Caterpillar Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Caterpillar Inc trades at $941.16 (market cap $429.03B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $221 (market cap $70.40B). The key difference: Caterpillar Inc is far larger — about 6.1× Ross Stores, Inc.'s market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays the higher dividend (0.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAT | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $429.03B | $70.40B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $1.06K | $240.13 |
52-Week Low | $404.64 | $127.59 |
Enterprise Value | $468.02B | $70.99B |
Dividend Yield | 0.7% | 0.81% |
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.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $219.46, down 1.53% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and consistent earnings beats. The company demonstrates strong profitability with a 9.74% net margin and 38.98% ROE, while revenue grew to $21.13B in 2025. Recent news highlights robust Q1 2026 performance with 21% sales growth and expanding margins.
The stock offers upside to the $259 consensus price target, driven by operational efficiency and store expansion. Risks include consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures. Analyst sentiment is strongly positive with 64% buy ratings, though valuation multiples like the 30.65 P/E warrant monitoring amid market volatility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →