Is Caterpillar bigger than GE Aerospace?

By market capitalization, Caterpillar is larger at $325.76B vs GE Aerospace's $320.60B.

Which has better profit margins — Caterpillar or GE Aerospace?

GE Aerospace has higher net profit margins (19.0%) compared to Caterpillar (13.1%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.

What sectors do Caterpillar and GE Aerospace operate in?

Caterpillar operates in the Industrials sector (Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery). GE Aerospace operates in the Industrials sector (Aerospace & Defense).

How does Caterpillar's revenue compare to GE Aerospace's?

Caterpillar generates $67.59B in annual revenue (TTM) while GE Aerospace generates $45.85B. Caterpillar is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.

CaterpillarvsGE Aerospace

Caterpillar vs GE Aerospace: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026

Caterpillar · Industrials / Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery·GE Aerospace · Industrials / Aerospace & Defense

Financial Comparison

Metric	CATCaterpillar	GEGE Aerospace
Market Cap	$325.76B	$320.60B
Revenue (TTM)	$67.59B	$45.85B
Revenue Growth	18.0%	17.6%
Gross Margin	28.8%	31.5%
Operating Margin	16.0%	19.5%
Net Margin	13.1%	19.0%
Return on Equity	43.5%	44.7%
P/E (Trailing)	37.1x	37.8x
P/E (Forward)	25.1x	35.5x
Free Cash Flow	$5.84B	$5.21B
Cash	$9.33B	$11.99B
Total Debt	$44.06B	$21.56B

Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.

Business Model Comparison

Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. stands as a leading company in Industrials. Generating $67.59 billion in annual revenue (growing 18.0% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $330.43 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, Caterpillar Inc. continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances gro…

Full Caterpillar analysis →

GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace stands as a leading company in Industrials. Generating $45.85 billion in annual revenue (growing 17.6% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $344.91 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Aerospace & Defense landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, GE Aerospace continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth investment with shar…

Full GE Aerospace analysis →

SWOT Analysis Comparison

Strengths

Caterpillar

With a market capitalization of $330.43B, Caterpillar Inc. is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access tha
Caterpillar Inc. maintains a gross margin of 28.8% and operating margin of 16.0%, demonstrating consistent operational execution and cost discipline in a competitive market.
Revenue grew 18.0% year-over-year to $67.59B, indicating strong demand for Caterpillar Inc.'s products and services and outperformance relative to many industry peers.

GE Aerospace

With a market capitalization of $344.91B, GE Aerospace is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access that sm
GE Aerospace maintains a gross margin of 31.5% and operating margin of 19.5%, demonstrating consistent operational execution and cost discipline in a competitive market.
Revenue grew 17.6% year-over-year to $45.85B, indicating strong demand for GE Aerospace's products and services and outperformance relative to many industry peers.

Weaknesses

Caterpillar

With a debt-to-equity ratio of 206.7, Caterpillar Inc. carries significant debt relative to equity. While manageable given its cash flow, elevated leverage limits financial flexibility and increases v
With 118,000 employees globally, Caterpillar Inc. faces inherent challenges in agility, decision-making speed, and maintaining a consistent culture across geographies — advantages that smaller, nimble

GE Aerospace

With a debt-to-equity ratio of 114.1, GE Aerospace carries significant debt relative to equity. While manageable given its cash flow, elevated leverage limits financial flexibility and increases vulne

Opportunities

Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. operates in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery segment of the broader Industrials sector, which represents a $8.4 trillion global industrial market. Even modest share gains in th
Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for Caterpi
With $9.33B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, Caterpillar Inc. is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.

GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace operates in the Aerospace & Defense segment of the broader Industrials sector, which represents a $8.4 trillion global industrial market. Even modest share gains in this environment trans
Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for GE Aero
Earnings growth of 37.4% YoY demonstrates GE Aerospace's ability to convert revenue growth into shareholder value. Analysts project continued earnings expansion driven by operating leverage as fixed c

Threats

Caterpillar

Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Caterpillar Inc.'s revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession
Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Caterpillar Inc.'s
Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri

GE Aerospace

Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. GE Aerospace's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession sce
Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on GE Aerospace's busi
Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri

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Caterpillar vs GE Aerospace: FAQ

Is Caterpillar bigger than GE Aerospace?: By market capitalization, Caterpillar is larger at $325.76B vs GE Aerospace's $320.60B.
Which has better profit margins — Caterpillar or GE Aerospace?: GE Aerospace has higher net profit margins (19.0%) compared to Caterpillar (13.1%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
What sectors do Caterpillar and GE Aerospace operate in?: Caterpillar operates in the Industrials sector (Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery). GE Aerospace operates in the Industrials sector (Aerospace & Defense).
How does Caterpillar's revenue compare to GE Aerospace's?: Caterpillar generates $67.59B in annual revenue (TTM) while GE Aerospace generates $45.85B. Caterpillar is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.