Is CAT or GE cheaper?

On trailing earnings, GE is cheaper: CAT trades at a 45.30 P/E and GE at 41.40.

Which has grown faster, CAT or GE?

Over the past five years, CAT grew revenue faster — CAT at a 10.47% CAGR versus GE at -8.24%.

Does CAT or GE pay a bigger dividend?

CAT yields 0.66% and GE yields 0.46% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CAT or GE more profitable?

GE runs the higher net margin — CAT at 13.31% versus GE at 17.91%.

Which has been the better investment, CAT or GE?

Over the past 10-year, CAT delivered the higher annualized total return — CAT at 31.11% versus GE at 10.12%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) vs GE Aerospace (GE)

CAT leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics, though GE is the cheaper stock.

A side-by-side comparison of Caterpillar Inc. and GE Aerospace across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Total return — CAT vs GE

growth of $100 · last 30y

CAT +5534.7%GE +390.3%CAT compounded faster

Log scale — wide-divergence pair

CAT GE

CAT vs GE: by the numbers

•CAT is the larger company ($419.44B vs $350.33B market cap).
•GE trades at the lower earnings multiple (41.40 vs 45.30 P/E).
•GE converts more revenue to profit (17.91% vs 13.31% net margin).
•CAT grew revenue faster over the past five years (10.47% vs -8.24% CAGR).
•CAT pays the higher dividend yield (0.66% vs 0.46%).

Which is better, CAT or GE?

Metric tally: CAT 9 · GE 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueGE(lower P/E)

GrowthCAT(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeCAT(higher dividend yield)

QualityCAT(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	CAT	GE
P/E ratio	45.30	41.40●
Forward P/E	36.92●	38.97
P/S ratio	5.99●	7.28
P/B ratio	22.73	19.48●
PEG ratio	1.62	1.08●
EV / EBITDA	29.10●	30.76
FCF yield	2.70%●	2.12%

Profitability

Metric	CAT	GE
Gross margin	32.52%	34.82%●
Operating margin	16.56%	18.51%●
Net margin	13.31%	17.91%●
ROE	50.48%●	47.96%
ROIC	11.42%●	8.12%

Dividends

Metric	CAT	GE
Dividend yield	0.66%●	0.46%
Payout ratio	31.96%	19.00%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CAT	GE
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	10.47%●	-8.24%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	27.96%●	11.81%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	17.77%	100.55%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	35.15%	38.16%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, CAT or GE?: It depends on your goal. value: GE (lower P/E); growth: CAT (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CAT (higher dividend yield); quality: CAT (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, CAT leads 9 to 8.
Is CAT or GE cheaper?: On trailing earnings, GE is cheaper: CAT trades at a 45.30 P/E and GE at 41.40.
Which has grown faster, CAT or GE?: Over the past five years, CAT grew revenue faster — CAT at a 10.47% CAGR versus GE at -8.24%.
Does CAT or GE pay a bigger dividend?: CAT yields 0.66% and GE yields 0.46% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CAT or GE more profitable?: GE runs the higher net margin — CAT at 13.31% versus GE at 17.91%.
Which has been the better investment, CAT or GE?: Over the past 10-year, CAT delivered the higher annualized total return — CAT at 31.11% versus GE at 10.12%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CAT analysis Full GE analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Caterpillar & GE Aerospace 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 13, 2026.