Essential Planning LLC. Takes $655,000 Position in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Essential Planning LLC. bought a new stake in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,690 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $655,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in CAT. Great Lakes Advisors LLC increased its stake in Caterpillar by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 300,906 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $109,156,000 after buying an additional 7,160 shares during the period. Truvestments Capital LLC increased its stake in Caterpillar by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 10,196 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,699,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the period. SHEPHERD WEALTH MANAGEMENT Ltd LIABILITY Co purchased a new stake in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter worth $1,082,000. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter worth $162,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Caterpillar by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 8,362 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,033,000 after buying an additional 318 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Caterpillar

In other news, Director Gerald Johnson acquired 100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 4th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $365.57 per share, for a total transaction of $36,557.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,053 shares in the company, valued at $1,116,085.21. This trade represents a 3.39 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.09, for a total transaction of $3,800,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 45,182 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,173,226.38. This represents a 18.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on CAT. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $515.00 to $490.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wedbush raised shares of Caterpillar to an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group raised shares of Caterpillar from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $355.00 to $385.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson raised their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $350.00 to $357.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $383.80.

Caterpillar Trading Down 1.4 %

NYSE CAT opened at $333.26 on Friday. Caterpillar Inc. has a one year low of $307.05 and a one year high of $418.50. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $361.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $372.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $159.28 billion, a PE ratio of 15.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.15.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a net margin of 16.65% and a return on equity of 58.18%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Company Profile

Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.