Caterpillar Inc vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Caterpillar Inc trades at $913.7 (market cap $429.89B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $235.49 (market cap $94.08B). The key difference: Caterpillar Inc is far larger — about 4.6× Waste Management, Inc.'s market cap, and Waste Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.51%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAT | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $429.89B | $94.08B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.06K | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $404.64 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $468.88B | $116.81B |
Dividend Yield | 0.7% | 1.51% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Caterpillar (CAT) trades at $931.47, down 2.2% on the day, but has gained 51% year-to-date, driven by strong earnings beats and AI-related infrastructure demand. The stock shows a bullish moving average signal but neutral overall technicals, with support near $922. Revenue reached $67.59 billion in 2025, with a net income margin of 13.33%, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 46.48 appear elevated. Recent news highlights its role in the AI data center boom, with the Power & Energy segment seeing significant backlog growth.
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus and AI-driven tailwinds, but high valuation and exposure to economic cycles pose risks. With 55% of analysts rating it a Buy and a consensus price target of $1,030, upside potential exists, though investors should weigh margin pressures and debt levels against growth catalysts from data center and infrastructure spending.
WM trades at $236.71, up 1.45% today, near its 52-week high. The stock shows bullish technical signals with strong moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $263.57. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, with revenue growth to $25.20 billion in 2025. The company maintains solid profitability with a 10.99% net margin and offers a dividend, with the next payment scheduled for June 18, 2026.
Outlook remains positive due to pricing discipline and renewable energy initiatives, but high valuation multiples (P/E 34.26) and recent earnings misses pose risks. Institutional sentiment is bullish with no sell ratings, though debt levels have increased. Key near-term catalyst is Q2 2026 earnings release on July 28, 2026.
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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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →