CMT vs CMI vs PCAR vs UFPT vs CAT

For growth investors, UFP Technologies, Inc.

(UFPT) is the stronger pick with 19. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 5% for PACCAR Inc (PCAR). Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (CMT) offers the better valuation at 19. 1x trailing P/E (23. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (CMT) a "Buy" — based on 2 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.

On trailing P/E, Core Molding Technologies, Inc.

(CMT) is the cheapest at 19. 1x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 48. 4x. On forward P/E, PACCAR Inc is actually cheaper at 20. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: UFP Technologies, Inc. wins at 0. 66x versus Core Molding Technologies, Inc. 's 4. 08x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) delivered a total return of +327. 7%, compared to +82. 5% for Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (CMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1169% versus CMT's +88. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Core Molding Technologies, Inc.

(CMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 49β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 67β — meaning CAT is approximately 242% more volatile than CMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (CMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UFP Technologies, Inc.

(UFPT) is pulling ahead at 19. 5% versus -15. 5% for PACCAR Inc (PCAR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UFP Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 15. 7% year-over-year, compared to -42. 9% for PACCAR Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, UFPT leads at 19. 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.

Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 4. 1% for Core Molding Technologies, 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 5. 2% for CMT. 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.

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, UFP Technologies, Inc. (UFPT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 66x versus Core Molding Technologies, Inc. 's 4. 08x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, PACCAR Inc (PCAR) trades at 20. 9x forward P/E versus 36. 9x for Caterpillar Inc. — 16. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UFPT: 26. 8% to $298. 00.

In this comparison, PCAR (3.

6% yield), CMI (1. 2% yield), CAT (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. CMT, UFPT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, PACCAR Inc (PCAR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

00), 3. 6% yield, +293. 1% 10Y return). Cummins Inc. (CMI) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PCAR: +293. 1%, CMI: +530. 6%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CMT (Basic Materials) and CMI (Industrials) and PCAR (Industrials) and UFPT (Healthcare) and CAT (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CMT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CMI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PCAR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; UFPT is a small-cap high-growth stock; CAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock. CMI, PCAR, CAT pay a dividend while CMT, UFPT do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.