Analysis of Liquidity Ratios
Liquidity ratios measure the company ability to meet its short-term obligations.
Liquidity Ratios (Summary)
Caterpillar Inc., liquidity ratios
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current ratio | 1.42 | 1.35 | 1.39 | 1.46 | 1.53 | |
| Quick ratio | 0.80 | 0.74 | 0.79 | 0.89 | 1.02 | |
| Cash ratio | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.22 | 0.31 | 0.36 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
| Liquidity ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Current ratio | A liquidity ratio calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities. | Caterpillar Inc. current ratio deteriorated from 2022 to 2023 but then improved from 2023 to 2024 exceeding 2022 level. |
| Quick ratio | A liquidity ratio calculated as (cash plus short-term marketable investments plus receivables) divided by current liabilities. | Caterpillar Inc. quick ratio deteriorated from 2022 to 2023 but then improved from 2023 to 2024 exceeding 2022 level. |
| Cash ratio | A liquidity ratio calculated as (cash plus short-term marketable investments) divided by current liabilities. | Caterpillar Inc. cash ratio deteriorated from 2022 to 2023 but then improved from 2023 to 2024 not reaching 2022 level. |
Current Ratio
Caterpillar Inc., current ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Current assets | 45,682) | 46,949) | 43,785) | 43,455) | 39,464) | |
| Current liabilities | 32,272) | 34,728) | 31,531) | 29,847) | 25,717) | |
| Liquidity Ratio | ||||||
| Current ratio1 | 1.42 | 1.35 | 1.39 | 1.46 | 1.53 | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Current Ratio, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | 1.32 | 1.14 | 1.22 | 1.33 | 1.39 | |
| Eaton Corp. plc | — | 1.51 | 1.38 | 1.04 | 1.56 | |
| GE Aerospace | 1.09 | 1.18 | 1.16 | 1.28 | 1.58 | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 1.31 | 1.27 | 1.25 | 1.30 | 1.47 | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 1.13 | 1.21 | 1.32 | 1.42 | 1.39 | |
| RTX Corp. | 0.99 | 1.04 | 1.09 | 1.19 | 1.21 | |
| Current Ratio, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | — | 1.18 | 1.22 | 1.31 | 1.43 | |
| Current Ratio, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | — | 1.16 | 1.20 | 1.29 | 1.41 | |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 2024 Calculation
Current ratio = Current assets ÷ Current liabilities
= 45,682 ÷ 32,272 = 1.42
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Liquidity ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Current ratio | A liquidity ratio calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities. | Caterpillar Inc. current ratio deteriorated from 2022 to 2023 but then improved from 2023 to 2024 exceeding 2022 level. |
Quick Ratio
Caterpillar Inc., quick ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 6,889) | 6,978) | 7,004) | 9,254) | 9,352) | |
| Receivables, trade and other | 9,282) | 9,310) | 8,856) | 8,477) | 7,317) | |
| Receivables, finance | 9,565) | 9,510) | 9,013) | 8,898) | 9,463) | |
| Total quick assets | 25,736) | 25,798) | 24,873) | 26,629) | 26,132) | |
| Current liabilities | 32,272) | 34,728) | 31,531) | 29,847) | 25,717) | |
| Liquidity Ratio | ||||||
| Quick ratio1 | 0.80 | 0.74 | 0.79 | 0.89 | 1.02 | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Quick Ratio, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | 0.39 | 0.28 | 0.32 | 0.34 | 0.41 | |
| Eaton Corp. plc | — | 0.91 | 0.73 | 0.54 | 0.68 | |
| GE Aerospace | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.81 | 0.93 | 1.27 | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 0.88 | 0.84 | 0.88 | 0.94 | 1.15 | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 0.92 | 0.99 | 1.09 | 1.15 | 1.05 | |
| RTX Corp. | 0.60 | 0.63 | 0.69 | 0.81 | 0.78 | |
| Quick Ratio, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | — | 0.60 | 0.64 | 0.71 | 0.83 | |
| Quick Ratio, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | — | 0.66 | 0.72 | 0.80 | 0.88 | |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 2024 Calculation
Quick ratio = Total quick assets ÷ Current liabilities
= 25,736 ÷ 32,272 = 0.80
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Liquidity ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Quick ratio | A liquidity ratio calculated as (cash plus short-term marketable investments plus receivables) divided by current liabilities. | Caterpillar Inc. quick ratio deteriorated from 2022 to 2023 but then improved from 2023 to 2024 exceeding 2022 level. |
Cash Ratio
Caterpillar Inc., cash ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 6,889) | 6,978) | 7,004) | 9,254) | 9,352) | |
| Total cash assets | 6,889) | 6,978) | 7,004) | 9,254) | 9,352) | |
| Current liabilities | 32,272) | 34,728) | 31,531) | 29,847) | 25,717) | |
| Liquidity Ratio | ||||||
| Cash ratio1 | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.22 | 0.31 | 0.36 | |
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Cash Ratio, Competitors2 | ||||||
| Boeing Co. | 0.27 | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.20 | 0.29 | |
| Eaton Corp. plc | — | 0.34 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.19 | |
| GE Aerospace | 0.42 | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.54 | 0.78 | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 0.52 | 0.44 | 0.51 | 0.59 | 0.79 | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 0.13 | 0.09 | 0.16 | 0.26 | 0.23 | |
| RTX Corp. | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.22 | 0.25 | |
| Cash Ratio, Sector | ||||||
| Capital Goods | — | 0.24 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 0.44 | |
| Cash Ratio, Industry | ||||||
| Industrials | — | 0.29 | 0.32 | 0.39 | 0.47 | |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 2024 Calculation
Cash ratio = Total cash assets ÷ Current liabilities
= 6,889 ÷ 32,272 = 0.21
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
| Liquidity ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Cash ratio | A liquidity ratio calculated as (cash plus short-term marketable investments) divided by current liabilities. | Caterpillar Inc. cash ratio deteriorated from 2022 to 2023 but then improved from 2023 to 2024 not reaching 2022 level. |