Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
CAT vs DE
Caterpillar Inc. versus Deere & Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
CAT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
CAT or DE — which is better?
CAT wins this comparison 3–2 across 6 dimensions. CAT yields 0.81% — lower than DE's 1.09% — and carries a 8.8/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 8.1/10 for DE (Strong). CAT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On dividend safety, CAT scores 8.8/10 (Strong) vs 8.1/10 (Strong) for DE — CAT has a stronger composite of payout coverage, yield zone, and dividend trend signals. On yield, DE's 1.09% vs 0.81% represents a $280 annual income gap on $100,000 invested.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | CAT | DE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.81% | 1.09% | DE wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.8/10 | 8.1/10 | CAT wins |
| Growth trend | -0.91% vs 5y | -0.15% vs 5y | CAT wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.60 | 0.90 | DE wins |
| Scale | $367.9B | $160.1B | CAT wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 2 wins | CAT wins |
Dimension by dimension
DE wins on yield (1.09% vs 0.81%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $28 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
DE's higher yield (1.09%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus CAT's 0.81% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
CAT wins on safety (8.8/10 vs 8.1/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. CAT scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
CAT (8.8/10) scores 0.7 points higher than DE (8.1/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
CAT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
CAT's yield is 0.91% below its 5y average, versus 0.15% for DE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
DE is less volatile (beta 0.90 vs 1.60)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
CAT is 2.3× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are CAT dividends qualified and are DE dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
CAT or DE — which is better?
CAT is better on our scoring, winning 3–2 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. CAT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, CAT or DE?
CAT wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but DE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
CAT vs DE: which has a higher dividend yield?
CAT yields 0.81% and DE yields 1.09%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $28 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is CAT or DE a safer dividend in 2026?
CAT scores 8.8/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. DE scores 8.1/10 (Strong). CAT is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, CAT or DE?
CAT's yield is 0.91% below its 5y average, versus 0.15% for DE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
CAT vs DE: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put CAT and DE into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding CAT diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.