Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) vs Silver (one troy ounce) (SILVER)

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The company reports results across Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation, with market share nearing 20% in many product categories. Caterpillar also operates a captive finance subsidiary that helps support equipment sales. Its business has a broad global footprint, with revenue roughly balanced between the United States and international markets. The construction segment is more heavily weighted toward the domestic market, while the other divisions are more geographically diversified. An independent dealer network of more than 150 dealers runs approximately 2,800 locations, extending Caterpillar’s sales and service presence to about 190 countries.

Silver priced in U.S. dollars represents the market value of one troy ounce of silver. Silver is both a precious metal and an industrial commodity, used in jewelry, investment products, electronics, solar panels, and other manufacturing applications. Its price is influenced by precious-metals demand, industrial activity, mine supply, investor flows, real interest rates, and the U.S. dollar. Because it has significant industrial uses, silver can be more cyclical and volatile than gold.