Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

CAT vs DE

Caterpillar Inc. versus Deere & Company — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

CAT and DE are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	CAT	DE	Winner
Yield	0.83%	1.03%	DE wins
Dividend safety	8.8/10	8.6/10	Tie
Growth trend	-0.89% vs 5y	-0.21% vs 5y	CAT wins
Volatility (beta)	1.56	0.90	DE wins
Scale	$372.7B	$169.7B	CAT wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	2 wins	2 wins	Tie

Dimension by dimension

DE wins on yield (1.03% vs 0.83%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $20 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

DE's higher yield (1.03%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus CAT's 0.83% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

CAT: 0.83%DE: 1.03%

Safety scores are too close to call (8.8/10 vs 8.6/10)

Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.

CAT: 8.8/10DE: 8.6/10

CAT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

CAT's yield is 0.89% below its 5y average, versus 0.21% for DE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

CAT: -0.89% vs 5yDE: -0.21% vs 5y

DE is less volatile (beta 0.90 vs 1.56)

Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.

CAT: 1.56DE: 0.90

CAT is 2.2× larger by market cap

Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

CAT: $372.7BDE: $169.7B

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.

CAT: Qualified-eligibleDE: Qualified-eligible

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

Which is better for income, CAT or DE?

CAT and DE are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.

CAT vs DE: which has a higher dividend yield?

CAT yields 0.83% and DE yields 1.03%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $20 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 8.6/10 (Strong). CAT is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, CAT or DE?