Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-10-31 06:42Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley warns that the market valuation multiples for Caterpillar's power generation business have significantly exceeded those of industry leaders like Nvidia and GE Vernova, indicating a potential overvaluation that could lead to a sharp correction if market conditions change [1][4]. Valuation Comparison - Caterpillar's power generation business is currently valued at an EV/EBITDA multiple between 58x and 103x, while GE Vernova and Nvidia are valued at approximately 28x and 25x, respectively [1][4]. - This suggests that the market perceives Caterpillar's power generation business as more valuable than the related businesses of top technology and energy companies [4]. Business Segment Analysis - The projected EBITDA for Caterpillar's segments in 2026 is as follows: - Construction Industries: $3,664 million at a 13.0x multiple, resulting in an EV of $47,628 million - Resource Industries: $2,118 million at a 13.0x multiple, resulting in an EV of $27,538 million - Power Generation: $1,508 million at a 103.0x multiple, resulting in an EV of $155,369 million - Other Energy & Transportation: $7,132 million at a 13.0x multiple, resulting in an EV of $92,713 million [5]. Market Expectations - To justify Caterpillar's current stock price of $585, the market must accept one of two extreme scenarios: 1. The valuation of Caterpillar's traditional cyclical businesses (like construction and resource extraction) is pushed to "absurd levels" far beyond historical norms. 2. Even with optimistic assumptions for the power generation business, the implied valuation for cyclical businesses remains high at 28x, despite declining operating margins [6][7]. - Morgan Stanley estimates that even with aggressive growth projections for the power generation business, it is unlikely to meet bullish expectations of $20 billion in sales by 2027 [7]. Price Target and EPS Forecast - Morgan Stanley maintains a 2026 EPS forecast for Caterpillar at $19.24, with a target price of $380 based on a 20x P/E ratio, indicating a potential downside of 35% from the current stock price [7].