Agricultural - Machinery
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ALG vs CAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Agricultural - Machinery
ALG vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Agricultural - Machinery | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $2.08B | $431.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.63B | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $101M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 24.5% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | 9.2% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 16.5x | 40.1x |
| Total Debt | $220M | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $310M | $9.98B |
ALG vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) | 100 | 165.4 | +65.4% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 771.4 | +671.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ALG vs CAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ALG is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 13 yrs, beta 0.99, yield 0.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.99, Low D/E 19.2%, current ratio 4.57x
- PEG 1.38 vs CAT's 1.43
CAT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 4.3%, EPS growth -14.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.4%
- 12.2% 10Y total return vs ALG's 219.5%
- 4.3% revenue growth vs ALG's -1.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 4.3% revenue growth vs ALG's -1.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.5x vs 40.1x), PEG 1.38 vs 1.43 | |
| Quality / Margins | 13.3% margin vs ALG's 6.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.99 vs CAT's 1.54, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.7% yield, 13-year raise streak, vs CAT's 0.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +190.7% vs ALG's -0.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 10.0% ROA vs ALG's 6.2%, ROIC 15.9% vs 10.8% |
ALG vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ALG vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT is the larger business by revenue, generating $70.8B annually — 43.4x ALG's $1.6B. CAT is the more profitable business, keeping 13.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALG's 6.2%. On growth, CAT holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $218M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $101M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $111M | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.5% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.2% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.7% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.7% | +30.2% |
Valuation Metrics
ALG leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 19.9x trailing earnings, ALG trades at a 60% valuation discount to CAT's 49.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ALG offers better value at 1.66x vs CAT's 1.75x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.1B | $431.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.0B | $464.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.89x | 49.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.54x | 40.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.66x | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.19x | 34.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.30x | 6.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.80x | 20.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.15x | 41.97x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT delivers a 47.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $48 in annual profit, vs $9 for ALG. ALG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.19x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.2% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.8% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.5% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$89M | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $310M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $220M | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.38x | 9.22x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CAT five years ago would be worth $40,189 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,787 for ALG. Over the past 12 months, CAT leads with a +190.7% total return vs ALG's -0.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 63.8% vs ALG's -1.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.6% | +55.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.2% | +190.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -4.2% | +339.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.9% | +301.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +219.5% | +1223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.4% | +63.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ALG and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ALG is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CAT's 1.54 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CAT currently trades 99.6% from its 52-week high vs ALG's 73.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $233.29 | $930.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $156.29 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.2% | +99.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.0 | 73.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 171K | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
ALG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALG as "Buy" and CAT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.2% upside for ALG (target: $190) vs -11.0% for CAT (target: $825). For income investors, ALG offers the higher dividend yield at 0.70% vs CAT's 0.63%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $190.00 | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 13 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.19 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +1.2% |
CAT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ALG leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
ALG vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALG or CAT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for Alamo Group Inc. (ALG). Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) offers the better valuation at 19. 9x trailing P/E (16. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) a "Buy" — based on 10 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ALG or CAT?
On trailing P/E, Alamo Group Inc.
(ALG) is the cheapest at 19. 9x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 2x. On forward P/E, Alamo Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Alamo Group Inc. wins at 1. 38x versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 43x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALG or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +301. 9%, compared to +7. 9% for Alamo Group Inc. (ALG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1223% versus ALG's +219. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ALG or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alamo Group Inc.
(ALG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 56% more volatile than ALG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ALG or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -1. 5% for Alamo Group Inc. (ALG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alamo Group Inc. grew EPS -10. 8% year-over-year, compared to -14. 6% for Caterpillar Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAT leads at 4. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ALG or CAT?
Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 6. 5% for Alamo Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAT leads at 16. 6% versus 9. 5% for ALG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CAT leads at 32. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ALG or CAT more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 38x versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 43x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) trades at 16. 5x forward P/E versus 40. 1x for Caterpillar Inc. — 23. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALG: 11. 2% to $190. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ALG or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Alamo Group Inc. (ALG) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is ALG or CAT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 6% yield, +1223% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAT: +1223%, ALG: +219. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ALG and CAT?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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