CAT vs WSO
Caterpillar Inc. compared with Watsco, Inc. on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
Quick take
- WSO yields more today: 4.18% vs 0.79% (forward).
- WSO has grown its payout faster: 11.1%/yr vs 8.0%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- WSO has the longer streak of annual increases: 12 years vs 5.
- Over the last year CAT delivered the higher total return: +97.8% vs -18.3% (price change plus payouts).
- CAT raises fewer payout-risk flags on our heuristic (low vs moderate).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | CAT | WSO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $822.53 | $316.02 |
| TTM yield | 0.75% | 3.99% |
| Forward yield | 0.79% | 4.18% |
| Annual payout per share | $6.52 | $13.20 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 19, 2026 (est.) | Oct 16, 2026 (est.) |
| Payout ratio (earnings) | 26% | 105% |
| 1-year payout growth | +7.3% | +10.5% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +8.0% | +11.1% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 5 years | 12 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 93/100 | 90/100 |
| 1-year total return | +97.8% | -18.3% |
| 1-year price return | +96.3% | -21.5% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 378.1B | 13.0B |
| Years paying | 64.6 | 34.4 |
| Payout risk (heuristic) | Low | Moderate |
| Sector / category | Industrials | Industrials |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| CAT | WSO | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 12.2 | 31.6 |
| Income per year | $79 | $418 |
| Income per month (avg) | $7 | $35 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT Oct 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | $1.63 | Est. |
| CAT Jan 18, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 | $1.63 | Est. |
| CAT Apr 19, 2027 | May 3, 2027 | $1.63 | Est. |
| WSO Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | $3.30 | Est. |
| WSO Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 30, 2027 | $3.30 | Est. |
| WSO Apr 18, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | $3.30 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
CATWSO
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, CAT or WSO?
WSO currently has the higher trailing yield: CAT yields 0.75% and WSO yields 3.99%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do CAT and WSO pay?
CAT pays every quarter and WSO pays every quarter. CAT's next ex-date is Oct 19, 2026 and WSO's is Oct 16, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, CAT or WSO?
WSO has grown its payout faster: 11.1%/yr vs 8.0%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is CAT or WSO better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. CAT and WSO differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.