Stock Analysis on Net

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment

Microsoft Excel

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure

Caterpillar Inc., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Land 612 616 622 648 681
Buildings and land improvements 7,281 7,154 7,016 7,113 7,091
Machinery, equipment and other 12,523 12,150 12,282 12,868 13,004
Software 1,609 1,607 1,556 1,697 1,679
Equipment leased to others 5,701 5,837 5,568 5,733 6,077
Construction-in-process 1,751 1,259 1,020 812 739
Property, plant and equipment, at cost 29,477 28,623 28,064 28,871 29,271
Accumulated depreciation (16,116) (15,943) (16,036) (16,781) (16,870)
Property, plant and equipment, net 13,361 12,680 12,028 12,090 12,401

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

Item Description The company
Property, plant and equipment, at cost Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Caterpillar Inc. property, plant and equipment, at cost increased from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.
Property, plant and equipment, net Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Caterpillar Inc. property, plant and equipment, net increased from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.

Asset Age Ratios (Summary)

Caterpillar Inc., asset age ratios

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Average age ratio 55.83% 56.93% 58.44% 59.46% 59.01%
Estimated total useful life (years) 15 15 14 14 13
Estimated age, time elapsed since purchase (years) 8 8 8 8 8
Estimated remaining life (years) 6 6 6 6 6

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

Asset age ratio Description The company
Average age ratio As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. Caterpillar Inc. average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.
Estimated total useful life Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. Caterpillar Inc. estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.
Estimated time elapsed since purchase The approximate age in years of a company fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. Caterpillar Inc. estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.
Estimated remaining life Caterpillar Inc. estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.

Average Age

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Accumulated depreciation 16,116 15,943 16,036 16,781 16,870
Property, plant and equipment, at cost 29,477 28,623 28,064 28,871 29,271
Land 612 616 622 648 681
Asset Age Ratio
Average age1 55.83% 56.93% 58.44% 59.46% 59.01%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

2024 Calculations

1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation ÷ (Property, plant and equipment, at cost – Land)
= 100 × 16,116 ÷ (29,477612) = 55.83%

Asset age ratio Description The company
Average age As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. Caterpillar Inc. average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.

Estimated Total Useful Life

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Property, plant and equipment, at cost 29,477 28,623 28,064 28,871 29,271
Land 612 616 622 648 681
Consolidated depreciation expense 1,983 1,929 1,937 2,050 2,122
Asset Age Ratio (Years)
Estimated total useful life1 15 15 14 14 13

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

2024 Calculations

1 Estimated total useful life = (Property, plant and equipment, at cost – Land) ÷ Consolidated depreciation expense
= (29,477612) ÷ 1,983 = 15

Asset age ratio Description The company
Estimated total useful life Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. Caterpillar Inc. estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.

Estimated Age, Time Elapsed since Purchase

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Accumulated depreciation 16,116 15,943 16,036 16,781 16,870
Consolidated depreciation expense 1,983 1,929 1,937 2,050 2,122
Asset Age Ratio (Years)
Time elapsed since purchase1 8 8 8 8 8

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

2024 Calculations

1 Time elapsed since purchase = Accumulated depreciation ÷ Consolidated depreciation expense
= 16,116 ÷ 1,983 = 8

Asset age ratio Description The company
Estimated time elapsed since purchase The approximate age in years of a company fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. Caterpillar Inc. estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.

Estimated Remaining Life

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Property, plant and equipment, net 13,361 12,680 12,028 12,090 12,401
Land 612 616 622 648 681
Consolidated depreciation expense 1,983 1,929 1,937 2,050 2,122
Asset Age Ratio (Years)
Estimated remaining life1 6 6 6 6 6

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

2024 Calculations

1 Estimated remaining life = (Property, plant and equipment, net – Land) ÷ Consolidated depreciation expense
= (13,361612) ÷ 1,983 = 6

Asset age ratio Description The company
Estimated remaining life Caterpillar Inc. estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024.