[Form 4] CATERPILLAR INC Insider Trading Activity
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Joseph E. Creed, Chief Executive Officer of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), was credited with 32 phantom stock units on 09/26/2025 under the company's non-qualified deferred compensation plan. The filing states 16 of the units were purchased at a price of $465.76 per share and 16 were contributed for no consideration. Following the transaction the reporting person is deemed to beneficially own 10,553 phantom stock units. The units represent economic equivalents of common stock, accrue dividends, are held in an unfunded unitized stock fund that can vary between cash and stock, and will be settled 100% in cash upon retirement or separation from service.
Positive
- 32 phantom stock units credited to CEO Joseph E. Creed on 09/26/2025, increasing deemed holdings to 10,553 units
- 16 units purchased at a disclosed price of $465.76 per share, showing explicit pricing in the filing
- 16 units contributed for no consideration under the Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan, indicating company-supported compensation
Negative
- Units settle 100% in cash upon retirement or separation, so they do not confer direct voting rights or actual common stock ownership
- Units are held in an unfunded unitized fund whose mix of cash and stock can change the number of phantom units deemed owned over time
Insights
TL;DR: CEO received 32 phantom units, modest change to economic exposure; settlement is cash-only at exit.
The transaction increases the reporting person's economic exposure to Caterpillar by 32 phantom stock units, bringing the total deemed ownership to 10,553 units. Sixteen units were purchased at $465.76 each, while 16 were granted without consideration, indicating routine deferred compensation activity rather than an open-market equity purchase. Because these units are settled 100% in cash and held in an unfunded unitized fund that mixes cash and stock, they do not represent voting common shares and their economic value will fluctuate with the fund composition and accrued dividends.
TL;DR: Disclosure is standard for executive deferred compensation; provides transparency on non-equity economic awards.
The Form 4 properly discloses insider changes in beneficial ownership of phantom stock units for the CEO. Key governance points: the units are non-qualified deferred compensation, include credited dividend adjustments, and vest to cash settlement upon termination or retirement. The cash-only settlement means these instruments do not increase direct share voting power, but they do tie executive compensation to company stock performance economically. The filing appears complete and signed by a POA on 09/29/2025.