CAT vs META: Which Is the Better Buy?

Side-by-side comparison of Caterpillar Inc. and Meta Platforms, Inc. — fair value, conviction, valuation metrics, and QuantHub research signals. Updated 2026-05-13.
Caterpillar Inc. · Industrials
$912.14
-47.9% upside to fair value
Grade D High Quality
VS
Meta Platforms, Inc. · Communication Services
$671.34
+36.4% upside to fair value
Grade B High Quality
QuantHub Verdict
META has more upside to fair value (+36.4%). META trades at a lower forward P/E (28.0x). These are model outputs — not personalized investment advice. See all research →
Valuation & Fundamentals
Metric CAT META
Current Price $912.14 $671.34
Fair Value Estimate $475.00 $916.00
Upside to Fair Value -47.9% +36.4%
Market Cap $420.2B $1,698.2B
Forward P/E 44.9x 28.0x
EV / EBITDA 30.0x 16.5x
Price / Sales 5.9x 8.4x
Price / FCF 36.7x 36.8x
Revenue Growth YoY +22.2% +23.8%
Gross Margin 32.5% 82.0%
Operating Margin 16.6% 41.4%
Return on Equity 47.5% 30.6%
Dividend Yield 1.5% 0%
FCF Yield 2.73% 2.72%
Analyst Consensus Hold Strong Buy
Investment Thesis
CAT — Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, with diversified revenue across Construction Industries, Resource Industries, Energy & Transportation, and Cat Financial. Q1 2026 results reported April 30 showed revenue of $17.4 billion (+22.2% YoY) and EPS of $5.50 (+30.3% YoY), driven by powerful demand from data center build-outs (large engine and power gen…
META — Meta Platforms, Inc.
Meta Platforms, Inc. operates a leading global social media and technology platform primarily through its Family of Apps segment, which generates over 98% of its $201 billion 2025 revenue, driven by strong advertising growth. The company maintains a high-quality business with a durable competitive moat supported by network effects, brand strength, and intangible assets, reflected in a 30.6% retur…
Accumulation Zones
Metric CAT META
Zone Low $356.00 $687.00
Zone High $404.00 $778.60
In Buy Zone? No Yes
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