8-KRegulation FD

CATERPILLAR INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (May 20, 2010)

Filed May 20, 2010For Securities:CAT

Summary

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) filed an 8-K on May 20, 2010, to provide supplemental information regarding dealer statistics for its Machinery and Engines segments. This report details retail sales of machines and engines based on unaudited dealer reports for the three-month rolling period ending April 2010, compared to the prior year. The data is presented in constant dollars and is intended to offer investors insight into the company's business and served industries, acknowledging potential time lags between Caterpillar's sales to dealers and dealer deliveries to end-users. The provided statistics indicate a mixed performance across different regions and business sectors. While the Asia/Pacific region showed positive growth in machine deliveries, most other regions, including EAME, Latin America, ROW, and North America, experienced declines. Similarly, the Engines segment saw significant downturns in most areas, with only a slight uptick in Industrial engine sales. This filing is primarily for informational purposes under Regulation FD and is not subject to Caterpillar's internal financial controls. Investors should note that the information is based on dealer reports and does not represent Caterpillar's audited financial results. The company also reiterates various risk factors that could materially affect its actual future results, as detailed in its previous SEC filings.

Key Highlights

  • 1Caterpillar is providing unaudited dealer statistics for its Machinery and Engines businesses as supplemental information.
  • 2The data covers a three-month rolling period ending April 2010, compared to the same period in the prior year.
  • 3Machine retail sales in the Asia/Pacific region showed a 13% increase for the three months ending April 2010.
  • 4Most other machinery markets, including EAME, Latin America, ROW, and North America, experienced declines in retail sales.
  • 5The Engines segment overall saw a 21% decrease in retail sales for the three months ending April 2010, with significant drops in Marine and Petroleum sectors.
  • 6Sales of Industrial engines showed a modest 5% increase for the three months ending April 2010.
  • 7This information is furnished under Regulation FD and is not subject to internal financial controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

This 8-K filing is intended to provide investors with supplemental, unaudited dealer statistics for Caterpillar's Machinery and Engines businesses. It aims to offer insights into business trends and market conditions by detailing retail sales of machines and engines, acknowledging the time lag between Caterpillar's sales to dealers and dealers' deliveries to end-users.

No, the information provided in this 8-K is based on unaudited reports from Caterpillar's independent dealers and is not subject to Caterpillar's internal controls over financial reporting. It is furnished under Regulation FD for informational purposes.

For the three-month rolling period ending April 2010, the Asia/Pacific region was the only one that showed growth in machine deliveries, with a 13% increase compared to the prior year. All other reported regions, including EAME, Latin America, ROW, and North America, experienced declines.

The Engines segment experienced a significant downturn, with total retail sales down 21% for the three months ending April 2010 compared to the prior year. Key areas like Marine (down 35%) and Petroleum (down 29%) saw particularly sharp declines.