Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
Caterpillar is the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, and it also builds engines and power systems. Its order book is a widely followed gauge of global infrastructure and resource investment.
Industrials stock comparison
CAT vs ODFL: how the two businesses compare
Caterpillar (CAT) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) do not both have comparable annual revenue in the SEC XBRL snapshot, so this comparison rests on business descriptions, classifications, and filings. The SEC classifies them differently (Construction Machinery & Equip; Trucking (No Local)); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry.
Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.
- Sector
- Industrials
- SEC industry
- Different
- Separate classifications
- Fiscal year ends
- December 31
- Same calendar
- Reviewed
- Feb 24, 2026
CAT vs ODFL: quick comparison
| Company fact | CAT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Caterpillar Inc. | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas | — |
| Founded | 1925 | — |
| SEC industry | Construction Machinery & Equip | Trucking (No Local) |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-13 | 10-K · 2026-02-24 |
Where CAT and ODFL overlap, and where they don't
Overlap
- Shared research theme: Economic trends.
- Same fiscal calendar: both fiscal years end December 31.
Differences
- Different SEC industries: CAT files as Construction Machinery & Equip; ODFL as Trucking (No Local).
- Only CAT maps to Tariffs & trade.
Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL)
Old Dominion Freight Line provides less-than-truckload freight shipping across North America.
What moves each company
Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.
What moves CAT
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for CAT. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-13.
What moves ODFL
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for ODFL. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-24.
The investment question
You now know how CAT and ODFL are classified, when their fiscal years end, and where their exposures overlap. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to economic trends, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.
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Read the full researchSEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. Both fiscal years end December 31, so annual reports line up, but check segment definitions before comparing growth or margins.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 22 matched transaction rows for CAT and 9 matched transaction rows for ODFL. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
CAT primary filings
ODFL primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving CAT or ODFL
CAT vs ODFL FAQs
Are CAT and ODFL direct competitors?
Not necessarily. Caterpillar files as Construction Machinery & Equip and Old Dominion Freight Line as Trucking (No Local). The pair is compared because both map to the Economic trends research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.
Which is better, CAT or ODFL?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this CAT vs ODFL comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Caterpillar Inc. and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-10-03. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-10-03. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?
CAT vs ODFL compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.
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