CAT vs. LECO
CAT (Caterpillar Inc.) and LECO (Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — CAT in Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery, LECO in Tools & Accessories. Over the past 10 years, CAT returned 31.33%/yr vs 17.79%/yr for LECO. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CAT vs. LECO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CAT achieves a 59.62% return, which is significantly higher than LECO's 8.12% return. Over the past 10 years, CAT has outperformed LECO with an annualized return of 31.33%, while LECO has yielded a comparatively lower 17.79% annualized return.
CAT
- 1D
- 1.44%
- 1M
- 0.92%
- YTD
- 59.62%
- 6M
- 52.94%
- 1Y
- 154.99%
- 3Y*
- 57.16%
- 5Y*
- 35.17%
- 10Y*
- 31.33%
LECO
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -2.64%
- YTD
- 8.12%
- 6M
- 6.64%
- 1Y
- 28.05%
- 3Y*
- 11.30%
- 5Y*
- 16.64%
- 10Y*
- 17.79%
CAT vs. LECO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAT Caterpillar Inc. | 59.62% | 60.30% | 24.66% | 25.95% | 18.60% | 15.95% | 26.97% | 19.51% | -17.56% | 75.03% |
LECO Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | 8.12% | 29.63% | -12.55% | 52.61% | 5.42% | 21.89% | 22.97% | 25.41% | -12.24% | 21.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between CAT and LECO is 0.63, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.63 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.64 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.64 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 13, 1995 | 0.49 |
The correlation between CAT and LECO shifts across timeframes, from 0.49 (all time) to 0.67 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
CAT:
$424.14B
LECO:
$14.29B
CAT:
$20.07
LECO:
$9.68
CAT:
45.37
LECO:
26.67
CAT:
3.00
LECO:
1.16
CAT:
6.04
LECO:
3.30
CAT:
22.73
LECO:
9.45
CAT:
$70.76B
LECO:
$4.35B
CAT:
$23.01B
LECO:
$1.57B
CAT:
$15.31B
LECO:
$807.88M
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Return for Risk
CAT vs. LECO — Risk / Return Rank
CAT
LECO
CAT vs. LECO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CAT | LECO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.65 | 1.20 | +0.45 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 11.24 | 1.40 | +9.83 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 36.80 | 3.68 | +33.12 |
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Drawdowns
CAT vs. LECO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CAT drawdown since its inception was -73.43%, which is greater than LECO's maximum drawdown of -68.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CAT and LECO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CAT | LECO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -73.43% | -68.89% | -4.54% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.88% | -20.09% | +6.21% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -34.05% | -34.29% | +0.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.05% | -34.29% | +0.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.36% | -38.89% | -4.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.18% | -13.31% | +10.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.73% | -13.51% | -6.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.23% | 7.64% | -3.41% |
Volatility
CAT vs. LECO - Volatility Comparison
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has a higher volatility of 13.16% compared to Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO) at 8.61%. This indicates that CAT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than LECO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CAT | LECO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 13.16% | 8.61% | +4.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 28.37% | 20.20% | +8.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 35.19% | 27.05% | +8.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 30.79% | 26.66% | +4.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.98% | 27.43% | +3.55% |
Dividends
CAT vs. LECO - Dividend Comparison
CAT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.66%, less than LECO's 1.19% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAT Caterpillar Inc. | 0.66% | 1.02% | 1.49% | 1.69% | 1.93% | 2.07% | 2.26% | 2.56% | 2.58% | 1.97% | 3.32% | 4.33% |
LECO Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | 1.19% | 1.27% | 1.54% | 1.21% | 1.61% | 1.50% | 1.70% | 1.96% | 2.08% | 1.57% | 1.71% | 2.29% |
Financials
CAT vs. LECO - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Caterpillar Inc. and Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
CAT vs. LECO - Profitability Comparison
CAT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Caterpillar Inc. reported a gross profit of 6.11B and revenue of 17.42B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 35.1%.
LECO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported a gross profit of 399.13M and revenue of 1.12B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 35.6%.
CAT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Caterpillar Inc. reported an operating income of 3.09B and revenue of 17.42B, resulting in an operating margin of 17.7%.
LECO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported an operating income of 186.16M and revenue of 1.12B, resulting in an operating margin of 16.6%.
CAT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Caterpillar Inc. reported a net income of 2.55B and revenue of 17.42B, resulting in a net margin of 14.6%.
LECO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported a net income of 136.38M and revenue of 1.12B, resulting in a net margin of 12.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CAT and LECO have a correlation of 0.63, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CAT has higher volatility (13.16%) compared to LECO (8.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CAT dropped -73.43% vs LECO's -68.89%.
CAT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.43 vs 1.04), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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