What is Caterpillar Inc.'s average annual return?

Since 1971, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has returned about 12.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 14.3%.

What were Caterpillar Inc.'s best and worst years?

Over 1971–2026, the best year was 2003 (+86.1%) and the worst was 2008 (-36.5%).

How often is Caterpillar Inc. up in a year?

39 of the 55 full years since 1971 were positive — about 71% of the time.

CAT

Caterpillar Inc.Stock · Industrials

$963.53−$27.88 (-2.81%)as of market close, Jul 2, 2026

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CAT returns by year

Caterpillar Inc. has returned +12.3% annually (CAGR) since 1971. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) below, through July 2, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+12.3%

1971–2026

Average year

+14.3%

55 full years

Best year

+86.1%

2003

Worst year

-36.5%

2008

Positive years

39/55

71% up

Caterpillar Inc. returns by year (1971–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

Caterpillar Inc. annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$572.87	$963.53	+0.7%	+68.9%
2025	$362.76	$572.87	+2.4%	+60.3%
2024	$295.67	$362.76	+2.0%	+24.7%
2023	$239.56	$295.67	+2.5%	+25.9%
2022	$206.74	$239.56	+2.7%	+18.6%
2021	$182.02	$206.74	+2.4%	+15.9%
2020	$147.68	$182.02	+3.7%	+26.9%
2019	$127.07	$147.68	+3.3%	+19.5%
2018	$157.58	$127.07	+1.8%	-17.6%
2017	$92.74	$157.58	+5.1%	+75.0%
2016	$67.96	$92.74	+5.6%	+42.0%
2015	$91.53	$67.96	+2.8%	-23.0%
2014	$90.81	$91.53	+2.7%	+3.5%
2013	$89.61	$90.81	+2.1%	+3.4%
2012	$90.60	$89.61	+2.7%	+1.6%
2011	$93.66	$90.60	+1.8%	-1.5%
2010	$56.99	$93.66	+4.2%	+68.5%
2009	$44.67	$56.99	+5.6%	+33.2%
2008	$72.56	$44.67	+1.9%	-36.5%
2007	$61.33	$72.56	+2.2%	+20.5%
2006	$57.77	$61.33	+1.7%	+7.9%
2005	$48.76	$57.77	+2.2%	+20.7%
2004	$41.51	$48.76	+2.3%	+19.7%
2003	$22.86	$41.51	+4.5%	+86.1%
2002	$26.13	$22.86	+2.7%	-9.8%
2001	$23.66	$26.13	+3.2%	+13.6%
2000	$23.53	$23.66	+3.6%	+4.1%
1999	$23.00	$23.53	+2.3%	+4.7%
1998	$24.25	$23.00	+2.1%	-3.1%
1997	$18.81	$24.25	+2.4%	+31.3%
1996	$14.69	$18.81	+3.0%	+31.1%
1995	$13.78	$14.69	+1.7%	+8.3%
1994	$11.13	$13.78	+0.0%	+23.9%
1993	$6.70	$11.13	+0.0%	+66.0%
1992	$5.48	$6.70	+0.0%	+22.2%
1991	$5.88	$5.48	+0.0%	-6.6%
1990	$7.23	$5.88	+0.0%	-18.8%
1989	$7.95	$7.23	+0.0%	-9.0%
1988	$7.75	$7.95	+0.0%	+2.6%
1987	$5.02	$7.75	+0.0%	+54.5%
1986	$5.25	$5.02	+0.0%	-4.5%
1985	$3.88	$5.25	+0.0%	+35.5%
1984	$5.91	$3.88	+0.0%	-34.4%
1983	$5.02	$5.91	+0.0%	+17.8%
1982	$6.94	$5.02	+0.0%	-27.7%
1981	$7.25	$6.94	+0.0%	-4.3%
1980	$6.75	$7.25	+0.0%	+7.4%
1979	$7.34	$6.75	+0.0%	-8.1%
1978	$6.86	$7.34	+0.0%	+7.1%
1977	$7.25	$6.86	+0.0%	-5.4%
1976	$5.81	$7.25	+0.0%	+24.7%
1975	$4.04	$5.81	+0.0%	+43.8%
1974	$5.58	$4.04	+0.0%	-27.6%
1973	$5.54	$5.58	+0.0%	+0.8%
1972	$3.94	$5.54	+0.0%	+40.7%
1971	$3.56	$3.94	+0.0%	+10.5%

Total return by period

-50%+0%+50%

'71'76'81'86'91'96'01'06'11'16'21'26

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from CAT's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is Caterpillar Inc.'s average annual return?: Since 1971, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has returned about 12.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 14.3%.
What were Caterpillar Inc.'s best and worst years?: Over 1971–2026, the best year was 2003 (+86.1%) and the worst was 2008 (-36.5%).
How often is Caterpillar Inc. up in a year?: 39 of the 55 full years since 1971 were positive — about 71% of the time.