CMCO
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
Agricultural - Machinery
Market Cap$465M
5Y Perf.-46.8%
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Stock Comparison
CMCO vs CAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
Agricultural - Machinery
Market Cap$431.16B
5Y Perf.+671.4%
CMCO vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CMCO | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Agricultural - Machinery | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $465M | $431.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.00B | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $6M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 33.6% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | 3.9% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 7.6x | 40.1x |
| Total Debt | $541M | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $54M | $9.98B |
CMCO vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CMCO
CAT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus McKinnon C… (CMCO) | 100 | 53.2 | -46.8% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 771.4 | +671.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CMCO vs CAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CAT leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Columbus McKinnon Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CMCO
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
The Defensive Pick
CMCO is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 2.32, Low D/E 61.3%, current ratio 1.81x
- Beta 2.32, yield 1.7%, current ratio 1.81x
- Lower P/E (7.6x vs 40.1x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
The Income Pick
CAT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 1.54, yield 0.6%
- Rev growth 4.3%, EPS growth -14.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.4%
- 12.2% 10Y total return vs CMCO's 21.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CAT | 4.3% revenue growth vs CMCO's -5.0% |
| Value | CMCO | Lower P/E (7.6x vs 40.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CAT | 13.3% margin vs CMCO's 0.6% |
| Stability / Safety | CAT | Beta 1.54 vs CMCO's 2.32 |
| Dividends | CMCO | 1.7% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs CAT's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CAT | +190.7% vs CMCO's +8.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CAT | 10.0% ROA vs CMCO's 0.3%, ROIC 15.9% vs 3.0% |
CMCO vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
CMCO vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCATLAGGINGCMCO
CMCOColumbus McKinnon Cor…
1leads
CATCaterpillar Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CMCOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CAT4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CMCO6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CAT6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CAT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CAT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT is the larger business by revenue, generating $70.8B annually — 70.6x CMCO's $1.0B. CAT is the more profitable business, keeping 13.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CMCO's 0.6%. On growth, CAT holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CMCOColumbus McKinnon… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $75M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $40M | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.6% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.9% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.6% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.5% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.0% | +30.2% |
CAT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CMCO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CMCO's 9.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAT's 34.5x.
| Metric | CMCOColumbus McKinnon… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $465M | $431.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $952M | $464.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -89.94x | 49.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.57x | 40.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.27x | 34.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.48x | 6.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.53x | 20.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.22x | 41.97x |
CMCO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT delivers a 47.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $48 in annual profit, vs $1 for CMCO. CMCO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.61x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CAT scores 5/9 vs CMCO's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CMCOColumbus McKinnon… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.7% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.3% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.0% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.6% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.61x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $487M | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $54M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $541M | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.70x | 9.22x |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
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 $3,413 for CMCO. Over the past 12 months, CAT leads with a +190.7% total return vs CMCO's +8.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 63.8% vs CMCO's -20.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CMCOColumbus McKinnon… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -5.1% | +55.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +8.3% | +190.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -50.6% | +339.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.9% | +301.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.0% | +1223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -20.9% | +63.8% |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CAT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CAT is the less volatile stock with a 1.54 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CMCO's 2.32 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 CMCO's 66.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CMCOColumbus McKinnon… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.32x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.40 | $930.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.39 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +66.4% | +99.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.4 | 73.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 375K | 2.4M |
CAT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CMCO and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CMCO as "Buy" and CAT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.5% upside for CMCO (target: $20) vs -11.0% for CAT (target: $825). For income investors, CMCO offers the higher dividend yield at 1.73% vs CAT's 0.63%.
| Metric | CMCOColumbus McKinnon… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $20.00 | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.7% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.28 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.1% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — CMCO and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CAT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). CMCO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallCaterpillar Inc. (CAT)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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CMCO vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CMCO 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 -5. 0% for Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO). Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) offers the better valuation at 49. 2x trailing P/E (40. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — CMCO or CAT?
On forward P/E, Columbus McKinnon Corporation is actually cheaper at 7.
6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CMCO or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +301. 9%, compared to -65. 9% for Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1223% versus CMCO's +21. 0%. 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 — CMCO or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 54β versus Columbus McKinnon Corporation's 2. 32β — meaning CMCO is approximately 51% more volatile than CAT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CMCO or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -5. 0% for Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Caterpillar Inc. grew EPS -14. 6% year-over-year, compared to -111. 2% for Columbus McKinnon Corporation. 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 — CMCO or CAT?
Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus -0. 5% for Columbus McKinnon Corporation — 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 5. 7% for CMCO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CMCO leads at 33. 8%, 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 CMCO or CAT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) trades at 7.
6x forward P/E versus 40. 1x for Caterpillar Inc. — 32. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CMCO: 23. 5% to $20. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CMCO or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is CMCO 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). Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) carries a higher beta of 2. 32 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAT: +1223%, CMCO: +21. 0%), 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 CMCO 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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