MDU
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
Conglomerates
Market Cap$4.82B
5Y Perf.+169.8%
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Stock Comparison
MDU 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%
MDU vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | MDU | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Conglomerates | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $4.82B | $431.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.88B | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $169M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 31.8% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | 14.8% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 22.8x | 40.1x |
| Total Debt | $2.29B | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $50M | $9.98B |
MDU vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
MDU
CAT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDU Resources Group… (MDU) | 100 | 269.8 | +169.8% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 771.4 | +671.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MDU vs CAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CAT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. MDU Resources Group, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
MDU
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
The Income Pick
MDU is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.38, yield 2.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.38, Low D/E 85.2%, current ratio 0.98x
- Beta 0.38, yield 2.3%, current ratio 0.98x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
The Growth Play
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 MDU's 224.6%
- 4.3% revenue growth vs MDU's -2.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CAT | 4.3% revenue growth vs MDU's -2.5% |
| Value | MDU | Lower P/E (22.8x vs 40.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CAT | 13.3% margin vs MDU's 9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | MDU | Beta 0.38 vs CAT's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MDU | 2.3% yield, vs CAT's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CAT | +190.7% vs MDU's +30.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CAT | 10.0% ROA vs MDU's 2.4%, ROIC 15.9% vs 3.9% |
MDU vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
MDU vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCATLAGGINGMDU
MDUMDU Resources Group, …
1leads
CATCaterpillar Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MDUMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CAT6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MDU5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CAT5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CAT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
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 — 37.7x MDU's $1.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.3% (CAT) to 9.0% (MDU). On growth, CAT holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MDUMDU Resources Gro… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $484M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $169M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$22M | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.8% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.8% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -71.9% | +30.2% |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MDU leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.3x trailing earnings, MDU trades at a 67% valuation discount to CAT's 49.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MDU's 15.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAT's 34.5x.
| Metric | MDUMDU Resources Gro… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.8B | $431.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.1B | $464.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.28x | 49.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.76x | 40.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.16x | 34.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.74x | 6.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.70x | 20.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 41.97x |
MDU leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
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 $6 for MDU. MDU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.85x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x.
| Metric | MDUMDU Resources Gro… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.2% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.4% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.9% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.1% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.85x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.2B | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $50M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.3B | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.03x | 9.22x |
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 8 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 $18,772 for MDU. Over the past 12 months, CAT leads with a +190.7% total return vs MDU's +30.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 63.8% vs MDU's 29.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MDUMDU Resources Gro… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.0% | +55.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.3% | +190.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +114.9% | +339.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +87.7% | +301.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +224.6% | +1223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.0% | +63.8% |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MDU and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MDU is the less volatile stock with a 0.38 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.
| Metric | MDUMDU Resources Gro… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.38x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $22.83 | $930.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.76 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.7% | +99.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.8 | 73.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 2.4M |
Evenly matched — MDU and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — MDU and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MDU as "Buy" and CAT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -5.9% upside for MDU (target: $21) vs -11.0% for CAT (target: $825). For income investors, MDU offers the higher dividend yield at 2.25% vs CAT's 0.63%.
| Metric | MDUMDU Resources Gro… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $21.00 | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.3% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.50 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — MDU and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CAT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). MDU leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallCaterpillar Inc. (CAT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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MDU vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MDU 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 -2. 5% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU). MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the better valuation at 16. 3x trailing P/E (22. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — MDU or CAT?
On trailing P/E, MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(MDU) is the cheapest at 16. 3x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 2x. On forward P/E, MDU Resources Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MDU or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +301. 9%, compared to +87. 7% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1223% versus MDU's +224. 6%. 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 — MDU or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(MDU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 302% more volatile than MDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 85% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MDU or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -2. 5% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Caterpillar Inc. grew EPS -14. 6% year-over-year, compared to -32. 5% for MDU Resources Group, 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 — MDU or CAT?
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(MDU) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 0% net margin versus 13. 1% for Caterpillar Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAT leads at 16. 6% versus 15. 1% for MDU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MDU leads at 32. 5%, 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 MDU or CAT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(MDU) trades at 22. 8x forward P/E versus 40. 1x for Caterpillar Inc. — 17. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MDU: -5. 9% to $21. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — MDU or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is MDU or CAT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(MDU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), 2. 3% yield, +224. 6% 10Y return). Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDU: +224. 6%, CAT: +1223%), 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 MDU 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.
In terms of investment character: MDU 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(MDU: 8.8% · CAT: 22.2%)Net Margin>
%
(MDU: 9.0% · CAT: 13.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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