Dow Today: Caterpillar (CAT) Lower

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) is trading down 10.0 points at 14,437 as of Tuesday, Mar 12, 2013, 12:35 p.m. ET. During this time, 244.8 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands vs. an average daily trading volume of 618.8 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,094 issues advancing vs. 1,829 declining with 130 unchanged.

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Holding back the Dow today is Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT), which is lagging the broader Dow index with a $1.37 decline (-1.5%) bringing the stock to $89.81. This single loss is lowering the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 10.37 points or roughly accounting for 103.7% of the Dow's overall loss. Volume for Caterpillar currently sits at 2.8 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 5.9 million shares.

Caterpillar has a market cap of $59.29 billion and is part of the industrial goods sector and industrial industry. Shares are up 1% year to date as of Monday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 2.3%.

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 10.7, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Caterpillar as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its good cash flow from operations and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Caterpillar Ratings Report.

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For more information on Caterpillar Inc click any of the following:

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• Caterpillar Inc Income Statement