📈 Net Income History (16 Quarters)
🧮 CAT Net Income Breakdown
Understanding Net Income
Net income, also called the "bottom line" or net profit, is the money a company keeps after paying all expenses including cost of goods, operating costs, interest, and taxes. For CAT, the trailing twelve month net income is $10.8B.
Why Net Income Matters
Net income is the ultimate measure of accounting profitability. It determines earnings per share (EPS), affects stock valuations through the P/E ratio, and represents the theoretical amount available to shareholders. However, net income can be influenced by accounting choices, which is why value investors often look at cash flow metrics alongside it.
CAT's net income growth rate of 7.70% (based on log-linear regression of 16 quarters) indicates modest positive profit growth.
Net Income vs Cash Flow Metrics
Free Cash Flow: $9.5B →
Actual cash generated after capital expenditures. FCF often differs from net income due to depreciation, working capital changes, and capex timing.
Owner Earnings: $10.0B →
Buffett's preferred metric that adds back depreciation but subtracts maintenance capex. Often considered more accurate than net income.
EPS (Diluted): $23.23 →
Net income divided by diluted shares outstanding. The primary driver of the P/E ratio used in valuations.
Revenue: $74.7B →
The top line that net income is derived from. Net margin shows what percentage of revenue becomes profit.
P/E Ratio Analysis
CAT's P/E ratio of 35.2x means investors pay $35.17 for every $1 of annual earnings. A P/E between 25-40 suggests investors expect above-average earnings growth.
Net Margin: Profitability Efficiency
Net margin of 14.51% shows what percentage of CAT's revenue converts to profit after all costs. Net margins between 10-20% are solid and typical of well-managed businesses.
Summary: CAT Net Income Trend
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a net margin of 14.51%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Technology company — above the 12% threshold Zyberno applies to technology businesses where software margins, tax efficiency, and scalability drive net profitability. Net income grew at 7.70% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth. For complete financial analysis, view the full CAT stock report on Zyberno.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAT's current net income?
CATERPILLAR INC's TTM net income is $10.8B, growing at 7.70% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth.
Is CAT's net income growing?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a net margin of 14.51%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Technology company — above the 12% threshold Zyberno applies to technology businesses where software margins, tax efficiency, and scalability drive net profitability. Net income grew at 7.70% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth.
What is CAT's net profit margin?
CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) has a net margin of 14.51%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Technology company — above the 12% threshold Zyberno applies to technology businesses where software margins, tax efficiency, and scalability drive net profitability. Net income grew at 7.70% annually — positive but below the 10% level Zyberno considers strong growth.
What is CAT's P/E ratio?
CAT's P/E ratio is 35.2x, meaning the market values the company at 35.2 times its annual earnings.
How does net income differ from free cash flow?
Net income is an accounting measure that includes non-cash items like depreciation, while free cash flow shows actual cash generated. CAT's net income is $10.8B versus free cash flow of $9.5B. Large differences often indicate significant capital expenditures or working capital changes.
📊 Full CAT Stock Report →
See CAT's intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and complete financial analysis with 250+ metrics.
💵 CAT Free Cash Flow →
Compare to Free Cash Flow which subtracts all capital expenditures, not just maintenance CapEx.
💰 CAT Owner Earnings →
Compare to Buffett's Owner Earnings metric which uses maintenance CapEx instead of total capital expenditures.
📈 CAT Earnings Per Share →
Analyze EPS trends, P/E ratio, earnings yield, and per-share profitability metrics.
🎯 CAT Earnings Surprise (SUE) →
See whether CAT is beating or missing its own earnings trend — Standardized Unexpected Earnings and post-earnings drift.
📊 CAT Revenue →
Analyze revenue trends, growth rate, P/S ratio, and top-line sales performance.
💰 CAT Net Income →
Analyze the bottom-line profit, P/E ratio, and net profit margin trends.
🔶 CAT Operating Income →
Analyze EBIT, operating margin, and core business profitability before interest and taxes.
💜 CAT Gross Profit →
Analyze gross margin, pricing power, and profitability before operating expenses.