RYI
Ryerson Holding Corporation
Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
Market Cap$746M
5Y Perf.+364.3%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
RYI vs CAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
Agricultural - Machinery
Market Cap$416.75B
5Y Perf.+518.4%
RYI vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | RYI | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $746M | $416.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.47B | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-23M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 18.0% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | 0.2% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 18.4x | 38.8x |
| Total Debt | $851M | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $28M | $9.98B |
RYI vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RYI
CAT
| Stock | May 20 | Mar 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryerson Holding Cor… (RYI) | 100 | 464.3 | +364.3% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 618.4 | +518.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RYI 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. Ryerson Holding Corporation 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.
RYI
Ryerson Holding Corporation
The Income Pick
RYI is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.45, yield 3.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.45, current ratio 2.08x
- Beta 1.45, yield 3.3%, current ratio 2.08x
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%
- 12.3% 10Y total return vs RYI's 169.5%
- 4.3% revenue growth vs RYI's -10.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CAT | 4.3% revenue growth vs RYI's -10.0% |
| Value | RYI | Lower P/E (18.4x vs 38.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | CAT | 13.3% margin vs RYI's -0.5% |
| Stability / Safety | RYI | Beta 1.45 vs CAT's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RYI | 3.3% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs CAT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CAT | +181.5% vs RYI's +15.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CAT | 10.0% ROA vs RYI's -0.9%, ROIC 15.9% vs 1.4% |
RYI vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
RYI vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCATLAGGINGRYI
RYIRyerson Holding Corpo…
1leads
CATCaterpillar Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs RYIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CAT6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RYI6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CAT6/9
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 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT is the larger business by revenue, generating $70.8B annually — 15.8x RYI's $4.5B. CAT is the more profitable business, keeping 13.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RYI's -0.5%. On growth, CAT holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | RYIRyerson Holding C… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.5B | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $91M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$23M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $12M | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.2% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.5% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.1% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -130.0% | +30.2% |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RYI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, RYI's 14.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAT's 33.4x.
| Metric | RYIRyerson Holding C… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $746M | $416.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.6B | $450.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -89.12x | 47.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.39x | 38.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.69x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.39x | 33.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.16x | 6.17x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.92x | 19.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.09x | 40.56x |
RYI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT leads this category, winning 6 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 $-3 for RYI. RYI carries lower financial leverage with a 1.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CAT scores 5/9 vs RYI's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | RYIRyerson Holding C… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.9% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.9% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.4% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.7% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.03x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $823M | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $28M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $851M | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.23x | 9.22x |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 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 $15,557 for RYI. Over the past 12 months, CAT leads with a +181.5% total return vs RYI's +15.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 62.0% vs RYI's -9.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RYIRyerson Holding C… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.3% | +50.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.7% | +181.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.3% | +324.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.6% | +282.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +169.5% | +1227.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -9.3% | +62.0% |
CAT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — RYI and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RYI is the less volatile stock with a 1.45 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 RYI's 75.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RYIRyerson Holding C… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.45x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.90 | $931.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.02 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.0% | +96.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 35.9 | 76.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 393K | 2.4M |
Evenly matched — RYI and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — RYI and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RYI as "Hold" and CAT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.8% upside for RYI (target: $31) vs -7.9% for CAT (target: $825). For income investors, RYI offers the higher dividend yield at 3.27% vs CAT's 0.65%.
| Metric | RYIRyerson Holding C… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.00 | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.76 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.8% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — RYI and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CAT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). RYI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallCaterpillar Inc. (CAT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
RYI vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RYI 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 -10. 0% for Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI). Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) offers the better valuation at 47. 6x trailing P/E (38. 8x 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 — RYI or CAT?
On forward P/E, Ryerson Holding Corporation is actually cheaper at 18.
4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RYI or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +282. 5%, compared to +55. 6% for Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1228% versus RYI's +169. 5%. 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 — RYI or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
45β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 6% more volatile than RYI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 103% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RYI or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -10. 0% for Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Caterpillar Inc. grew EPS -14. 6% year-over-year, compared to -106. 3% for Ryerson Holding Corporation. 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 — RYI or CAT?
Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus -0. 2% for Ryerson Holding Corporation — 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 0. 7% for RYI. 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 RYI or CAT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI) trades at 18.
4x forward P/E versus 38. 8x for Caterpillar Inc. — 20. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RYI: 33. 8% to $31. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — RYI or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 0. 7% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is RYI 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%, RYI: +169. 5%), 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 RYI 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: RYI is a small-cap income-oriented 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(RYI: 3.1% · CAT: 22.2%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.