Sapient Capital LLC Has $4.46 Million Stock Holdings in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Sapient Capital LLC boosted its stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,307 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. Sapient Capital LLC’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $4,464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Affirmative Financial Network bought a new stake in Caterpillar during the third quarter valued at $204,000. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Caterpillar by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $482,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel increased its holdings in Caterpillar by 24.3% in the third quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 2,677 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,047,000 after purchasing an additional 524 shares in the last quarter. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Caterpillar by 3.0% in the third quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 1,488 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $582,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Finally, Willis Investment Counsel boosted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 72,835 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $28,487,000 after buying an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Price Performance

Caterpillar stock opened at $363.11 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $175.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $376.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $371.73. Caterpillar Inc. has a 52 week low of $307.05 and a 52 week high of $418.50.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 58.18% and a net margin of 16.65%. On average, equities analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 20.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st will be given a $1.41 dividend. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 21st. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio is 25.56%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on CAT shares. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $420.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Caterpillar from $299.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Caterpillar from $455.00 to $438.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson upped their target price on Caterpillar from $350.00 to $357.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Caterpillar has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $383.13.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.09, for a total value of $3,800,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 45,182 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,173,226.38. The trade was a 18.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 6,279 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $408.59, for a total value of $2,565,536.61. Following the sale, the insider now owns 33,565 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,714,323.35. This represents a 15.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.