Compare StocksCAT vs TMO

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) vs Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO)

CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
$688.65
VS
TMO
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
$470.21

Rewards

CAT
  • Caterpillar Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • Caterpillar Inc. scores 75/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 13.0% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
TMO
  • Dividend yield of 0.37% with a consistent or growing payout over the past 4 years.
  • Altman Z-Score of 3.85 indicates very low bankruptcy risk — the company is firmly in the safe zone.

Risks

CAT
  • FCF yield of 1.8% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • Trailing P/E of 36.6x is 83% above the historical average of 20.0x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
  • High leverage (2.07x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
TMO
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has produced only $0.17 of market value — shareholders may have been better served by dividends.
  • PEG ratio of 2.85 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
  • Insiders have sold $8.2M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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CAT
TMO
Valuation
$5.84B
Free Cash Flow
$6.29B
1.81%
FCF Yield
3.60%
36.63
Trailing P/E
26.52
24.87
Forward P/E
17.49
Quality & Moat
13.09%
ROIC
7.85%
41.67%
ROE
12.52%
28.79%
Gross Margin
41.08%
N/A
PEG Ratio
2.85
Balance Sheet Safety
2.07
Debt / Equity
0.77
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.49
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.81
0.88%
Dividend Yield
0.37%
CAT: 4Ties: 1TMO: 6
CATTMO

Historical Fundamentals

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CAT

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

TMO

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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CAT
$6.48
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$22.05B
Δ Market Cap
+$142.85B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
TMO
$0.17
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Destroyer
Σ Retained
$17.29B
Δ Market Cap
+$2.95B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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CAT
14.7% Margin of Safety
Price is 14.7% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $688.65
Fair Value: $807.79
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
TMO
34.6% Overvalued
Price is 34.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $470.21
Fair Value: $349.42
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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CAT

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $689?

+17.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +23.0%

The market implies +17.2% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +23.0%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

TMO

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $470?

+13.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +14.4%

The market implies +13.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +14.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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CAT
75/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
TMO
60/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with margin stability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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CAT
-2.43
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
TMO
-2.47
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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CAT
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 72.6%Retail & Other 27.1%
No. of Institutional Holders4,271
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
TMO
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 95.6%Retail & Other 4.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,620
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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CAT
0
Buys (3M)
3
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $322,768
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$170,658
@ $568.86 · 2025-11-06
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$120,262
@ $320.70 · 2025-05-07
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$31,848
@ $318.48 · 2025-05-02
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$36,557
@ $365.57 · 2025-02-04
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$39,857
@ $398.57 · 2024-12-04
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$33,859
@ $338.59 · 2024-09-04
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$35,640
@ $356.40 · 2024-05-20
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$168,695
@ $337.39 · 2024-05-03
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
TMO
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
CHAI NELSON J
Director
$11,038
@ $551.90 · 2024-12-09
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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CAT
14
Sells (3M)
24
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $156.13M
CREED JOSEPH E
Chief Executive Officer
$1.80M
@ $718.93 · 2026-03-05
SHURMAN RODNEY MICHAEL
Officer
$1.73M
@ $759.61 · 2026-02-23
SHURMAN RODNEY MICHAEL
Officer
$1.35M
@ $763.39 · 2026-02-17
SCHAUPP WILLIAM E
Officer
$742,802
@ $764.20 · 2026-02-17
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$6.13M
@ $776.90 · 2026-02-13
KAISER JASON
Officer
$1.31M
@ $776.70 · 2026-02-12
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$9.59M
@ $767.08 · 2026-02-11
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$4.36M
@ $722.15 · 2026-02-06
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$16.31M
@ $720.11 · 2026-02-06
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$11.33M
@ $704.97 · 2026-02-04
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$7.26M
@ $680.45 · 2026-02-02
JOHNSON DENISE C.
Officer
$26.66M
@ $681.08 · 2026-02-02
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$10.91M
@ $682.99 · 2026-02-02
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$5.75M
@ $575.06 · 2025-12-31
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$5.71M
@ $571.44 · 2025-12-01
KAISER JASON
Officer
$6.03M
@ $563.60 · 2025-11-11
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$4.67M
@ $570.18 · 2025-11-10
SCHAUPP WILLIAM E
Officer
$686,664
@ $572.22 · 2025-11-05
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$8.23M
@ $562.36 · 2025-11-05
UMPLEBY DONALD JAMES III
Officer
$8.67M
@ $505.29 · 2025-10-10
UMPLEBY DONALD JAMES III
Officer
$7.94M
@ $462.65 · 2025-09-22
UMPLEBY DONALD JAMES III
Officer and Director
$7.09M
@ $412.87 · 2025-09-02
SCHWAB SUSAN C
Director
$952,840
@ $410.00 · 2025-08-15
KAISER JASON
Officer
$902,650
@ $417.70 · 2025-08-11
KAISER JASON
Officer
$860,148
@ $354.70 · 2025-02-18
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$3.80M
@ $380.09 · 2025-01-16
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
President
$2.57M
@ $408.59 · 2024-11-29
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$4.05M
@ $405.36 · 2024-11-25
SCHWAB SUSAN C
Director
$766.00
@ $383.00 · 2024-11-15
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$5.19M
@ $410.25 · 2024-11-07
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
President
$2.26M
@ $409.84 · 2024-11-06
DICKINSON DANIEL M
Director
$543,400
@ $418.00 · 2024-11-06
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$1.01M
@ $378.84 · 2024-11-04
SCHAUPP WILLIAM E
Officer
$368,789
@ $380.98 · 2024-11-01
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$1.12M
@ $351.36 · 2024-08-30
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$1.02M
@ $342.48 · 2024-08-22
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$527,800
@ $350.00 · 2024-07-16
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$512,720
@ $340.00 · 2024-05-30
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$7.80M
@ $356.90 · 2024-05-13
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
TMO
4
Sells (3M)
22
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $110.68M
SHAFER MICHAEL D
Officer
$802,536
@ $499.40 · 2026-03-11
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$2.06M
@ $514.82 · 2026-03-05
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$5.08M
@ $507.75 · 2026-03-04
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$216,480
@ $541.20 · 2026-02-09
LAGARDE MICHEL
Chief Operating Officer
$12.42M
@ $563.56 · 2025-12-04
LAGARDE MICHEL
Chief Operating Officer
$36.13M
@ $582.68 · 2025-12-03
LOWERY FREDERICK M.
Officer
$8.15M
@ $589.81 · 2025-12-02
SHAFER MICHAEL D
Officer
$6.43M
@ $600.00 · 2025-11-25
LAGARDE MICHEL
Chief Operating Officer
$2.76M
@ $594.42 · 2025-11-13
BRITT LISA P
Officer
$622,136
@ $588.59 · 2025-11-12
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$1.73M
@ $580.00 · 2025-11-10
BRITT LISA P
Officer
$5.84M
@ $571.62 · 2025-11-07
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$13.91M
@ $571.33 · 2025-10-27
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$229,660
@ $574.15 · 2025-10-24
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$200,201
@ $500.50 · 2025-09-05
HOLMES JOSEPH R.
Officer
$189,662
@ $492.63 · 2025-08-29
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$5.01M
@ $500.96 · 2025-08-22
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$248,046
@ $500.09 · 2025-08-20
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$8.15M
@ $452.99 · 2025-08-07
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$191,992
@ $479.98 · 2025-07-25
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$164,444
@ $411.11 · 2025-05-12
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$128,979
@ $429.93 · 2025-04-28
BOXER MICHAEL A
General Counsel
$2.01M
@ $532.59 · 2025-03-10
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$9.33M
@ $518.16 · 2025-03-05
SHAFER MICHAEL D
Officer
$945,038
@ $530.92 · 2025-03-03
LOWERY FREDERICK M.
Officer
$9.73M
@ $531.81 · 2025-02-24
CHAI NELSON J
Director
$8,449
@ $528.06 · 2025-02-19
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$175,677
@ $585.59 · 2025-02-04
WILLIAMSON STEPHEN
Chief Financial Officer
$11.58M
@ $589.36 · 2025-02-04
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$10.62M
@ $531.23 · 2024-12-03
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$3.26M
@ $557.89 · 2024-11-01
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$11.01M
@ $550.51 · 2024-10-31
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$11.05M
@ $552.46 · 2024-10-29
BOXER MICHAEL A
General Counsel
$1.12M
@ $560.16 · 2024-10-25
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$168,048
@ $560.16 · 2024-10-25
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$12.17M
@ $608.45 · 2024-09-04
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$6.17M
@ $617.21 · 2024-07-31
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$9.88M
@ $606.12 · 2024-07-30
HOLMES JOSEPH R.
Officer
$525,484
@ $611.03 · 2024-07-26
BRITT LISA P
Officer
$2.22M
@ $613.02 · 2024-07-26
BOXER MICHAEL A
General Counsel
$1.20M
@ $600.85 · 2024-07-26
PETTITI GIANLUCA
Officer
$180,255
@ $600.85 · 2024-07-26
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$11.37M
@ $568.72 · 2024-06-04
LAGARDE MICHEL
Chief Operating Officer
$11.80M
@ $590.05 · 2024-05-14
WILLIAMSON STEPHEN
Chief Financial Officer
$12.96M
@ $591.27 · 2024-05-13
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$5.74M
@ $573.74 · 2024-05-01
CASPER MARC N
Chief Executive Officer
$11.48M
@ $574.18 · 2024-04-30
BOXER MICHAEL A
General Counsel
$1.14M
@ $567.94 · 2024-04-26
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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CAT
FearGreed
😐Neutral(54/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
TMO
FearGreed
😨Fear(40/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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CAT
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (54)
TMO
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (40)
View CAT Full AnalysisView TMO Full Analysis
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) vs Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io