Summary
This 8-K filing from Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) on March 18, 2011, provides an update on dealer statistics for retail sales of machinery and engines through February 2011. The report indicates robust growth across most geographic regions for machinery sales, with particularly strong increases in Asia/Pacific (up 57%), EAME (up 53%), and Latin America (up 76%) compared to the prior year. The 'World' category for machinery also saw a significant 59% increase, suggesting broad-based demand. For engines, the overall retail sales to users and OEMs showed a 31% increase for the three-month rolling period ending February 2011. While Electric Power, Industrial, and Petroleum engine segments experienced healthy growth, the Marine engine segment continued its downward trend, declining by 36%. This filing serves as supplemental information to help investors understand Caterpillar's business and the industries it serves by providing early indicators of sales performance, distinct from its official financial reporting.
Key Highlights
- 1Robust global machinery retail sales growth for the three-month period ending February 2011, with a 'World' increase of 59% year-over-year.
- 2Exceptional growth in key markets: Asia/Pacific (+57%), EAME (+53%), Latin America (+76%), and North America (+55%).
- 3Overall retail sales for Engines (Machinery and Engines segments) increased by 31% for the same period.
- 4Positive performance in Electric Power (+23%), Industrial (+54%), and Petroleum (+59%) engine segments.
- 5Continued decline in the Marine engine segment (-36%), indicating specific sector weakness.
- 6Information is based on unaudited reports from independent dealers and is presented in constant dollars.
- 7This filing is for supplemental information and does not represent official financial results or guidance.