CAT vs VRTV: Which Is the Better Buy?

Side-by-side comparison of Caterpillar Inc. and Veritiv Corporation — fair value, conviction, valuation metrics, and QuantHub research signals. Updated 2026-07-08.
Caterpillar Inc. · Industrials
$940.12
-39.4% upside to fair value
Grade C High Quality
VS
Veritiv Corporation · Industrials
$169.99
-43.3% upside to fair value
Grade D
QuantHub Verdict
CAT has more upside to fair value (-39.4%). VRTV trades at a lower forward P/E (7.1x). These are model outputs — not personalized investment advice. See all research →
Valuation & Fundamentals
Metric CAT VRTV
Current Price $940.12 $169.99
Fair Value Estimate $569.47 $96.38
Upside to Fair Value -39.4% -43.3%
Market Cap $433.1B $2.3B
Forward P/E 46.6x 7.1x
EV / EBITDA 29.7x 5.4x
Price / Sales 6.1x 0.3x
Price / FCF 37.8x 10.0x
Revenue Growth YoY +22.2% -19.0%
Gross Margin 32.5% 22.7%
Operating Margin 16.6% 5.9%
Return on Equity 47.5% 48.6%
Dividend Yield 0% 0%
FCF Yield 2.64% 9.99%
Analyst Consensus Hold Hold
Investment Thesis
CAT — Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of agricultural and construction machinery, operating within the Industrials sector. The company demonstrates high business quality with a durable competitive moat supported by strong brand recognition, cost advantages, and intangible assets. It posted robust revenue growth of 22.2% and earnings growth of 27.3% in the most recent quarter, reflecti…
VRTV — Veritiv Corporation
Veritiv Corporation operates as a distributor primarily in packaging, facility solutions, and print markets, with a business quality characterized by scale and network density rather than proprietary products or pricing power. The company has undergone significant transformation under CEO Salvatore A. Abbate, including a take-private transaction by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2023 and a strategic…
Accumulation Zones
Metric CAT VRTV
Zone Low $427.10 $72.28
Zone High $484.05 $81.92
In Buy Zone? No No
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