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Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
Analysis of Profitability Ratios
Difficulty: Beginner
Profitability ratios measure the company’s ability to generate profitable sales from its resources (assets).
Profitability Ratios (Summary)
Caterpillar Inc., profitability ratios
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-14), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-17).
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Gross profit margin | Gross profit margin indicates the percentage of revenue available to cover operating and other expenditures. | Caterpillar Inc.’s gross profit margin ratio improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Operating profit margin | A profitability ratio calculated as operating income divided by revenue. | Caterpillar Inc.’s operating profit margin ratio improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Net profit margin | An indicator of profitability, calculated as net income divided by revenue. | Caterpillar Inc.’s net profit margin ratio improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by shareholders’ equity. | Caterpillar Inc.’s ROE improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by total assets. | Caterpillar Inc.’s ROA improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Gross Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., gross profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Gross margin | |
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| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | |
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| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| Gross profit margin1 | |
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| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Gross Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Illinois Tool Works Inc. | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-14), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-17).
1 2018 Calculation
Gross profit margin = 100 × Gross margin ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × ÷ =
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Gross profit margin | Gross profit margin indicates the percentage of revenue available to cover operating and other expenditures. | Caterpillar Inc.’s gross profit margin ratio improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Operating Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., operating profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Operating profit | |
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| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | |
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| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| Operating profit margin1 | |
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| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Operating Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Illinois Tool Works Inc. | |
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| Operating Profit Margin, Sector | ||||||
| Industrial Engineering | |
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| Operating Profit Margin, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-14), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-17).
1 2018 Calculation
Operating profit margin = 100 × Operating profit ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × ÷ =
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Operating profit margin | A profitability ratio calculated as operating income divided by revenue. | Caterpillar Inc.’s operating profit margin ratio improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Net Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., net profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Profit (loss) attributable to common stockholders | |
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| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | |
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| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| Net profit margin1 | |
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| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Net Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Illinois Tool Works Inc. | |
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| Net Profit Margin, Sector | ||||||
| Industrial Engineering | |
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| Net Profit Margin, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-14), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-17).
1 2018 Calculation
Net profit margin = 100 × Profit (loss) attributable to common stockholders ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × ÷ =
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Net profit margin | An indicator of profitability, calculated as net income divided by revenue. | Caterpillar Inc.’s net profit margin ratio improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Return on Equity (ROE)
Caterpillar Inc., ROE calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Profit (loss) attributable to common stockholders | |
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| Equity attributable to common stockholders | |
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| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| ROE1 | |
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| Benchmarks | ||||||
| ROE, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Illinois Tool Works Inc. | |
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| ROE, Sector | ||||||
| Industrial Engineering | |
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| ROE, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-14), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-17).
1 2018 Calculation
ROE = 100 × Profit (loss) attributable to common stockholders ÷ Equity attributable to common stockholders
= 100 × ÷ =
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by shareholders’ equity. | Caterpillar Inc.’s ROE improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Return on Assets (ROA)
Caterpillar Inc., ROA calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Profit (loss) attributable to common stockholders | |
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| Total assets | |
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| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| ROA1 | |
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| Benchmarks | ||||||
| ROA, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Illinois Tool Works Inc. | |
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| ROA, Sector | ||||||
| Industrial Engineering | |
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| ROA, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-14), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-17).
1 2018 Calculation
ROA = 100 × Profit (loss) attributable to common stockholders ÷ Total assets
= 100 × ÷ =
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by total assets. | Caterpillar Inc.’s ROA improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |