FSS vs OSK vs CAT Stock Comparison

Federal Signal, Oshkosh and Caterpillar Prices as of Oct 26, 2026 Peers: Industry group
FSS Federal Signal Corp /De/
$114.29 -0.3% 1M -8.8% 1Y
Market cap
$7.06B
P/E
24.7x
Revenue (TTM)
$2.45B
Div. yield
0.01%
Heavy Equipment Industrials
3 wins
OSK Oshkosh Corp
$133.29 +0.4% 1M -4.4% 1Y
Market cap
$8.36B
P/E
15.0x
Revenue (TTM)
$10.61B
Div. yield
–
Heavy Equipment Industrials
3 wins
CAT Caterpillar Inc
$691.78 -15.8% 1M +32.3% 1Y
Market cap
$328.89B
P/E
30.3x
Revenue (TTM)
$74.73B
Div. yield
0.01%
Heavy Equipment Industrials
6 wins

Head to Head

12 decided of 12

Caterpillar leads on 6 of the 12 questions below (Caterpillar 6, Oshkosh 3, Federal Signal 3). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionFSSOSKCATLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $7.06B $8.36B $328.89B CAT
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 24.7x 15.0x 30.3x OSK
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 23.2x 13.3x 26.8x OSK
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +24.0% +2.2% +18.4% FSS
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 11.7% 5.2% 14.5% CAT
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 15.3% 11.4% 15.9% CAT
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA 0.8x 0.7x 2.5x OSK
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 0.01% 0.00% 0.01% CAT
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months -8.8% -4.4% +32.3% CAT
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +22.3%/yr +5.2%/yr +28.7%/yr CAT
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 35.0% 40.5% 40.5% FSS
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 75/100 72/100 51/100 FSS

Percentile Scorecard

FSSOSKCAT

Each axis is the mean percentile of its metrics against the company's industry group. 100 is the best in the group, 50 the middle.

Scores by Axis

AxisFSSOSKCAT
Valuation 52 #99 of 203 95 #12 of 203 22 #159 of 203
Growth 94 #13 of 187 60 #76 of 187 68 #60 of 187
Profitability 89 #22 of 185 64 #68 of 185 92 #16 of 185
Financial Health 75 #55 of 219 52 #106 of 219 17 #183 of 219
Shareholder Returns 65 #54 of 153 90 #16 of 153 56 #68 of 153
Overall 75 72 51
  • FSS ranked among 222 companies in Machinery
  • OSK ranked among 222 companies in Machinery
  • CAT ranked among 222 companies in Machinery

Price Performance

Price return, split-adjusted, before dividends. Click a name to hide or show it.

Returns

PeriodFSSOSKCATSPY
1 month -0.3%+0.4%-15.8% -0.8%
3 months -3.5%-13.9%-20.8% +3.5%
6 months -1.2%-11.6%-16.5% +7.0%
Year to date +5.2%+6.1%+20.8% +12.2%
1 year -8.8%-4.4%+32.3% +13.0%
3 years +99.6%+54.4%+190.0% +86.3%
3 years, per year +25.9%+15.6%+42.6% +23.1%
5 years +173.9%+28.9%+252.7% +68.6%
5 years, per year +22.3%+5.2%+28.7% +11.0%
10 years +835.3%+149.5%+722.3% +258.0%
10 years, per year +25.1%+9.6%+23.5% +13.6%

Risk

MeasureFSSOSKCATSPY
Volatility, 1Y 35.0%40.5%40.5% 12.7%
Downside volatility, 1Y 35.9%40.5%39.9% 12.7%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 1.281.401.85 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y -0.25-0.110.80 1.02
Max drawdown, 5Y -33.3%-43.5%-35.5% -25.4%
From 52-week high -14.5%-25.1%-35.0% -1.8%
52-week high $133.73$177.94$1,064.90 $779.14
52-week low $104.77$118.59$524.47 $631.97

Valuation History

Weekly multiples on trailing twelve-month fundamentals. Negative or extreme readings (a loss year, a collapsed denominator) are left out so the chart stays readable.

MultipleFSSOSKCAT
P/E now vs peer median 24.4xmedian 26.0x 15.0xmedian 26.0x 29.4xmedian 26.0x
P/S now vs peer median 2.8xmedian 1.9x 0.8xmedian 1.9x 4.3xmedian 1.9x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 15.2xmedian 14.0x 8.6xmedian 14.0x 23.0xmedian 14.0x
P/FCF now vs peer median 20.6xmedian 21.4x 7.3xmedian 21.4x 35.4xmedian 21.4x
P/B now vs peer median 4.6xmedian 2.2x 1.8xmedian 2.2x 16.4xmedian 2.2x
PEG now vs peer median 0.85median 1.26 1.17median 1.26 2.25median 1.26

Financial History

Reported figures by fiscal period, placed on the calendar year (or quarter) each period ended in, so companies with different fiscal years line up.

Trailing twelve monthsFSSOSKCAT
Revenue $2.45B $10.61B $74.73B
Gross profit $714.00M $1.69B $25.66B
Operating income $395.40M $797.60M $13.09B
Net income $285.40M $556.30M $10.84B
Free cash flow $339.20M $1.12B $8.99B
R&D – – $2.27B
EPS (diluted) $4.64 $8.87 $23.45
Cash & equivalents $62.80M $403.60M $6.71B
Total debt $453.60M $1.10B $45.15B
Shares (diluted) 61.50M 62.75M 462.50M
Enterprise value $6.81B $7.02B $300.59B

All Metrics

58 metrics · best in bold

Bold marks the best reading: the lowest positive value for multiples, leverage and payout, the highest for everything else. The bar under each value is its percentile against that company's own peers. Hover a value for its rank and the peer median.

Valuation

12 metrics
MetricFSSOSKCAT
P/E 24.4x 15.0x 29.4x
P/FCF 20.6x 7.3x 35.4x
P/Operating cash flow 18.7x 6.3x 23.4x
P/S 2.8x 0.8x 4.3x
P/B 4.6x 1.8x 16.4x
P/Tangible book 6.2x 2.2x 16.8x
EV/EBITDA 15.2x 8.6x 23.0x
EV/EBIT 18.6x 11.2x 27.2x
EV/Revenue 3.0x 0.8x 4.8x
EV/FCF 21.7x 8.0x 39.6x
EV/Operating cash flow 19.8x 6.9x 26.3x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) 0.85 1.17 2.25

Growth

14 metrics
MetricFSSOSKCAT
Revenue growth (1Y) 24.0% 2.2% 18.4%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 16.1% 5.8% 4.9%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 24.5% -10.2% 11.7%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 22.1% 7.4% 5.6%
Operating income growth (1Y) 27.8% -16.7% 13.7%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) 28.8% 8.2% 7.7%
Net income growth (1Y) 28.8% -14.5% 14.9%
Net income CAGR (3Y) 28.6% 11.1% 9.0%
EPS growth (1Y) 28.4% -11.7% 17.1%
EPS CAGR (3Y) 28.6% 12.8% 13.0%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) 45.6% 60.6% 19.3%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) 59.2% 57.0% 10.6%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) 49.8% 99.4% 16.2%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) 73.3% 49.8% 7.4%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricFSSOSKCAT
Gross margin 29.2% 15.9% 34.3%
EBITDA margin 19.8% 9.8% 20.7%
Operating margin 16.2% 7.5% 17.5%
Pretax margin 15.2% 6.5% 18.6%
Net margin 11.7% 5.2% 14.5%
FCF margin 13.9% 10.6% 12.0%
Operating cash flow margin 15.2% 12.3% 18.2%
Return on equity 19.4% 12.4% 57.0%
Return on assets 11.7% 5.6% 10.9%
Return on invested capital 15.3% 11.4% 15.9%
Return on capital employed 18.5% 11.5% 22.1%
Asset turnover 1.0x 1.1x 0.8x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.3x 2.3x 1.3x
Stock comp / revenue 0.6% 0.4% –

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricFSSOSKCAT
Debt / assets 18.6% 11.0% 44.0%
Debt / equity 0.3x 0.2x 2.3x
Net debt / EBITDA 0.8x 0.7x 2.5x
Debt / FCF 1.3x 1.0x 5.0x
Liabilities / assets 38.2% 55.0% 81.1%
Equity / assets 61.8% 45.0% 18.9%
Interest coverage 19.3x 6.6x 6.8x
Current ratio 2.7x 1.7x 1.4x
Quick ratio 1.1x 0.7x 0.5x
Cash ratio 0.2x 0.1x 0.2x
Altman Z-score 7.13 3.18 4.57

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricFSSOSKCAT
Dividend yield 0.5% 1.7% 0.9%
Net buyback yield 0.0% 4.2% 2.3%
Shareholder yield 0.5% 5.9% 3.2%
Payout ratio (earnings) 12.6% – 25.9%
Payout ratio (FCF) 10.6% – 31.3%
Dividend growth (1Y) 13.6% – 4.2%
Dividend CAGR (3Y) 17.0% – 4.1%

Analyst Estimates

Solid lines are reported fiscal-year results; dashed lines are the consensus for the years ahead. Hover a year for the analysts' high and low, and how each result compared with its estimate.

ConsensusFSSOSKCAT
Forward P/E 23.2xFY2026 13.3xFY2026 26.8xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $4.92FY2026 $10.00FY2026 $25.79FY2026
EPS growth, next FY +16.3%FY2026 -7.3%FY2026 +35.3%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after +10.0% +46.4% +31.4%
Revenue, next fiscal year $2.79BFY2026 $10.70BFY2026 $84.12BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY +28.1%FY2026 +2.6%FY2026 +24.5%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after -5.3% +5.3% +1.5%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersFSSOSKCAT
Held by institutions 100.0% 100.0% 72.3%
Institutions holding 474 598 4,055
Change in shares held, QoQ +3.9% +5.1% +0.5%
Institutions buying 249 309 1,886
Institutions selling 152 188 1,595
Buyers to sellers 1.64 1.64 1.18

Return Correlation

Daily returns, last 12 months

1.00 means two stocks move in lockstep, 0 that they move independently. Pairs below about 0.5 diversify each other.

FSSOSKCAT
FSS 1.00 0.46 0.50
OSK 0.46 1.00 0.53
CAT 0.50 0.53 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, FSS, OSK and CAT?

Caterpillar (CAT) is the largest by market capitalisation: Federal Signal (FSS) $7.06B, Oshkosh (OSK) $8.36B, Caterpillar (CAT) $328.89B.

Which stock is cheaper, FSS, OSK and CAT?

Oshkosh (OSK) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Federal Signal (FSS) 24.7x, Oshkosh (OSK) 15.0x, Caterpillar (CAT) 30.3x). On next year's consensus earnings, Oshkosh (OSK) is cheapest (Federal Signal (FSS) 23.2x, Oshkosh (OSK) 13.3x, Caterpillar (CAT) 26.8x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Federal Signal (FSS) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Federal Signal (FSS) +24.0%, Oshkosh (OSK) +2.2%, Caterpillar (CAT) +18.4%.

Which company is more profitable?

Caterpillar (CAT) has the highest net margin (Federal Signal (FSS) 11.7%, Oshkosh (OSK) 5.2%, Caterpillar (CAT) 14.5%). On return on invested capital, Caterpillar (CAT) leads (Federal Signal (FSS) 15.3%, Oshkosh (OSK) 11.4%, Caterpillar (CAT) 15.9%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Caterpillar (CAT) returned the most: Federal Signal (FSS) -8.8%, Oshkosh (OSK) -4.4%, Caterpillar (CAT) +32.3%. Over five years, Caterpillar (CAT) compounded fastest (Federal Signal (FSS) +22.3%/yr, Oshkosh (OSK) +5.2%/yr, Caterpillar (CAT) +28.7%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Caterpillar (CAT) has the highest dividend yield: Federal Signal (FSS) 0.01%, Oshkosh (OSK) 0.00%, Caterpillar (CAT) 0.01%. Oshkosh (OSK) pays no regular dividend.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, Federal Signal (FSS) has been the steadiest (Federal Signal (FSS) 35.0%, Oshkosh (OSK) 40.5%, Caterpillar (CAT) 40.5%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, FSS, OSK and CAT?

There is no single answer; it depends on what you are buying for. On the 12 head-to-head measures on this page, Caterpillar (CAT) leads on 6. Business Quant does not give investment advice; use the comparison as a starting point for your own research.

Data from SEC filings, exchange prices and consensus estimates, via Business Quant. Percentile scores compare each company with its own peer group, so two companies' scores are each relative to different peers unless you rank against the whole market. Price returns exclude dividends. Nothing on this page is investment advice.