CAT vs. NUE
CAT (Caterpillar Inc.) and NUE (Nucor Corporation) are both stocks. CAT operates in Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery (Industrials), while NUE operates in Steel (Basic Materials). Over the past 10 years, CAT returned 31.52%/yr vs 20.50%/yr for NUE. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CAT vs. NUE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CAT achieves a 62.36% return, which is significantly higher than NUE's 58.55% return. Over the past 10 years, CAT has outperformed NUE with an annualized return of 31.52%, while NUE has yielded a comparatively lower 20.50% annualized return.
CAT
- 1D
- 1.80%
- 1M
- 5.88%
- YTD
- 62.36%
- 6M
- 57.25%
- 1Y
- 167.95%
- 3Y*
- 62.31%
- 5Y*
- 32.93%
- 10Y*
- 31.52%
NUE
- 1D
- -0.28%
- 1M
- 14.14%
- YTD
- 58.55%
- 6M
- 57.54%
- 1Y
- 113.90%
- 3Y*
- 23.98%
- 5Y*
- 20.65%
- 10Y*
- 20.50%
CAT vs. NUE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAT Caterpillar Inc. | 62.36% | 60.30% | 24.66% | 25.95% | 18.60% | 15.95% | 26.97% | 19.51% | -17.56% | 75.03% |
NUE Nucor Corporation | 58.55% | 42.03% | -31.95% | 33.75% | 17.39% | 118.45% | -1.77% | 11.84% | -16.36% | 9.60% |
Correlation
The correlation between CAT and NUE is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 2, 1983 | 0.44 |
The correlation between CAT and NUE shifts across timeframes, from 0.43 (1 year) to 0.57 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
CAT:
$431.41B
NUE:
$59.10B
CAT:
$20.07
NUE:
$10.12
CAT:
46.14
NUE:
25.46
CAT:
6.14
NUE:
1.74
CAT:
23.12
NUE:
2.75
CAT:
$70.76B
NUE:
$34.16B
CAT:
$23.01B
NUE:
$4.77B
CAT:
$15.31B
NUE:
$3.49B
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Return for Risk
CAT vs. NUE — Risk / Return Rank
CAT
NUE
CAT vs. NUE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Nucor Corporation (NUE). 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.
| CAT | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.24 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.72 | 1.55 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 12.18 | 6.21 | +5.96 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 40.49 | 18.68 | +21.81 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CAT | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.98 | 3.88 | +1.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.08 | 0.55 | +0.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.02 | 0.57 | +0.45 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 0.41 | -0.06 |
Drawdowns
CAT vs. NUE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CAT drawdown since its inception was -73.43%, which is greater than NUE's maximum drawdown of -68.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CAT and NUE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CAT | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -73.43% | -68.34% | -5.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.88% | -18.43% | +4.55% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -34.05% | -47.79% | +13.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.05% | -47.79% | +13.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.36% | -57.21% | +13.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.08% | -0.28% | +0.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.74% | -21.14% | +1.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.17% | 6.12% | -1.95% |
Volatility
CAT vs. NUE - Volatility Comparison
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has a higher volatility of 11.17% compared to Nucor Corporation (NUE) at 8.25%. This indicates that CAT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than NUE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CAT | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 11.17% | 8.25% | +2.92% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 27.09% | 20.26% | +6.83% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 33.97% | 29.55% | +4.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 30.62% | 37.70% | -7.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.86% | 35.96% | -5.10% |
Dividends
CAT vs. NUE - Dividend Comparison
CAT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.65%, less than NUE's 0.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAT Caterpillar Inc. | 0.65% | 1.02% | 1.49% | 1.69% | 1.93% | 2.07% | 2.26% | 2.56% | 2.58% | 1.97% | 3.32% | 4.33% |
NUE Nucor Corporation | 0.86% | 1.35% | 1.86% | 1.19% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 3.03% | 2.85% | 2.97% | 2.38% | 2.52% | 3.70% |
Financials
CAT vs. NUE - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Caterpillar Inc. and Nucor Corporation. 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. NUE - 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%.
NUE - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.50B and revenue of 9.50B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 15.8%.
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%.
NUE - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported an operating income of 0.00 and revenue of 9.50B, resulting in an operating margin of 0.0%.
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%.
NUE - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported a net income of 743.00M and revenue of 9.50B, resulting in a net margin of 7.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CAT and NUE have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CAT has higher volatility (11.17%) compared to NUE (8.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CAT dropped -73.43% vs NUE's -68.34%.
CAT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.98 vs 3.88), 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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