NC
NACCO Industries, Inc.
Coal
Market Cap$393M
5Y Perf.+100.5%
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Stock Comparison
NC vs CAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
Agricultural - Machinery
Market Cap$416.75B
5Y Perf.+645.6%
NC vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NC | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Coal | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $393M | $416.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $274M | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $22M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 15.6% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | -0.7% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 1.8x | 38.8x |
| Total Debt | $111M | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $50M | $9.98B |
NC vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NC
CAT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACCO Industries, I… (NC) | 100 | 200.5 | +100.5% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 745.6 | +645.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NC vs CAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Caterpillar Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
NC
NACCO Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
NC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 7 yrs, beta 0.95, yield 1.9%
- Rev growth 16.6%, EPS growth -48.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.95, Low D/E 25.9%, current ratio 3.09x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
CAT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 12.3% 10Y total return vs NC's 370.1%
- 13.3% margin vs NC's 7.8%
- +181.5% vs NC's +60.5%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NC | 16.6% revenue growth vs CAT's 4.3% |
| Value | NC | Lower P/E (1.8x vs 38.8x), PEG 0.80 vs 1.38 |
| Quality / Margins | CAT | 13.3% margin vs NC's 7.8% |
| Stability / Safety | NC | Beta 0.95 vs CAT's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NC | 1.9% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs CAT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CAT | +181.5% vs NC's +60.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CAT | 10.0% ROA vs NC's 3.3%, ROIC 15.9% vs -6.4% |
NC vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
NC vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCATLAGGINGNC
NCNACCO Industries, Inc.
1leads
CATCaterpillar Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CAT5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NC4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CAT5/9
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 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT is the larger business by revenue, generating $70.8B annually — 257.9x NC's $274M. CAT is the more profitable business, keeping 13.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NC's 7.8%. On growth, CAT holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NCNACCO Industries,… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $274M | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $23M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6M | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +15.6% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.7% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.3% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.3% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +74.6% | +30.2% |
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 22.4x trailing earnings, NC trades at a 53% valuation discount to CAT's 47.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CAT offers better value at 1.69x vs NC's 9.86x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | NCNACCO Industries,… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $393M | $416.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $454M | $450.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.42x | 47.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.81x | 38.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.86x | 1.69x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 33.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.42x | 6.17x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.92x | 19.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 40.56x |
NC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT leads this category, winning 5 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 $5 for NC. NC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NC scores 6/9 vs CAT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NCNACCO Industries,… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.0% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.4% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.9% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.26x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $62M | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $50M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $111M | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -8.34x | 9.22x |
CAT leads this category, winning 5 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 $38,251 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $23,099 for NC. Over the past 12 months, CAT leads with a +181.5% total return vs NC's +60.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 62.0% vs NC's 20.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NCNACCO Industries,… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +10.6% | +50.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +60.5% | +181.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +75.1% | +324.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +131.0% | +282.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +370.1% | +1227.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.5% | +62.0% |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NC and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NC is the less volatile stock with a 0.95 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 96.2% from its 52-week high vs NC's 88.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NCNACCO Industries,… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.95x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $59.42 | $931.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $32.80 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.7% | +96.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.0 | 76.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 12K | 2.4M |
Evenly matched — NC and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NC and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NC as "Buy" and CAT as "Buy". For income investors, NC offers the higher dividend yield at 1.86% vs CAT's 0.65%.
| Metric | NCNACCO Industries,… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 7 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.98 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — NC and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CAT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NC leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallCaterpillar Inc. (CAT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NC vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NC or CAT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, NACCO Industries, Inc.
(NC) is the stronger pick with 16. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) offers the better valuation at 22. 4x trailing P/E (1. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — NC or CAT?
On trailing P/E, NACCO Industries, Inc.
(NC) is the cheapest at 22. 4x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, NACCO Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 1. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NACCO Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 80x versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NC or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +282. 5%, compared to +131. 0% for NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1228% versus NC's +370. 1%. 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 — NC or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NACCO Industries, Inc.
(NC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 62% more volatile than NC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NC or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NACCO Industries, Inc.
(NC) is pulling ahead at 16. 6% versus 4. 3% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Caterpillar Inc. grew EPS -14. 6% year-over-year, compared to -48. 4% for NACCO Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NC leads at 4. 7% 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 — NC or CAT?
Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 6. 3% for NACCO Industries, 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 -14. 5% for NC. 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 NC 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, NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 80x versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) trades at 1. 8x forward P/E versus 38. 8x for Caterpillar Inc. — 37. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — NC or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 0. 7% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is NC 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. 7% yield, +1228% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAT: +1228%, NC: +370. 1%), 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 NC and CAT?
These companies operate in different sectors (NC (Energy) and CAT (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: NC is a small-cap high-growth 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>
%
(NC: -4.3% · CAT: 22.2%)Net Margin>
%
(NC: 7.8% · CAT: 13.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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