Basis: Trailing twelve months (TTM). Source: stored company filings and market data; unavailable inputs remain N/A.
The yield on cost (YOC) is 0.75%.
YIELD ON COST (YOC)
0.75%
CAT now pays $6.16 per share a year. Measured against the price it actually traded at back then, a long-term holder is earning:
| If you bought | Price then | Yield on cost today |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years ago(2016-09-12) | $81.92 | 7.52% |
| 5 years ago(2021-09-08) | $206.77 | 2.98% |
| 3 years ago(2023-09-11) | $282.05 | 2.18% |
| 1 year ago(2025-09-03) | $415.12 | 1.48% |
| Buying today(at $815.56) | $815.56 | 0.75% |
Projection: starting from today's 0.75% yield, assuming the dividend keeps compounding at 8.2% a year — the recent growth rate of its annual payout. Boards set dividends each year, so actual figures will differ.
Today
0.75%
In 3 years
0.95%
In 5 years
1.10%
In 10 years
1.63%
Try your own purchase price, dividend and growth rate for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
Starting Yield
0.76%
Ending YOC
2.15%
Year 15 Dividend
$17.55
Cum. Dividends Recd.
$168.96
| Year | Projected Div. / Share | YoY Dividend Hike | Yield on Cost (YOC) | Total Dividends Recd. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | $6.16 | N/A | 0.76% | $0.00 |
| Year 1 | $6.61 | +7.23% | 0.81% | $6.61 |
| Year 2 | $7.08 | +7.23% | 0.87% | $13.69 |
| Year 3 | $7.60 | +7.23% | 0.93% | $21.28 |
| Year 4 | $8.14 | +7.23% | 1.00% | $29.43 |
| Year 5 | $8.73 | +7.23% | 1.07% | $38.16 |
| Year 6 | $9.36 | +7.23% | 1.15% | $47.52 |
| Year 7 | $10.04 | +7.23% | 1.23% | $57.57 |
| Year 8 | $10.77 | +7.23% | 1.32% | $68.33 |
| Year 9 | $11.55 | +7.23% | 1.42% | $79.88 |
| Year 10 | $12.38 | +7.23% | 1.52% | $92.26 |
| Year 11 | $13.28 | +7.23% | 1.63% | $105.54 |
| Year 12 | $14.24 | +7.23% | 1.75% | $119.77 |
| Year 13 | $15.26 | +7.23% | 1.87% | $135.04 |
| Year 14 | $16.37 | +7.23% | 2.01% | $151.40 |
| Year 15 | $17.55 | +7.23% | 2.15% | $168.96 |
Yield on cost is the dividend yield measured against your original purchase price, not today's price. As a company raises its dividend, the yield on what you actually paid keeps rising even when the market yield holds steady.
Expanded definitions: Investopedia, Wikipedia, Corporate Finance Institute
