Avantra Family Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 905 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $328,000.
Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of Caterpillar during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Albion Financial Group UT lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 334.8% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 100 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 42.9% during the 3rd quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC now owns 100 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 130.0% during the 4th quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 115 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company's stock.
Shares of NYSE:CAT opened at $371.88 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $179.54 billion, a PE ratio of 17.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.13. Caterpillar Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $299.93 and a fifty-two week high of $418.50. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $380.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $371.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33.
Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 59.09% and a net margin of 16.26%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 21.71 EPS for the current year.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.41 per share. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 21st. Caterpillar's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.15%.
Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $420.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $455.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $299.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $515.00 to $490.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $380.13.
View Our Latest Stock Report on CAT
In related news, insider Cheryl H. Johnson sold 2,664 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $378.84, for a total transaction of $1,009,229.76. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,951 shares in the company, valued at $4,906,356.84. The trade was a 17.06 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.09, for a total transaction of $3,800,900.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 45,182 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,173,226.38. This represents a 18.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 32,900 shares of company stock valued at $13,111,601. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
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.
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