CAT vs TSM: Which Is the Better Buy?

Side-by-side comparison of Caterpillar Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited β€” fair value, conviction, valuation metrics, and QuantHub research signals. Updated 2026-05-13.
Caterpillar Inc. Β· Industrials
$912.14
-47.9% upside to fair value
Grade D High Quality
VS
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited Β· Technology
$366.24
+45.0% upside to fair value
Grade C High Quality
QuantHub Verdict
TSM has more upside to fair value (+45.0%). TSM trades at a lower forward P/E (27.2x). These are model outputs β€” not personalized investment advice. See all research β†’
Valuation & Fundamentals
Metric CAT TSM
Current Price $912.14 $366.24
Fair Value Estimate $475.00 $531.05
Upside to Fair Value -47.9% +45.0%
Market Cap $420.2B $1,899.5B
Forward P/E 44.9x 27.2x
EV / EBITDA 30.0x 17.3x
Price / Sales 5.9x 12.8x
Price / FCF 36.7x 51.6x
Revenue Growth YoY +22.2% +36.5%
Gross Margin 32.5% 61.9%
Operating Margin 16.6% 53.2%
Return on Equity 47.5% 36.9%
Dividend Yield 1.5% 0%
FCF Yield 2.73% 1.94%
Analyst Consensus Hold Strong Buy
Investment Thesis
CAT β€” 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…
TSM β€” Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) is the world's leading pure-play semiconductor foundry, commanding approximately 60% of the global advanced node foundry market. The company benefits from a durable competitive moat driven by its pioneering foundry model, massive scale, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strong customer relationships with major technology firms. TSMC…
Accumulation Zones
Metric CAT TSM
Zone Low $356.00 $398.29
Zone High $404.00 $451.39
In Buy Zone? No Yes
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