Latest dividend announcement
Caterpillar has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.51 per share, payable on May 19, 2026, to shareholders of record on April 20, 2026. The ex-dividend date is also April 20, 2026. The new payout is unchanged from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.51. That distinction matters. This is a maintained quarterly rate, not a new increase at this declaration.
Details of the dividend distribution
At the current quarterly run rate, Caterpillar’s annualized dividend stands at $6.04 per share. Based on the recent share price near $764.66, the stock offers a dividend yield of roughly 0.79%. The yield is modest by income-stock standards, but Caterpillar’s dividend profile has historically leaned more on growth and durability than on headline yield. For investors focused on total return, that mix remains relevant.
Relevant valuation metrics
Caterpillar closed 2025 with $67.6 billion in sales and revenues, $18.81 in diluted EPS, and $11.7 billion in enterprise operating cash flow. Using the annualized dividend of $6.04, the payout ratio is about 32% on reported EPS. That is conservative for an industrial company with cyclical end markets. It leaves room for reinvestment, buybacks, and future dividend growth. The stock currently trades at roughly 24.0 times earnings based on the latest market price and EPS data. That valuation is not cheap in absolute terms, so long-term investors should weigh dividend quality against a demanding multiple.
Dividend history and sustainability
Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since inception and has paid a quarterly dividend since 1933. The company has raised its annual dividend for 32 consecutive years, which keeps it in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. The recent payment history confirms the current pattern. The quarterly dividend moved from $1.30 to $1.41 in April 2024 and then to $1.51 in July 2025. Since then, the board has held the rate steady through the January 2026 and April 2026 declarations. That means the annual dividend still has room to rise later in 2026 without requiring an increase in every quarterly declaration. Sustainability also looks solid. In 2025, Caterpillar paid $2.7 billion in dividends while generating $11.7 billion in operating cash flow.
Outlook for long-term investors
The core dividend case rests on cash generation, backlog, and segment mix. Caterpillar entered 2026 with a record order backlog of about $51.2 billion and expects sales and revenues to grow near the top end of its long-term 5% to 7% CAGR target. Power & Energy remains the main growth engine, supported by data-center power demand, oil and gas activity, and service revenue. The main risk is margin pressure. In 2025, operating margin fell to 16.5% from 20.2%, largely due to higher manufacturing costs and tariffs. For dividend investors, that does not yet threaten the payout, but it does cap near-term valuation upside if margin recovery stalls.
A brief company profile
Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The company operates through Construction Industries, Resource Industries, Power & Energy, and the Cat Financial arm. Its scale, dealer network, installed base, and aftermarket revenue give it the traits dividend investors usually seek: cyclicality, yes, but also resilience, pricing power, and disciplined capital allocation.
last quarterly report*
Caterpillar Q4 & Full-Year 2025 – Key Takeaways
Top-line performance
- Q4 revenue: $19.1B, up 18% YoY
- Full-year revenue: $67.6B, up 4% YoY
- Growth driven primarily by higher equipment sales volume across all segments
Profitability
- Q4 EPS: $5.12 (down from $5.78 YoY)
- Adjusted Q4 EPS: $5.16 (slightly above prior year)
- Full-year EPS: $18.81 (down from $22.05 YoY)
- Margins declined:
- Q4 operating margin: 13.9% (vs. 18.0%)
- Full-year operating margin: 16.5% (vs. 20.2%)
- Margin pressure came mainly from higher manufacturing costs (tariffs) and restructuring expenses
Segment performance (Q4)
- Construction Industries: +15% revenue, but profit ‑12% (margin compression)
- Resource Industries: +13% revenue, profit ‑24% (significant cost pressure)
- Power & Energy: +23% revenue, profit +25% (strongest segment)
- Growth was broad-based, but profit quality deteriorated outside Power & Energy
Cash flow & capital allocation
- Operating cash flow (FY): $11.7B
- Year-end cash: $10.0B
- Shareholder returns:
- $2.7B dividends
- $5.2B share buybacks
- Total capital return: $7.9B
Balance sheet
- Total assets: $98.6B
- Total liabilities: $77.3B
- Debt remains significant, especially in the financial products segment
- Liquidity improved with higher cash position
Key interpretation (investor-relevant)
- Revenue strength indicates robust end-market demand and pricing power in certain segments
- Earnings decline despite higher sales signals cost inflation and margin compression, a critical risk factor
- Strong cash flow supports dividends and buybacks, reinforcing shareholder returns
- Segment divergence is notable: Power & Energy is currently the main profit driver
- Tariffs and cost pressures are the central headwind going forward
Bottom line
Caterpillar delivered record revenue and strong cash generation, but profitability weakened due to cost pressures. The investment case increasingly depends on margin recovery and sustained strength in Power & Energy.
*This is the latest quarterly report that the company has filed with the SEC.
Next Earnings Date: 4/29/2026 6:00 AM
Die Selektion dieser Aktie erfolgte zufällig aus einem breiten Spektrum an tagesaktuellen Börsenmitteilungen bezüglich angekündigter Dividendenzahlungen. Der vorliegende Beitrag zielt nicht auf eine qualitative Bewertung dieser dividendenstarken Aktie ab, sondern verfolgt einen rein deskriptiven Ansatz.
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