MATX vs CAT

For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 3% for Matson, Inc. (MATX). Matson, Inc. (MATX) offers the better valuation at 13. 2x trailing P/E (13. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Matson, Inc. (MATX) 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.

On trailing P/E, Matson, Inc.

(MATX) is the cheapest at 13. 2x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 2x. On forward P/E, Matson, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Matson, Inc. wins at 0. 53x versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 43x — 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 +301. 9%, compared to +186. 0% for Matson, Inc. (MATX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1223% versus MATX's +493. 0%. 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), Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 54β versus Matson, Inc. 's 1. 76β — meaning MATX is approximately 14% more volatile than CAT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Matson, Inc. (MATX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -2. 3% for Matson, Inc. (MATX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Matson, Inc. grew EPS -0. 4% 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.

Matson, Inc.

(MATX) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 3% net margin versus 13. 1% for Caterpillar Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAT leads at 16. 6% versus 14. 0% for MATX. 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, Matson, Inc. (MATX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 53x versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 43x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Matson, Inc. (MATX) trades at 13. 7x forward P/E versus 40. 1x for Caterpillar Inc. — 26. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MATX: 3. 4% to $190. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Matson, Inc. (MATX) offers the highest yield at 0. 8%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).

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). Matson, Inc. (MATX) carries a higher beta of 1. 76 — 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%, MATX: +493. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: MATX is a small-cap deep-value stock; CAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock. 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.