Caterpillar (CAT) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 1.98% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 1.98%.
CAT
TTM buyback yield
1.98%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
1.98%
5Y share count change
-14.5%
TTM buyback spend
$6.49B
SBC coverage (TTM)
22.09x
YoY change in spend
-32.6%
5Y CAGR of spend
+35.6%
Peak year (2024)
$7.70B
Cumulative spend
$55.04B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- Caterpillar (CAT) repurchased about $6.49B of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 14.5% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- TTM buyback ÷ stock-based-comp ratio of 22.09× — repurchases more than cover SBC dilution.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +35.6% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 75% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5.19B | $242.00M | $4.95B | 0.47B | -4.2% | 1.94% |
| 2024 | $7.70B | $223.00M | $7.47B | 0.49B | -4.7% | 4.38% |
| 2023 | $4.97B | $208.00M | $4.77B | 0.51B | -3.2% | 3.34% |
| 2022 | $4.23B | $193.00M | $4.04B | 0.53B | -3.3% | 3.41% |
| 2021 | $2.67B | $200.00M | $2.47B | 0.55B | -0.0% | 2.40% |
| 2020 | $1.13B | $202.00M | $928.00M | 0.55B | -3.3% | 1.14% |
| 2019 | $4.05B | $205.00M | $3.84B | 0.57B | -5.3% | 4.98% |
| 2018 | $3.80B | $198.00M | $3.60B | 0.60B | 0.0% | 5.14% |
| 2017 | $0.00 | $206.00M | −$206.00M | 0.60B | 2.6% | — |
| 2016 | $0.00 | $218.00M | −$218.00M | 0.58B | -2.8% | — |
| 2015 | $2.02B | $283.00M | $1.74B | 0.60B | -4.4% | 5.12% |
| 2014 | $4.24B | $254.00M | $3.98B | 0.63B | -4.5% | 7.64% |
| 2013 | $2.00B | $231.00M | $1.77B | 0.66B | -1.6% | 3.46% |
| 2012 | $0.00 | $245.00M | −$245.00M | 0.67B | 0.5% | — |
| 2011 | $0.00 | $193.00M | −$193.00M | 0.67B | 2.4% | — |
| 2010 | $0.00 | $226.00M | −$226.00M | 0.65B | 3.9% | — |
| 2009 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.63B | -0.3% | — |
| 2008 | $1.80B | $0.00 | $1.80B | 0.63B | -4.8% | 6.69% |
| 2007 | $2.40B | $0.00 | $2.40B | 0.66B | -3.6% | 5.37% |
| 2006 | $3.21B | $0.00 | $3.21B | 0.68B | -3.1% | 8.12% |
| 2005 | $1.68B | $0.00 | $1.68B | 0.71B | 33.8% | 4.34% |
| 2004 | $539.00M | $0.00 | $539.00M | 0.53B | -24.9% | 3.23% |
| 2003 | $405.00M | $0.00 | $405.00M | 0.70B | 1.3% | 1.42% |
| 2002 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.69B | -0.1% | — |
| 2001 | $43.00M | $0.00 | $43.00M | 0.69B | -0.5% | 0.24% |
| 2000 | $412.00M | $0.00 | $412.00M | 0.70B | -3.0% | — |
| 1999 | $260.00M | $0.00 | $260.00M | 0.72B | -2.4% | — |
| 1998 | $567.00M | $0.00 | $567.00M | 0.74B | -3.4% | — |
| 1997 | $706.00M | $0.00 | $706.00M | 0.76B | -2.0% | — |
| 1996 | $303.00M | $0.00 | $303.00M | 0.78B | — | — |
| 1995 | $427.00M | $0.00 | $427.00M | — | — | — |
| 1994 | $240.00M | $0.00 | $240.00M | — | — | — |
| 1993 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1992 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1991 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1990 | $32.00M | $0.00 | $32.00M | — | — | — |
| 1989 | $9.00M | $0.00 | $9.00M | — | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for Caterpillar (CAT) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for Caterpillar (CAT)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for Caterpillar (CAT)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5.19B | -32.6% | -$2.51B | ||
| 2024 | $7.70B | +54.7% | +$2.72B | ||
| 2023 | $4.97B | +17.6% | +$745.00M | ||
| 2022 | $4.23B | +58.5% | +$1.56B | ||
| 2021 | $2.67B | +136.1% | +$1.54B | ||
| 2020 | $1.13B | -72.1% | -$2.92B | ||
| 2019 | $4.05B | +6.6% | +$249.00M | ||
| 2018 | $3.80B | — | +$3.80B | ||
| 2017 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2016 | $0 | -100.0% | -$2.02B | ||
| 2015 | $2.02B | -52.2% | -$2.21B | ||
| 2014 | $4.24B | +111.9% | +$2.24B | ||
| 2013 | $2.00B | — | +$2.00B | ||
| 2012 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2011 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2010 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2009 | $0 | -100.0% | -$1.80B | ||
| 2008 | $1.80B | -25.2% | -$605.00M | ||
| 2007 | $2.40B | -25.0% | -$803.00M | ||
| 2006 | $3.21B | +90.5% | +$1.52B | ||
| 2005 | $1.68B | +212.4% | +$1.15B | ||
| 2004 | $539.00M | +33.1% | +$134.00M | ||
| 2003 | $405.00M | — | +$405.00M | ||
| 2002 | $0 | -100.0% | -$43.00M | ||
| 2001 | $43.00M | -89.6% | -$369.00M | ||
| 2000 | $412.00M | +58.5% | +$152.00M | ||
| 1999 | $260.00M | -54.1% | -$307.00M | ||
| 1998 | $567.00M | -19.7% | -$139.00M | ||
| 1997 | $706.00M | +133.0% | +$403.00M | ||
| 1996 | $303.00M | -29.0% | -$124.00M | ||
| 1995 | $427.00M | +77.9% | +$187.00M | ||
| 1994 | $240.00M | — | +$240.00M | ||
| 1993 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1992 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1991 | $0 | -100.0% | -$32.00M | ||
| 1990 | $32.00M | +255.6% | +$23.00M | ||
| 1989 | $9.00M | — | — |
2025's annual buyback spend for Caterpillar (CAT) came in at $5.19B – plunged 32.6% year-over-year.
Through 2020–2025 (5 years), Caterpillar buyback spend delivered a +35.6% annualised rate; with the latest reading among the more recent periods of the dataset.
Caterpillar buyback spend peaked at $7.70B in 2024; the latest annual figure is $5.19B in 2025 (32.6% below peak).
$7.70B stands as the all-time-high annual buyback spend, posted in 2024, against a low of $0 during 1991.
Caterpillar (CAT) sits 2nd of 8 Industrials peers we track on this metric, against a peer median of $1.50B.
Caterpillar Buyback Spend 2025: $5.19B
Caterpillar buyback spend in 2025 was $5.19B, plunged 32.6% below 2024.
Caterpillar Buyback Spend 2024: $7.70B
Caterpillar buyback spend in 2024 was $7.70B, surged 54.7% from 2023. This figure represents the highest annual value in the available history.
Caterpillar Buyback Spend 2023: $4.97B
Caterpillar buyback spend in 2023 was $4.97B, grew 17.6% from 2022.
Caterpillar Buyback Spend 2022: $4.23B
Caterpillar buyback spend in 2022 was $4.23B, surged 58.5% from 2021.
Caterpillar Buyback Spend 2021: $2.67B
Caterpillar buyback spend in 2021 was $2.67B.
See more financial history for Caterpillar (CAT).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as Caterpillar, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| GE Aerospace (GE) | $7.55B | Industrials |
| Honeywell International (HON) | $3.80B | Industrials |
| Union Pacific (UNP) | $2.68B | Industrials |
| Eaton Corporation (ETN) | $1.86B | Industrials |
| Deere & Company (DE) | $1.14B | Industrials |
| RTX (RTX) | $50.00M | Industrials |
| Boeing (BA) | $0 | Industrials |
| Vertiv Holdings (VRT) | $0 | Industrials |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: 22.09×.
Capital allocation mix
How Caterpillar splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $8.67B (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from Caterpillar's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does Caterpillar buy back its own stock?
Yes, Caterpillar (CAT) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does Caterpillar spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $6.49B (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is Caterpillar's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 1.98% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is Caterpillar's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 1.98% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is Caterpillar diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has Caterpillar's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -14.5% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is Caterpillar's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for Caterpillar (CAT) is $6.49B (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has Caterpillar buyback spend changed year-over-year?
Caterpillar (CAT) buyback spend changed -32.6% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Caterpillar buyback spend?
Caterpillar (CAT) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is +35.6% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Caterpillar buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
Caterpillar buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $7.70B in 2024.
What was Caterpillar buyback spend in 2024?
Caterpillar (CAT) buyback spend in 2024 was $7.70B.
What was Caterpillar buyback spend in 2025?
Caterpillar (CAT) buyback spend in 2025 was $5.19B.
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