What is Caterpillar's deferred tax assets?

Caterpillar (CAT) reported deferred tax assets of $4.90B in Q4 2025.

How has Caterpillar's deferred tax assets changed year-over-year?

Caterpillar's deferred tax assets decreased by 8.6% year-over-year, from $5.36B to $4.90B.

What is the long-term trend for Caterpillar's deferred tax assets?

Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), Caterpillar's deferred tax assets has grown at a 69.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $350.00M to $4.90B.

What does deferred tax assets mean?

A tax overpayment or credit that the company can use to lower its tax bill in the future.

Deferred Tax Assets

Non-Current Assets

Caterpillar Deferred Tax Assets decreased by 8.6% to $4.90B in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 8.6%, from $5.36B to $4.90B. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Deferred Tax Assets shows an upward trend with a 69.5% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.

Analysis

StatementBalance Sheet Statement

SectionNon-Current Assets

CategoryRisk

SignalHigher is better

VolatilityModerate

First reportedQ4 2009

Last reportedQ3 2025

How to read this metric

An increase suggests the company has more 'tax shields' to protect future earnings, while a valuation allowance against them would signal doubt about future profitability.

Detailed definition

An asset on the balance sheet that results from overpayment or advance payment of taxes, or from carryforwards of losses...

Peer comparison

Companies with significant R&D operations typically carry higher deferred tax assets due to government incentives for innovation.

Metric ID: deferred_tax_assets

Historical Data

5 periods

	Q4 '21	Q4 '22	Q4 '23	Q4 '24	Q4 '25
Value	$90.00M	$60.00M	$5.20B	$5.36B	$4.90B
QoQ Change	—	-33.3%	>999%	+3.1%	-8.6%
YoY Change	—	-33.3%	>999%	+3.1%	-8.6%

Range$60.00M – $5.36B

CAGR>999%

Avg YoY Growth>999%

Median YoY Growth-2.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Caterpillar's deferred tax assets?: Caterpillar (CAT) reported deferred tax assets of $4.90B in Q4 2025.
How has Caterpillar's deferred tax assets changed year-over-year?: Caterpillar's deferred tax assets decreased by 8.6% year-over-year, from $5.36B to $4.90B.
What is the long-term trend for Caterpillar's deferred tax assets?: Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), Caterpillar's deferred tax assets has grown at a 69.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $350.00M to $4.90B.
What does deferred tax assets mean?: A tax overpayment or credit that the company can use to lower its tax bill in the future.