Ifrah Financial Services Inc. Lowers Position in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Ifrah Financial Services Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) by 4.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 741 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 33 shares during the quarter. Ifrah Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Caterpillar were worth $269,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Highview Capital Management LLC DE lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 29.4% during the 4th quarter. Highview Capital Management LLC DE now owns 1,320 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $479,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Woodard & Co. Asset Management Group Inc. ADV raised its position in Caterpillar by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Woodard & Co. Asset Management Group Inc. ADV now owns 4,812 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,745,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Rational Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Caterpillar by 1,188.5% during the fourth quarter. Rational Advisors LLC now owns 1,675 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $608,000 after purchasing an additional 1,545 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 626.0% in the 4th quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 363 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $132,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Total Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Caterpillar by 64.6% during the 4th quarter. Total Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,395 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,231,000 after purchasing an additional 1,332 shares during the last quarter. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $380.09, for a total value of $3,800,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 45,182 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $17,173,226.38. The trade was a 18.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Anthony D. Fassino sold 6,279 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $408.59, for a total transaction of $2,565,536.61. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 33,565 shares in the company, valued at $13,714,323.35. This trade represents a 15.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Caterpillar Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:CAT opened at $353.31 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.42. Caterpillar Inc. has a 52-week low of $307.05 and a 52-week high of $418.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $170.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $372.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $372.14.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $5.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.97 by $0.17. Caterpillar had a return on equity of 58.18% and a net margin of 16.65%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 20.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st will be paid a dividend of $1.41 per share. This represents a $5.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 21st. Caterpillar’s dividend payout ratio is 25.56%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CAT has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their price target for the company from $355.00 to $385.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $452.00 to $414.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Caterpillar from $350.00 to $357.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Caterpillar from $299.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Caterpillar from $330.00 to $300.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Caterpillar presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $383.13.

Caterpillar 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.