Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) is an industry leader with a strong balance sheet and big plans for growth at home and abroad, so would anyone call it a risky bet? Let's look. In this video, Motley Fool analyst Brendan Byrnes highlights why a company like Caterpillar is so closely tied to the economy as a whole and why that may be what's driving its multiple down at the moment, and he discusses how the company will now be much more vulnerable to commodity prices as it moves much more into the mining sector. Brendan also tells us how crucial it will be for the company moving forward to maintain its market share in China against aggressive competition, as it eyes considerable growth prospects in that emerging market.