Caterpillar Inc vs Morgan Stanley — how do they compare? Caterpillar Inc trades at $936.8 (market cap $429.89B), while Morgan Stanley trades at $231.18 (market cap $359.10B). The key difference: Caterpillar Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Morgan Stanley pays the higher dividend (1.76%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAT | MS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $429.89B | $359.10B |
Sector | Industrials | Financials |
52-Week High | $1.06K | $228.17 |
52-Week Low | $404.64 | $139.09 |
Enterprise Value | $468.88B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.7% | 1.76% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Caterpillar (CAT) trades at $933.34, down 2.0% on the day but up 51% year-to-date, reflecting strong momentum from AI-driven infrastructure demand. The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $5.54 surpassing expectations by 19%. Valuation metrics remain elevated with a P/E of 46.39 and P/S of 6.18, while profitability remains robust with a 13.33% net margin and 51.35% ROE. Technical indicators show neutral signals with support at $922 and resistance at $943.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus pointing to $1,020 price target (9% upside) and 55% buy ratings. Key opportunities include AI data center power demand generating $10.2B in generator sales, while risks include elevated valuation and cyclical exposure to economic conditions. The company's 32nd consecutive dividend increase expected in June supports income investors.
Morgan Stanley (MS) trades at $228.17, up 2.65% on the day, with strong bullish momentum from three consecutive quarterly earnings beats. The stock shows robust revenue growth, reaching $66.0B in 2025, and a net income margin of 25.56%. Technical indicators signal a bullish trend, with moving averages supporting upward movement, while RSI levels suggest mixed short-term momentum. Recent news highlights Morgan Stanley's role in leading Anthropic's IPO and expanding AI integration in wealth management, reinforcing its market position.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus favoring Buy ratings (53.85%) and a price target of $225.80, slightly below current levels. Key opportunities include continued earnings outperformance and strategic initiatives in AI and IPO leadership. Risks involve volatile cash flows, high debt levels, and macroeconomic sensitivity. Investors should weigh strong fundamentals against execution risks in a dynamic financial landscape.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Morgan Stanley is a global investment bank whose history, through its legacy firms, can be traced back to 1924. The company has institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management segments. The company had about $5 trillion of client assets as well as over 70,000 employees at the end of 2021. Approximately 50% of the company's net revenue is from its institutional securities business, with the remainder coming from wealth and investment management. The company derives about 30% of its total revenue outside the Americas.
Read more on MS →