CAT vs. WMT
CAT (Caterpillar Inc.) and WMT (Walmart Inc.) are both stocks. CAT operates in Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery (Industrials), while WMT operates in Discount Stores (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, CAT returned 31.33%/yr vs 19.77%/yr for WMT. At a 0.26 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CAT vs. WMT - 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 WMT's 9.07% return. Over the past 10 years, CAT has outperformed WMT with an annualized return of 31.33%, while WMT has yielded a comparatively lower 19.77% 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%
WMT
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- -7.93%
- YTD
- 9.07%
- 6M
- 4.13%
- 1Y
- 28.71%
- 3Y*
- 34.18%
- 5Y*
- 22.42%
- 10Y*
- 19.77%
CAT vs. WMT - 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% |
WMT Walmart Inc. | 9.07% | 24.49% | 73.99% | 12.88% | -0.46% | 1.97% | 23.32% | 30.16% | -3.43% | 46.56% |
Correlation
The correlation between CAT and WMT is 0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 25, 1972 | 0.26 |
The correlation between CAT and WMT shifts across timeframes, from 0.08 (1 year) to 0.26 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
CAT:
$424.14B
WMT:
$968.20B
CAT:
$20.07
WMT:
$2.88
CAT:
45.37
WMT:
42.04
CAT:
3.00
WMT:
2.75
CAT:
6.04
WMT:
1.34
CAT:
22.73
WMT:
10.26
CAT:
$70.76B
WMT:
$725.31B
CAT:
$23.01B
WMT:
$181.16B
CAT:
$15.31B
WMT:
$44.32B
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Return for Risk
CAT vs. WMT — Risk / Return Rank
CAT
WMT
CAT vs. WMT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Walmart Inc. (WMT). 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 | WMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.24 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.65 | 1.23 | +0.41 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 11.24 | 1.83 | +9.40 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 36.80 | 5.82 | +30.98 |
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Drawdowns
CAT vs. WMT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CAT drawdown since its inception was -73.43%, roughly equal to the maximum WMT drawdown of -77.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CAT and WMT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CAT | WMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -73.43% | -77.14% | +3.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.88% | -15.75% | +1.87% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -34.05% | -21.93% | -12.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.05% | -25.74% | -8.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.36% | -25.74% | -17.62% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.18% | -9.81% | +6.63% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.73% | -14.63% | -5.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.23% | 4.94% | -0.71% |
Volatility
CAT vs. WMT - Volatility Comparison
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has a higher volatility of 13.16% compared to Walmart Inc. (WMT) at 9.86%. This indicates that CAT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than WMT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CAT | WMT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 13.16% | 9.86% | +3.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 28.37% | 18.49% | +9.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 35.19% | 23.67% | +11.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 30.79% | 21.68% | +9.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.98% | 21.73% | +9.25% |
Dividends
CAT vs. WMT - Dividend Comparison
CAT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.66%, less than WMT's 0.80% 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% |
WMT Walmart Inc. | 0.80% | 0.84% | 0.92% | 1.45% | 1.58% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 1.78% | 2.23% | 2.07% | 2.89% | 3.20% |
Financials
CAT vs. WMT - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Caterpillar Inc. and Walmart 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. WMT - 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%.
WMT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Walmart Inc. reported a gross profit of 44.69B and revenue of 177.75B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 25.1%.
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%.
WMT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Walmart Inc. reported an operating income of 7.49B and revenue of 177.75B, resulting in an operating margin of 4.2%.
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%.
WMT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Walmart Inc. reported a net income of 5.65B and revenue of 177.75B, resulting in a net margin of 3.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CAT and WMT have a correlation of 0.08, 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 WMT (9.86%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CAT dropped -73.43% vs WMT's -77.14%.
CAT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.43 vs 1.22), 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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