CAT vs. SPYD

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

CAT (Caterpillar Inc.) is a stock, while SPYD (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 High Dividend Index. Over the past 10 years, CAT returned 31.33%/yr vs 9.09%/yr for SPYD. A 0.62 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

CAT vs. SPYD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CAT achieves a 59.62% return, which is significantly higher than SPYD's 14.73% return. Over the past 10 years, CAT has outperformed SPYD with an annualized return of 31.33%, while SPYD has yielded a comparatively lower 9.09% annualized return.

CAT

• 1D: 1.44%
• 1M: -1.05%
• YTD: 59.62%
• 6M: 52.94%
• 1Y: 157.79%
• 3Y*: 57.16%
• 5Y*: 35.17%
• 10Y*: 31.33%

SPYD

• 1D: 1.05%
• 1M: 5.32%
• YTD: 14.73%
• 6M: 14.21%
• 1Y: 20.93%
• 3Y*: 14.69%
• 5Y*: 7.64%
• 10Y*: 9.09%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CAT vs. SPYD - 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%
SPYD State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF	14.73%	4.65%	15.34%	3.91%	-1.17%	32.73%	-11.64%	21.20%	-4.89%	12.67%

Correlation

The correlation between CAT and SPYD is 0.37, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.37
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.50
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.59
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.62
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 22, 2015	0.62

Over the past year, the correlation between CAT and SPYD has dropped to 0.37 - well below their long-term average of 0.62, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

CAT vs. SPYD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CAT

CAT Risk / Return Rank: 98
CAT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
CAT Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
CAT Omega Ratio Rank: 97
CAT Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
CAT Martin Ratio Rank: 99

SPYD

SPYD Risk / Return Rank: 58
SPYD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 57
SPYD Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
SPYD Omega Ratio Rank: 52
SPYD Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
SPYD Martin Ratio Rank: 54

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CAT vs. SPYD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD). 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	SPYD	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.43	1.69	+2.75
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	5.03	2.53	+2.50
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.65	1.29	+0.36
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	11.24	2.80	+8.44
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	36.80	8.14	+28.65

CAT vs. SPYD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CAT Sharpe Ratio is 4.43, which is higher than the SPYD Sharpe Ratio of 1.69. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CAT and SPYD, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

CAT vs. SPYD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CAT drawdown since its inception was -73.43%, which is greater than SPYD's maximum drawdown of -46.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CAT and SPYD.

Drawdown Indicators

	CAT	SPYD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-73.43%	-46.42%	-27.01%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.88%	-7.05%	-6.83%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-34.05%	-16.13%	-17.92%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-34.05%	-22.25%	-11.80%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-43.36%	-46.42%	+3.06%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.18%	0.00%	-3.18%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-19.73%	-6.15%	-13.58%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.23%	2.42%	+1.81%

Volatility

CAT vs. SPYD - Volatility Comparison

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has a higher volatility of 13.16% compared to State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) at 2.92%. This indicates that CAT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPYD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CAT	SPYD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	13.16%	2.92%	+10.24%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	28.37%	7.74%	+20.63%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	35.19%	11.70%	+23.49%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	30.79%	16.15%	+14.64%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.98%	19.78%	+11.20%

Dividends

CAT vs. SPYD - Dividend Comparison

CAT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.66%, less than SPYD's 4.05% 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%
SPYD State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF	4.05%	4.52%	4.31%	4.66%	5.01%	3.68%	4.95%	4.42%	4.75%	4.63%	4.34%	1.13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CAT and SPYD in my portfolio?

CAT and SPYD have a correlation of 0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CAT or SPYD?

CAT has higher volatility (13.16%) compared to SPYD (2.92%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CAT dropped -73.43% vs SPYD's -46.42%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CAT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.43 vs 1.69), 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.