Economic Value Added (EVA)
EVA is registered trademark of Stern Stewart.
Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.
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Caterpillar Inc. pages available for free this week:
- Statement of Comprehensive Income
- Common-Size Balance Sheet: Assets
- Analysis of Profitability Ratios
- Analysis of Geographic Areas
- Enterprise Value to FCFF (EV/FCFF)
- Present Value of Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE)
- Net Profit Margin since 2005
- Total Asset Turnover since 2005
- Price to Sales (P/S) since 2005
- Analysis of Revenues
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Economic Profit
Caterpillar Inc., economic profit calculation
US$ in millions
| 12 months ended: | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1 | ||||||
| Cost of capital2 | ||||||
| Invested capital3 | ||||||
| Economic profit4 | ||||||
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).
1 NOPAT. See details »
2 Cost of capital. See details »
3 Invested capital. See details »
4 2024 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= – × =
The period under review demonstrates a significant shift in economic profit performance. Initially, the entity experienced economic losses, which transitioned to positive economic profit in later years. This evolution is driven by changes in net operating profit after taxes, cost of capital, and invested capital.
- Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
- NOPAT exhibited a substantial increase from US$3,373 million in 2020 to US$6,986 million in 2021. Growth continued, albeit at a slower pace, reaching US$7,348 million in 2022. Further acceleration occurred in 2023 and 2024, with NOPAT reaching US$10,002 million and US$10,452 million respectively. This indicates improving operational efficiency and profitability.
- Cost of Capital
- The cost of capital experienced moderate fluctuations. It decreased slightly from 14.46% in 2020 to 14.27% in 2021, then increased to 15.40% in 2022 and 15.92% in 2023. The cost of capital stabilized at 15.98% in 2024. These changes suggest adjustments in market conditions and the entity’s risk profile.
- Invested Capital
- Invested capital showed a modest increase from US$54,026 million in 2020 to US$55,552 million in 2021. A slight decrease was observed in 2022, with invested capital falling to US$54,801 million. It then increased again in 2023 to US$55,518 million, and continued to rise to US$57,519 million in 2024. This suggests ongoing investment in the business, with some year-to-year variability.
- Economic Profit
- Economic profit was negative in 2020 and 2021, at -US$4,437 million and -US$942 million respectively, indicating that the entity was not generating returns exceeding its cost of capital. The economic loss narrowed in 2022 to -US$1,091 million. A significant turning point occurred in 2023, with economic profit becoming positive at US$1,162 million. This positive trend continued into 2024, with economic profit increasing to US$1,259 million. The shift to positive economic profit demonstrates improved value creation for investors.
The combined effect of increasing NOPAT and relatively stable, though fluctuating, cost of capital, alongside moderate changes in invested capital, resulted in a substantial improvement in economic profit over the analyzed period. The entity transitioned from destroying value to creating value, as evidenced by the move from negative to positive economic profit.
Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)
Caterpillar Inc., NOPAT calculation
US$ in millions
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).
1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »
2 Addition of increase (decrease) in LIFO reserve. See details »
3 Addition of increase (decrease) in product warranty liability.
4 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to profit attributable to common stockholders.
5 2024 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =
6 2024 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense excluding Financial Products = Adjusted interest expense excluding Financial Products × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
7 Addition of after taxes interest expense to profit attributable to common stockholders.
8 2024 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
9 Elimination of after taxes investment income.
- Profit attributable to common stockholders
- The profit attributable to common stockholders shows a consistent upward trend over the five-year period. It increased from 2,998 million US dollars in 2020 to 6,489 million US dollars in 2021, almost doubling. This growth continued at a slower pace in 2022 to 6,705 million US dollars. In 2023, a significant rise is observed, reaching 10,335 million US dollars, followed by a marginal increase to 10,792 million US dollars in 2024. Overall, the data reflects steady profitability improvements with a notable surge in 2023.
- Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)
- The NOPAT figures mirror the upward trajectory seen in the profit attributable to common stockholders. Starting at 3,373 million US dollars in 2020, NOPAT increased markedly to 6,986 million US dollars in 2021 and continued to ascend moderately to 7,348 million US dollars in 2022. A pronounced jump occurred in 2023, rising to 10,002 million US dollars, and then a slight increase to 10,452 million US dollars in 2024. This progression suggests improved operational efficiency and profitability over the observed timeframe.
- Overall trends and insights
- Both profit attributable to common stockholders and NOPAT demonstrated strong growth across the five years, with substantial increases between 2020 and 2021, followed by steady growth and a significant jump in 2023. The similar patterns in both metrics indicate that the company’s profitability improvements are supported by enhanced operational performance and effective cost management. The slight moderation in growth from 2023 to 2024 may reflect market maturation or strategic investments. The data points to a company successfully expanding its profit base while maintaining operational efficiency.
Cash Operating Taxes
Caterpillar Inc., cash operating taxes calculation
US$ in millions
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).
The financial data reveals significant trends in the tax-related expenses over the years examined. Both provision for income taxes and cash operating taxes have experienced substantial increases, indicating a rising tax burden or improved profitability subject to taxation.
- Provision for income taxes
- The provision for income taxes increased steadily from 1,006 million US dollars at the end of 2020 to a peak of 2,781 million US dollars in 2023. However, there was a slight decrease to 2,629 million US dollars in 2024. This upward trend over four years suggests either higher taxable income or changes in tax rates or regulations, with a minor reduction in the final year, which may indicate a decrease in taxable income or effective tax rate adjustments.
- Cash operating taxes
- Cash operating taxes show a similar upward pattern, rising from 1,167 million US dollars in 2020 to 3,380 million US dollars in 2023, followed by a modest decline to 3,260 million US dollars in 2024. The increases over the years are consistent with the provision for income taxes trend, reflecting increased cash outflows related to taxation. The slight drop in 2024 echoes the provision for income taxes decrease, possibly indicating improved tax planning or changes in operational results affecting taxable cash flows.
Overall, the data portrays a progressive rise in tax-related expenses, peaking in 2023, with a marginal reduction in 2024. This pattern might suggest the company's operational growth and profitability have increased during the period, leading to higher tax liabilities, and a recent moderation in tax expenses that might warrant further analysis to understand the underlying causes.
Invested Capital
Caterpillar Inc., invested capital calculation (financing approach)
US$ in millions
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).
1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.
2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »
3 Addition of LIFO reserve. See details »
4 Addition of product warranty liability.
5 Addition of equity equivalents to equity attributable to common shareholders.
6 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.
7 Subtraction of construction-in-process.
8 Subtraction of investments in debt and equity securities.
The financial data over the five-year period exhibits some notable trends in the company's capital structure and balance sheet composition.
- Total reported debt & leases
- The total reported debt and leases have remained relatively stable, fluctuating slightly but showing an overall modest increase from US$37,783 million in 2020 to US$39,011 million in 2024. This indicates a consistent approach to leverage with no significant spikes or reductions in borrowings.
- Equity attributable to common shareholders
- Equity attributable to common shareholders increased from US$15,331 million in 2020 to US$19,491 million in 2024, displaying steady growth with a notable jump between 2022 and 2023 from US$15,869 million to US$19,494 million. This rise suggests an improvement in shareholder value, possibly due to retained earnings or capital contributions.
- Invested capital
- Invested capital shows a consistent upward trend, moving from US$54,026 million in 2020 to US$57,519 million in 2024. Although there was a slight dip in 2022, overall invested capital increased steadily, reflecting ongoing capital investments or asset expansions aligned with the company’s growth or operational needs.
Overall, the data reflects a stable debt position combined with growing equity and invested capital. This pattern may indicate a balanced financial strategy, maintaining leverage while enhancing the equity base and investment in assets over time.
Cost of Capital
Caterpillar Inc., cost of capital calculations
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and long-term debt3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Short-term borrowings and long-term debt. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and long-term debt3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Short-term borrowings and long-term debt. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and long-term debt3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Short-term borrowings and long-term debt. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and long-term debt3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Short-term borrowings and long-term debt. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings and long-term debt3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Short-term borrowings and long-term debt. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
Economic Spread Ratio
Caterpillar Inc., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Invested capital2 | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic spread ratio3 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | ||||||
| RTX Corp. | ||||||
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).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 Invested capital. See details »
3 2024 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =
4 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The economic spread ratio exhibited a clear improving trend over the five-year period. Initially negative, the ratio transitioned to positive values, indicating a strengthening of the company’s ability to generate returns exceeding its cost of capital. This improvement is closely linked to the fluctuations in economic profit and invested capital.
- Economic Spread Ratio
- In 2020, the economic spread ratio stood at -8.21%, representing a significant shortfall in returns relative to the cost of capital. A substantial improvement was observed in 2021, with the ratio increasing to -1.70%, suggesting a narrowing of the gap. This positive trend continued into 2022, although at a slower pace, reaching -1.99%. A marked shift occurred in 2023, as the ratio turned positive, reaching 2.09%, and further strengthened to 2.19% in 2024. This indicates the company is increasingly generating value for its investors.
The economic spread ratio’s movement mirrors the changes in economic profit. The negative economic profit values in 2020, 2021, and 2022 directly contributed to the negative economic spread ratios during those years. The positive economic profit reported in 2023 and 2024 drove the corresponding positive economic spread ratios. While invested capital remained relatively stable between 2020 and 2023, a noticeable increase occurred in 2024, which did not prevent the economic spread ratio from continuing to improve, suggesting increased efficiency in capital utilization.
- Invested Capital & Economic Profit Relationship
- The relationship between invested capital and economic profit is crucial. While invested capital increased from US$54,026 million in 2020 to US$57,519 million in 2024, the economic profit moved from a loss of US$4,437 million to a profit of US$1,259 million. This demonstrates that the company has become more effective at deploying its capital to generate positive returns. The economic spread ratio quantifies this improved efficiency.
Overall, the trend in the economic spread ratio suggests a positive development in the company’s financial performance. The transition from negative to positive values indicates a growing ability to create economic value, and the continued improvement in recent years suggests a strengthening competitive position.
Economic Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic profit margin2 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | ||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | ||||||
| GE Aerospace | ||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | ||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | ||||||
| RTX Corp. | ||||||
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).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 2024 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × ÷ =
3 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The economic profit exhibited a notable shift from negative values to positive values over the observed period. Initially negative, economic profit improved significantly, culminating in positive figures for the final two years of the period. This improvement is mirrored in the economic profit margin, which demonstrates a clear upward trajectory.
- Economic Profit
- Economic profit began at a substantial negative value of -4,437 million US dollars in 2020. It improved to -942 million US dollars in 2021 and -1,091 million US dollars in 2022, indicating a lessening of the initial loss. A turning point was reached in 2023, with economic profit becoming positive at 1,162 million US dollars. This positive trend continued into 2024, with economic profit increasing to 1,259 million US dollars.
- Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
- Sales demonstrated consistent growth from 2020 to 2023, increasing from 39,022 million US dollars to 63,869 million US dollars. However, sales experienced a slight decrease in 2024, falling to 61,363 million US dollars. Despite this final-year decline, overall sales remained significantly higher than in 2020.
- Economic Profit Margin
- The economic profit margin followed the trend of economic profit, transitioning from negative to positive values. It started at -11.37% in 2020, improved to -1.95% in 2021 and remained relatively stable at -1.93% in 2022. A substantial increase was observed in 2023, reaching 1.82%, and further improvement occurred in 2024, with the margin reaching 2.05%. The increasing margin suggests a growing ability to generate profit relative to sales.
The correlation between sales growth and the improvement in economic profit and margin is apparent. While a slight sales decrease occurred in 2024, the economic profit margin continued to rise, suggesting improved operational efficiency or cost management contributed to the continued profitability.