New York, Feb 13, 2026, 10:53 AM EST — Regular session
- CAT climbed 3.1% to $782.04 during the morning session
- Earlier this week, Argus Research bumped its price target up to $820, up from the previous $625.
- The company’s latest 10-K just landed. Traders are also eyeing the CFO’s Feb. 18 slot at a Barclays conference.
Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) was up 3.1% at $782.04 in Friday morning action, a jump of $23.75 from where it finished Thursday.
Why does it matter? Caterpillar often stands in for broader trends in big-ticket spending, and right now, the macro picture hasn’t settled. “The inflation report is better than expected … This is good news for the Fed,” said Phil Orlando, chief market strategist at Federated Hermes, after U.S. consumer prices came in cooler. Reuters
Caterpillar caught a fresh wave of attention Wednesday after a 4.4% surge, sparked by Argus Research hiking its price target to $820 from $625.
Brokers set price targets to indicate where a stock might end up over the coming year. Sharp moves in those targets can land quickly—particularly when there’s a lack of new information coming out of the company itself.
Caterpillar shares picked up speed after late January, following the company’s focus on data-center-driven demand and new orders for “prime power” generator systems. But, as Jefferies analyst Stephen Volkmann pointed out then, “Better-than-expected sales across business segments were hindered by tariff headwinds, limiting the margin expansion for the quarter.” Reuters
Caterpillar filed its Form 10-K on Friday, covering the year ended Dec. 31, 2025. The annual report packs in audited results and an array of risk factors.
The risks haven’t disappeared. Caterpillar’s latest quarterly results flagged a drag from higher tariffs, with the company noting “unfavorable manufacturing costs” in the filing. Adjusted operating profit margin dropped to 15.6%; last year, that figure stood at 18.3%. Caterpillar
Dividend “aristocrats” — firms with a long history of raising payouts — have started to draw more interest again after growth names stumbled. Caterpillar climbed over 34% in early 2026, according to Barron’s. Barron’s
Caterpillar said CFO Andrew Bonfield is set to speak at a fireside chat during the Barclays Industrial Select Conference on Feb. 18, with investors watching for fresh views on demand and pricing. U.S. equity markets are shut Monday for Presidents’ Day, tightening the week’s trading schedule.
