Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs Caterpillar Inc — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $308.56 (market cap $68.63B), while Caterpillar Inc trades at $846 (market cap $385.01B). The key difference: Caterpillar Inc is far larger — about 5.6× Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.'s market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | CAT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $68.63B | $385.01B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $1.06K |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $407.79 |
Enterprise Value | $85.80B | $423.45B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 0.78% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) trades at $303.44, up 1.17% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong analyst support with a consensus price target of $346, though high valuation ratios like a P/E of 30.86 and EV/EBITDA of 50.36 raise concerns. Recent news highlights a major semiconductor supply deal in Taiwan and raised guidance after Q3 2026 results.
The outlook is mixed: positive momentum from contract wins and earnings performance offers upside, but negative net income margins and elevated debt levels pose risks. Investors should weigh growth catalysts against financial leverage and profitability challenges.
Caterpillar (CAT) trades at $843.37, up 0.14% on the day, with strong year-to-date performance driven by robust earnings beats and AI data center demand. The stock shows a bearish technical signal but maintains solid fundamentals, including a net income margin of 14.51% and ROE of 56.99%. Recent news highlights growth from power and energy segments, with a dividend increase expected in June 2026.
Outlook remains positive due to earnings momentum and infrastructure tailwinds, though elevated valuation ratios like a P/E of 36.07 pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $1,010 price target, but investors should monitor economic cycles and competitive pressures that could impact future performance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets construction, mining, and forestry machinery. The Company also manufactures engines and other related parts for its equipment, and offers financing and insurance. Caterpillar distributes its products through a worldwide organization of dealers.
Read more on CAT →