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CaterpillarCATDON'T BUYMay 25, 2021Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 18, 2026. Market Open.
They were viewed as a play on China. Given China's collapse, CAT stock should have tanked and shorters piled into this. But the CEO countered that CAT is more levered to data centres, which helped to sway the street. Still trades at 13x PE. Was up 11% in Q3. CAT has more room to run.
Just reported a strong earnings beat and their quarter defied concerns of a global slowdown. Shares rallied to an all-time high. CAT makes machines to non-residential construction, mining, oil/gas and data centre construction--all sectors doing well. Also, Washington is creating tons of jobs in infrastructure. CAT's sell-off was unwarranted in the first place. The CEO is making CAT less cyclical, and he foresaw the weakness in China.
They diversified away from China. CAT will benefit from federal infrastructure spending that will boost their orders. Also, when investors feel that US-China relationships are improving, they buy CAT. He sold some shares today. Has rallied since last May. Is now seeing money from the Infrastructure Bill of late 2021. Trades at 13x PE 2023.
Rallied last Friday. The CEO has diversified the services offered, but shares have slumped. Wall Street views it as an old-fashioned cyclical stock, which is wrong. He expects a lot of orders for infrastructure projects by next year. Shares have bumped because of China's stimulus plans, but China represents only 5% of CAT's business.
URI vs. CAT They're both cyclicals. He owns only URI. CAT stock is a little ahead of itself at 25-30x this year's earnings. URI is trading at a lower level. URI will still do well if a US infrastructure bill will be passed. Yes, it's lumpy and volatile, so strategically limit your exposure to this in your portfolio. Diversify away from higher-beta, riskier stocks.