Analysis of Profitability Ratios
Profitability ratios measure the company ability to generate profitable sales from its resources (assets).
Profitability Ratios (Summary)
Caterpillar Inc., profitability ratios
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
| 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. gross profit margin ratio improved from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023. |
| Operating profit margin | A profitability ratio calculated as operating income divided by revenue. | Caterpillar Inc. operating profit margin ratio deteriorated from 2021 to 2022 but then improved from 2022 to 2023 exceeding 2021 level. |
| Net profit margin | An indicator of profitability, calculated as net income divided by revenue. | Caterpillar Inc. net profit margin ratio deteriorated from 2021 to 2022 but then improved from 2022 to 2023 exceeding 2021 level. |
| Profitability ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by shareholders’ equity. | Caterpillar Inc. ROE improved from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023. |
| ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by total assets. | Caterpillar Inc. ROA improved from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023. |
Gross Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., gross profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Gross margin | 21,102) | 15,224) | 12,675) | 9,940) | 14,125) | |
| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | 63,869) | 56,574) | 48,188) | 39,022) | 50,755) | |
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| Gross profit margin1 | 33.04% | 26.91% | 26.30% | 25.47% | 27.83% | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Gross Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | 9.93% | 5.26% | 4.84% | -9.78% | 5.83% | |
| Cummins Inc. | 24.22% | 23.93% | 23.71% | 24.70% | 25.37% | |
| General Electric Co. | 21.95% | 24.55% | 24.19% | 17.26% | 23.52% | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 37.28% | 36.99% | 35.85% | 32.07% | 33.70% | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 12.55% | 12.56% | 13.52% | 13.23% | 13.99% | |
| RTX Corp. | 17.54% | 20.38% | 19.40% | 15.08% | 25.93% | |
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 2023 Calculation
Gross profit margin = 100 × Gross margin ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × 21,102 ÷ 63,869 = 33.04%
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. gross profit margin ratio improved from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023. |
Operating Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., operating profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Operating profit | 12,966) | 7,904) | 6,878) | 4,553) | 8,290) | |
| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | 63,869) | 56,574) | 48,188) | 39,022) | 50,755) | |
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| Operating profit margin1 | 20.30% | 13.97% | 14.27% | 11.67% | 16.33% | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Operating Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | -0.99% | -5.33% | -4.66% | -21.95% | -2.58% | |
| Cummins Inc. | 5.17% | 10.43% | 11.27% | 11.45% | 11.45% | |
| General Electric Co. | 8.49% | 6.05% | 8.58% | 5.49% | 12.84% | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 19.32% | 18.12% | 18.03% | 17.45% | 18.66% | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 12.59% | 12.65% | 13.61% | 13.22% | 14.29% | |
| RTX Corp. | 5.17% | 8.07% | 7.70% | -3.34% | 11.64% | |
| Operating Profit Margin, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | 9.33% | 8.12% | 8.90% | 3.05% | 10.83% | |
| Operating Profit Margin, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | 9.58% | 9.22% | 9.67% | 4.46% | 9.61% | |
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 2023 Calculation
Operating profit margin = 100 × Operating profit ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × 12,966 ÷ 63,869 = 20.30%
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. operating profit margin ratio deteriorated from 2021 to 2022 but then improved from 2022 to 2023 exceeding 2021 level. |
Net Profit Margin
Caterpillar Inc., net profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Profit attributable to common stockholders | 10,335) | 6,705) | 6,489) | 2,998) | 6,093) | |
| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | 63,869) | 56,574) | 48,188) | 39,022) | 50,755) | |
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| Net profit margin1 | 16.18% | 11.85% | 13.47% | 7.68% | 12.00% | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Net Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | -2.86% | -7.41% | -6.75% | -20.42% | -0.83% | |
| Cummins Inc. | 2.16% | 7.66% | 8.87% | 9.03% | 9.59% | |
| General Electric Co. | 14.68% | 0.31% | -9.17% | 7.81% | -5.69% | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 15.43% | 14.00% | 16.11% | 14.64% | 16.73% | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 10.24% | 8.69% | 9.42% | 10.45% | 10.42% | |
| RTX Corp. | 4.64% | 7.75% | 6.00% | -6.22% | 7.19% | |
| Net Profit Margin, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | 8.25% | 5.09% | 3.67% | 1.95% | 5.01% | |
| Net Profit Margin, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | 8.09% | 5.17% | 6.38% | 1.50% | 3.89% | |
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 2023 Calculation
Net profit margin = 100 × Profit attributable to common stockholders ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × 10,335 ÷ 63,869 = 16.18%
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. net profit margin ratio deteriorated from 2021 to 2022 but then improved from 2022 to 2023 exceeding 2021 level. |
Return on Equity (ROE)
Caterpillar Inc., ROE calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Profit attributable to common stockholders | 10,335) | 6,705) | 6,489) | 2,998) | 6,093) | |
| Equity attributable to common shareholders | 19,494) | 15,869) | 16,484) | 15,331) | 14,588) | |
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| ROE1 | 53.02% | 42.25% | 39.37% | 19.56% | 41.77% | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| ROE, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Cummins Inc. | 8.31% | 23.97% | 25.15% | 22.19% | 30.11% | |
| General Electric Co. | 34.63% | 0.62% | -16.17% | 16.04% | -17.58% | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 35.68% | 29.74% | 29.85% | 27.23% | 33.22% | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 101.24% | 61.86% | 57.62% | 113.60% | 199.23% | |
| RTX Corp. | 5.34% | 7.16% | 5.29% | -4.88% | 13.25% | |
| ROE, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | 28.19% | 13.92% | 8.91% | 4.92% | 19.63% | |
| ROE, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | 27.86% | 15.98% | 17.17% | 4.29% | 14.53% | |
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 2023 Calculation
ROE = 100 × Profit attributable to common stockholders ÷ Equity attributable to common shareholders
= 100 × 10,335 ÷ 19,494 = 53.02%
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. ROE improved from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023. |
Return on Assets (ROA)
Caterpillar Inc., ROA calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Profit attributable to common stockholders | 10,335) | 6,705) | 6,489) | 2,998) | 6,093) | |
| Total assets | 87,476) | 81,943) | 82,793) | 78,324) | 78,453) | |
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||
| ROA1 | 11.81% | 8.18% | 7.84% | 3.83% | 7.77% | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| ROA, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | -1.62% | -3.60% | -3.03% | -7.80% | -0.48% | |
| Cummins Inc. | 2.30% | 7.10% | 8.99% | 7.91% | 11.45% | |
| General Electric Co. | 5.81% | 0.12% | -3.28% | 2.25% | -1.87% | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 9.20% | 7.97% | 8.60% | 7.40% | 10.47% | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 13.19% | 10.84% | 12.41% | 13.47% | 13.11% | |
| RTX Corp. | 1.97% | 3.27% | 2.39% | -2.17% | 3.96% | |
| ROA, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | 4.90% | 2.82% | 1.89% | 0.86% | 2.78% | |
| ROA, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | 5.53% | 3.44% | 3.87% | 0.78% | 2.43% | |
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 2023 Calculation
ROA = 100 × Profit attributable to common stockholders ÷ Total assets
= 100 × 10,335 ÷ 87,476 = 11.81%
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. ROA improved from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023. |