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NEXA vs CAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Agricultural - Machinery
NEXA vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Materials | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $2.21B | $431.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.98B | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $133M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 19.7% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | 13.1% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 7.6x | 40.1x |
| Total Debt | $1.83B | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $516M | $9.98B |
NEXA vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexa Resources S.A. (NEXA) | 100 | 414.9 | +314.9% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 771.4 | +671.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NEXA vs CAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NEXA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.52, yield 1.5%
- Rev growth 8.2%, EPS growth 164.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.52, current ratio 0.87x
CAT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 12.2% 10Y total return vs NEXA's 10.1%
- 13.3% margin vs NEXA's 4.4%
- 10.0% ROA vs NEXA's 2.7%, ROIC 15.9% vs 12.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.2% revenue growth vs CAT's 4.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.6x vs 40.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 13.3% margin vs NEXA's 4.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.52 vs CAT's 1.54, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.5% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs CAT's 0.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +215.0% vs CAT's +190.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 10.0% ROA vs NEXA's 2.7%, ROIC 15.9% vs 12.6% |
NEXA vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
NEXA vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
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 — 23.7x NEXA's $3.0B. CAT is the more profitable business, keeping 13.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NEXA's 4.4%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.0B | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $728M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $133M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $45M | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +19.7% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.1% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.4% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.9% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +151.4% | +30.2% |
Valuation Metrics
NEXA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.7x trailing earnings, NEXA trades at a 66% valuation discount to CAT's 49.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NEXA's 4.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAT's 34.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.2B | $431.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.5B | $464.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.72x | 49.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.58x | 40.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.60x | 34.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.74x | 6.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.72x | 20.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 42.61x | 41.97x |
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 $11 for NEXA. NEXA carries lower financial leverage with a 1.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NEXA scores 6/9 vs CAT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.0% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.6% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.2% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.42x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $516M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.8B | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.20x | 9.22x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CAT leads this category, winning 4 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 $17,284 for NEXA. Over the past 12 months, NEXA leads with a +215.0% total return vs CAT's +190.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 63.8% vs NEXA's 41.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +90.2% | +55.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +215.0% | +190.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +183.7% | +339.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +72.8% | +301.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.1% | +1223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +41.6% | +63.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NEXA and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NEXA is the less volatile stock with a 1.52 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.52x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.84 | $930.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.44 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.3% | +99.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.3 | 73.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NEXA and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NEXA as "Hold" and CAT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -11.0% upside for CAT (target: $825) vs -33.6% for NEXA (target: $11). For income investors, NEXA offers the higher dividend yield at 1.55% vs CAT's 0.63%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.10 | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.26 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.2% |
CAT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NEXA leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
NEXA vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NEXA or CAT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Nexa Resources S.
A. (NEXA) is the stronger pick with 8. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA) offers the better valuation at 16. 7x trailing P/E (7. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) a "Buy" — based on 53 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 — NEXA or CAT?
On trailing P/E, Nexa Resources S.
A. (NEXA) is the cheapest at 16. 7x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 2x. On forward P/E, Nexa Resources S. A. is actually cheaper at 7. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NEXA or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +301. 9%, compared to +72. 8% for Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1223% versus NEXA's +10. 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 — NEXA or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nexa Resources S.
A. (NEXA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 52β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 1% more volatile than NEXA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 142% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NEXA or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nexa Resources S.
A. (NEXA) is pulling ahead at 8. 2% versus 4. 3% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nexa Resources S. A. grew EPS 164. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NEXA or CAT?
Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 4. 4% for Nexa Resources S. A. — 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 13. 7% for NEXA. 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 NEXA or CAT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nexa Resources S.
A. (NEXA) 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 CAT: -11. 0% to $824. 80.
08Which pays a better dividend — NEXA or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is NEXA 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). Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — 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%, NEXA: +10. 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 NEXA and CAT?
These companies operate in different sectors (NEXA (Basic Materials) and CAT (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: NEXA 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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