Caterpillar

Texas
Capital Goods

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Caterpillar does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. Caterpillar discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving guidelines and is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. Caterpillar pledged $1 million to BLM and related causes and supported Planned Parenthood in 2019. However, it has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Caterpillar receives a Medium Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Caterpillar has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Caterpillar does not match gifts to “tithes, church-related commitments, religious organizations classified by the IRS” (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Caterpillar does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Caterpillar has posted a brief public statement under the “Political Engagement” section of its website affirming its support for equal access to the right to vote in response to election security laws in various states (1). The CEO of Caterpillar, James Umpleby III, is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (2)(3). Caterpillar has advocated for LGBT causes through blog posts on its website (4).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Caterpillar provided donor support to Planned Parenthood through its charity trust/foundation in 2019 (1). The company has also pledged $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (2)(3).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Caterpillar has not used its PAC donations or lobbying for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3)(4).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 6, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
6/14/23GovernanceMyra K. YoungProvide Disclosure on Direct and Indirect LobbyingAgainst28.90%
6/14/23EnvironmentalJohn CheveddenReport on how Caterpillar Lobbying and Policy Activities Align with the Goal of the Paris AgreementAgainst28.10%
6/14/23SocialWespath Benefits and InvestmentsReport on Business Activities in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk AreasAgainst14.18%
6/14/23SocialNational Center for Public Policy ResearchAudit Analyzing the Impacts of the Company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PoliciesAgainst1.70%
6/8/22EnvironmentalAs You SowReport on Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Targets Aligned with Paris AgreementAgainst95.50%
6/8/22SocialMyra K. YoungReport on LobbyingAgainst44.28%
6/8/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenSpecial Meetings - Reduce Ownership Req. to 10%Against43.22%
6/8/22SocialWespath Benefits & InvestmentsReport on Activities in Conflict-Affected AreasAgainst10.37%
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