| Jul 22, 2024 | — | $1.4100 | regular |
| Apr 19, 2024 | — | $1.3000 | regular |
| Jan 19, 2024 | — | $1.3000 | regular |
| Oct 20, 2023 | — | $1.3000 | regular |
| Jul 19, 2023 | — | $1.3000 | regular |
| Apr 21, 2023 | — | $1.2000 | regular |
| Jan 19, 2023 | — | $1.2000 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $6.52 / yr per share
