Caterpillar stock falls 5.98 percent as Zacks raises Q3 EPS estimate

Published on 10/07/2026 at 17:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Caterpillar stock traded at USD 811.82 on October 7, 2026, while analysts set a USD 989.17 average target. Second-quarter revenue reached USD 20.54 billion.

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Caterpillar (ISIN US1491231015) was trading at USD 811.82 on the NYSE on October 7, 2026 at 11:13 a.m. ET, down 5.98 percent from the prior close of USD 863.44. The fresh analyst signal came from MarketBeat, which reported on October 7, 2026 that Zacks Research raised its Q3 2026 EPS estimate to USD 6.78 from USD 6.57.

Zacks lifts the Q3 estimate

The revision increases the forecast by USD 0.21, or 3.2 percent, and Zacks Research retained a Strong-Buy rating, according to MarketBeat. The same report puts full-year 2026 EPS estimates at USD 27.36 for Zacks and USD 27.42 for the broader consensus, keeping the debate centered on earnings delivery rather than only on the industrial cycle.

The estimate change follows Caterpillar's second-quarter performance. MarketBeat reported that quarterly EPS was USD 8.17 versus consensus of USD 6.22, a USD 1.95 beat, while revenue reached USD 20.54 billion, up 23.7 percent from the prior-year quarter. The comparison matters because the latest Q3 estimate of USD 6.78 is below the reported Q2 EPS of USD 8.17, even though both figures remain tied to the 2026 earnings cycle.

Consensus stays above the stock

MarketBeat lists a Moderate Buy consensus from 27 analysts, with 15 Buy ratings, 11 Holds and 1 Strong Buy. Its average twelve-month target is USD 989.17, with a high of USD 1,165.00 and a low of USD 750.00, according to MarketBeat.

Using the October 7 trading price, the average target lies 21.8 percent above USD 811.82. That spread gives the estimate revision practical importance: the stock is being valued against a forward earnings path that requires Q3 execution and continued demand across Caterpillar's operating segments.

Capacity investment adds a longer view

Caterpillar had announced on September 30, 2026 that it intended to invest USD 1 billion in North Carolina to expand production of compact track loaders and telehandlers. The company said the planned facility in Sanford would support its Cat Compact business and customer demand, as reported in the Caterpillar release.

A MarketBeat forecast page lists November 4, 2026 for the Q3 earnings report. That date is the next hard checkpoint for the USD 6.78 estimate and for the market's assessment of the company's capacity expansion.

Caterpillar stock trades below its yearly high

Caterpillar stock was trading at USD 811.82 on the NYSE on October 7, 2026 at 11:13 a.m. ET. The session range was USD 808.30 to USD 846.00, while the 52-week range was USD 489.34 to USD 1,073.46 and market capitalization was USD 374.0 billion as of October 7, 2026.