WAB vs GATX vs CAT Stock Comparison

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies, Gatx and Caterpillar Prices as of Nov 3, 2026 Peers: Industry group
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GATX Gatx Corp
$185.86 +8.7% 1M +19.7% 1Y
Market cap
$6.79B
P/E
17.4x
Revenue (TTM)
$2.21B
Div. yield
–
Rail Equipment Industrials
5 wins
CAT Caterpillar Inc
$623.86 -26.2% 1M +9.3% 1Y
Market cap
$271.70B
P/E
25.1x
Revenue (TTM)
$74.73B
Div. yield
0.01%
Heavy Equipment Industrials
3 wins

Head to Head

12 decided of 12

Gatx leads on 5 of the 12 questions below (Gatx 5, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies 4, Caterpillar 3). Which ones matter depends on what you are buying for; a cheap multiple and slow growth often come together.

QuestionWABGATXCATLeader
Larger companyMarket capitalisation $49.41B $6.79B $271.70B CAT
Cheaper on earningsLower P/E, profitable companies only 36.1x 17.4x 25.1x GATX
Cheaper on forward earningsLower price / next fiscal year consensus EPS 25.1x 19.5x 24.2x GATX
Faster revenue growthRevenue growth, trailing twelve months +13.2% +29.7% +18.4% GATX
More profitableNet margin, trailing twelve months 11.2% 17.7% 14.5% GATX
Better return on capitalReturn on invested capital 8.8% 1.7% 15.9% CAT
Less leveragedLower net debt / EBITDA 2.2x 11.7x 2.5x WAB
Higher dividend yieldTrailing dividend yield 0.00% 0.00% 0.01% CAT
Better 1-year returnPrice return, last 12 months +42.4% +19.7% +9.3% WAB
Better 5-year returnAnnualised price return, 5 years +26.0%/yr +13.2%/yr +25.1%/yr WAB
Less volatileAnnualised volatility, 1 year 26.4% 24.8% 40.6% GATX
Higher overall scoreMean of the five percentile scores vs peers 61/100 51/100 54/100 WAB

Percentile Scorecard

WABGATXCAT

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

AxisWABGATXCAT
Valuation 34 #135 of 204 45 #113 of 204 32 #140 of 204
Growth 88 #24 of 191 62 #73 of 191 70 #58 of 191
Profitability 70 #57 of 189 61 #75 of 189 93 #14 of 189
Financial Health 31 #152 of 221 3 #214 of 221 17 #183 of 221
Shareholder Returns 82 #29 of 158 86 #23 of 158 61 #63 of 158
Overall 61 51 54
  • WAB ranked among 223 companies in Machinery
  • GATX ranked among 223 companies in Machinery
  • CAT ranked among 223 companies in Machinery

Price Performance

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

Returns

PeriodWABGATXCATSPY
1 month +1.4%+8.7%-26.2% -2.0%
3 months -2.4%+2.1%-28.8% -2.2%
6 months +10.8%-4.8%-31.0% +4.2%
Year to date +36.7%+9.6%+8.9% +10.6%
1 year +42.4%+19.7%+9.3% +10.4%
3 years +162.2%+70.5%+159.1% +73.6%
3 years, per year +37.9%+19.5%+37.4% +20.2%
5 years +217.3%+85.6%+206.4% +61.6%
5 years, per year +26.0%+13.2%+25.1% +10.1%
10 years +286.9%+327.2%+667.6% +261.3%
10 years, per year +14.5%+15.6%+22.6% +13.7%

Risk

MeasureWABGATXCATSPY
Volatility, 1Y 26.4%24.8%40.6% 12.8%
Downside volatility, 1Y 24.2%25.3%43.1% 12.8%
Beta vs S&P 500, 1Y 1.000.561.91 1.00
Return / volatility, 1Y 1.610.800.23 0.81
Max drawdown, 5Y -23.7%-32.6%-42.4% -25.4%
From 52-week high -4.6%-7.4%-41.4% -3.2%
52-week high $305.87$200.76$1,064.90 $779.14
52-week low $196.14$152.11$546.13 $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.

MultipleWABGATXCAT
P/E now vs peer median 35.9xmedian 25.4x 17.0xmedian 25.4x 26.5xmedian 25.4x
P/S now vs peer median 4.0xmedian 1.9x 2.9xmedian 1.9x 3.8xmedian 1.9x
EV/EBITDA now vs peer median 20.7xmedian 14.5x 18.3xmedian 14.5x 21.0xmedian 14.5x
P/FCF now vs peer median 27.5xmedian 23.6x -1.5xmedian 23.6x 31.9xmedian 23.6x
P/B now vs peer median 4.3xmedian 2.2x 1.8xmedian 2.2x 14.8xmedian 2.2x
PEG now vs peer median 1.48median 1.21 0.97median 1.21 2.03median 1.21

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 monthsWABGATXCAT
Revenue $12.21B $2.21B $74.73B
Gross profit $4.35B – $25.66B
Operating income $2.10B – $13.09B
Net income $1.37B $400.70M $10.84B
Free cash flow $1.78B -$4.47B $8.99B
R&D $261.00M – $2.27B
EPS (diluted) $8.10 $10.92 $23.45
Cash & equivalents $489.00M $390.00M $6.71B
Total debt $6.38B $11.94B $45.15B
Shares (diluted) 168.80M 35.80M 462.50M
Enterprise value $46.93B $4.17B $243.40B

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
MetricWABGATXCAT
P/E 35.9x 17.0x 26.5x
P/FCF 27.5x -1.5x 31.9x
P/Operating cash flow 23.5x 7.5x 21.1x
P/S 4.0x 2.9x 3.8x
P/B 4.3x 1.8x 14.8x
P/Tangible book 6.7x 1.8x 15.1x
EV/EBITDA 20.7x 18.3x 21.0x
EV/EBIT 26.2x 51.5x 24.8x
EV/Revenue 4.5x 8.2x 4.4x
EV/FCF 30.8x -4.0x 36.2x
EV/Operating cash flow 26.3x 20.9x 24.0x
PEG (3Y EPS CAGR) 1.48 0.97 2.03

Growth

14 metrics
MetricWABGATXCAT
Revenue growth (1Y) 13.2% 29.7% 18.4%
Revenue CAGR (3Y) 8.9% 17.4% 4.9%
Gross profit growth (1Y) 19.7% – 11.7%
Gross profit CAGR (3Y) 15.4% – 5.6%
Operating income growth (1Y) 18.5% – 13.7%
Operating income CAGR (3Y) 20.3% – 7.7%
Net income growth (1Y) 15.3% 28.1% 14.9%
Net income CAGR (3Y) 21.4% 18.4% 9.0%
EPS growth (1Y) 17.5% 25.7% 17.1%
EPS CAGR (3Y) 24.2% 17.4% 13.0%
Operating cash flow growth (1Y) 40.1% 21.7% 19.3%
Operating cash flow CAGR (3Y) 31.2% 14.1% 10.6%
Free cash flow growth (1Y) 40.6% -765.1% 16.2%
Free cash flow CAGR (3Y) 33.5% -63.4% 7.4%

Profitability

14 metrics
MetricWABGATXCAT
Gross margin 35.6% – 34.3%
EBITDA margin 21.8% 44.6% 20.7%
Operating margin 17.2% – 17.5%
Pretax margin 15.0% 15.8% 18.6%
Net margin 11.2% 17.7% 14.5%
FCF margin 14.6% -202.1% 12.0%
Operating cash flow margin 17.1% 39.1% 18.2%
Return on equity 12.2% 11.1% 57.0%
Return on assets 5.9% 2.3% 10.9%
Return on invested capital 8.8% 1.7% 15.9%
Return on capital employed 11.9% – 22.1%
Asset turnover 0.5x 0.1x 0.8x
Cash conversion (OCF / net income) 1.5x 2.2x 1.3x
Stock comp / revenue 0.8% – –

Financial Health

11 metrics
MetricWABGATXCAT
Debt / assets 27.6% 69.1% 44.0%
Debt / equity 0.6x 3.4x 2.3x
Net debt / EBITDA 2.2x 11.7x 2.5x
Debt / FCF 3.6x -2.7x 5.0x
Liabilities / assets 50.9% 79.5% 81.1%
Equity / assets 49.1% 20.5% 18.9%
Interest coverage 7.0x – 6.8x
Current ratio 1.1x – 1.4x
Quick ratio 0.5x – 0.5x
Cash ratio 0.1x – 0.2x
Altman Z-score 3.65 – 4.35

Shareholder Returns

7 metrics
MetricWABGATXCAT
Dividend yield 0.4% 1.4% 1.0%
Net buyback yield 1.7% 2.7% 2.5%
Shareholder yield 2.1% 4.1% 3.6%
Payout ratio (earnings) 14.6% – 25.9%
Payout ratio (FCF) 11.3% – 31.3%
Dividend growth (1Y) 22.6% – 4.2%
Dividend CAGR (3Y) 18.8% – 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.

ConsensusWABGATXCAT
Forward P/E 25.1xFY2026 19.5xFY2026 24.2xFY2026
EPS, next fiscal year $11.63FY2026 $9.52FY2026 $25.79FY2026
EPS growth, next FY +29.7%FY2026 +8.8%FY2026 +35.3%FY2026
EPS growth, the year after +5.7% +25.9% +31.4%
Revenue, next fiscal year $12.82BFY2026 $2.22BFY2026 $84.12BFY2026
Revenue growth, next FY +14.8%FY2026 +27.4%FY2026 +24.5%FY2026
Revenue growth, the year after -2.8% +17.1% +1.5%

Institutional Ownership

13F filings, quarter ended Jun 30, 2026
HoldersWABGATXCAT
Held by institutions 92.7% 100.0% 72.3%
Institutions holding 1,197 414 4,062
Change in shares held, QoQ +0.2% +2.6% +0.6%
Institutions buying 554 180 1,891
Institutions selling 410 142 1,597
Buyers to sellers 1.35 1.27 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.

WABGATXCAT
WAB 1.00 0.49 0.64
GATX 0.49 1.00 0.30
CAT 0.64 0.30 1.00

Add a Peer

Largest companies in the same industry

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, WAB, GATX and CAT?

Caterpillar (CAT) is the largest by market capitalisation: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) $49.41B, Gatx (GATX) $6.79B, Caterpillar (CAT) $271.70B.

Which stock is cheaper, WAB, GATX and CAT?

Gatx (GATX) trades on the lowest price-to-earnings ratio (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) 36.1x, Gatx (GATX) 17.4x, Caterpillar (CAT) 25.1x). On next year's consensus earnings, Gatx (GATX) is cheapest (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) 25.1x, Gatx (GATX) 19.5x, Caterpillar (CAT) 24.2x). A lower multiple can reflect slower expected growth, so read it next to the growth figures.

Which company is growing faster?

Gatx (GATX) grew revenue fastest over the trailing twelve months: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) +13.2%, Gatx (GATX) +29.7%, Caterpillar (CAT) +18.4%.

Which company is more profitable?

Gatx (GATX) has the highest net margin (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) 11.2%, Gatx (GATX) 17.7%, Caterpillar (CAT) 14.5%). On return on invested capital, Caterpillar (CAT) leads (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) 8.8%, Gatx (GATX) 1.7%, Caterpillar (CAT) 15.9%).

Which stock has performed better?

Over the past year Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) returned the most: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) +42.4%, Gatx (GATX) +19.7%, Caterpillar (CAT) +9.3%. Over five years, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) compounded fastest (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) +26.0%/yr, Gatx (GATX) +13.2%/yr, Caterpillar (CAT) +25.1%/yr). Returns are price only, before dividends.

Which pays a higher dividend?

Caterpillar (CAT) has the highest dividend yield: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) 0.00%, Gatx (GATX) 0.00%, Caterpillar (CAT) 0.01%. Gatx (GATX) pays no regular dividend.

Which stock is riskier?

By one-year price volatility, Gatx (GATX) has been the steadiest (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB) 26.4%, Gatx (GATX) 24.8%, Caterpillar (CAT) 40.6%). Volatility measures how widely the price swings, not the risk of the business.

Which is the better stock, WAB, GATX 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, Gatx (GATX) leads on 5. 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.