Is CAT or ETN cheaper?

On trailing earnings, ETN is cheaper: CAT trades at a 45.30 P/E and ETN at 38.26.

Which has grown faster, CAT or ETN?

Over the past five years, CAT grew revenue faster — CAT at a 10.47% CAGR versus ETN at 9.94%.

Does CAT or ETN pay a bigger dividend?

CAT yields 0.66% and ETN yields 1.09% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CAT or ETN more profitable?

ETN runs the higher net margin — CAT at 13.31% versus ETN at 13.99%.

Which has been the better investment, CAT or ETN?

Over the past 10-year, CAT delivered the higher annualized total return — CAT at 31.11% versus ETN at 23.24%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) vs Eaton Corporation plc (ETN)

ETN leads on 11 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Caterpillar Inc. and Eaton Corporation plc across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Eaton Corporation plc

$151.98B

$391.39Industrials

Total return — CAT vs ETN

growth of $100 · last 30y

CAT +5472.6%ETN +2981.8%CAT compounded faster

CAT ETN

CAT vs ETN: by the numbers

•CAT is the larger company ($419.44B vs $151.98B market cap).
•ETN trades at the lower earnings multiple (38.26 vs 45.30 P/E).
•ETN converts more revenue to profit (13.99% vs 13.31% net margin).
•CAT grew revenue faster over the past five years (10.47% vs 9.94% CAGR).
•ETN pays the higher dividend yield (1.09% vs 0.66%).

Which is better, CAT or ETN?

Metric tally: CAT 6 · ETN 11

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueETN(lower P/E)

GrowthCAT(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeETN(higher dividend yield)

QualityETN(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CAT	ETN
P/E ratio	45.30	38.26●
Forward P/E	36.92	24.99●
P/S ratio	5.99	5.34●
P/B ratio	22.73	7.71●
PEG ratio	1.62●	3.04
EV / EBITDA	29.10	27.86●
FCF yield	2.70%	3.08%●

Profitability

Metric	CAT	ETN
Gross margin	32.52%	36.89%●
Operating margin	16.56%	18.13%●
Net margin	13.31%	13.99%●
ROE	50.48%●	20.19%
ROIC	11.42%	13.14%●

Dividends

Metric	CAT	ETN
Dividend yield	0.66%	1.09%●
Payout ratio	31.96%	40.80%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CAT	ETN
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	10.47%●	9.94%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	27.96%●	24.48%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	17.77%●	13.57%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	35.15%●	23.64%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CAT or ETN?: It depends on your goal. value: ETN (lower P/E); growth: CAT (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: ETN (higher dividend yield); quality: ETN (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ETN leads 11 to 6.
Is CAT or ETN cheaper?: On trailing earnings, ETN is cheaper: CAT trades at a 45.30 P/E and ETN at 38.26.
Which has grown faster, CAT or ETN?: Over the past five years, CAT grew revenue faster — CAT at a 10.47% CAGR versus ETN at 9.94%.
Does CAT or ETN pay a bigger dividend?: CAT yields 0.66% and ETN yields 1.09% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CAT or ETN more profitable?: ETN runs the higher net margin — CAT at 13.31% versus ETN at 13.99%.
Which has been the better investment, CAT or ETN?: Over the past 10-year, CAT delivered the higher annualized total return — CAT at 31.11% versus ETN at 23.24%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CAT analysis Full ETN analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Caterpillar P/E ratio Eaton P/E ratio Caterpillar dividend yield Eaton dividend yield Caterpillar ROE Eaton ROE Caterpillar operating margin Eaton operating margin Caterpillar revenue growth Eaton revenue growth Caterpillar free cash flow Eaton free cash flow

Caterpillar & Eaton appear in these rankings

Highest ROE Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks Largest Companies by Market Cap

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 15, 2026.