8-KRegulation FD

CATERPILLAR INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Aug 18, 2011)

Filed August 18, 2011For Securities:CAT

Summary

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) filed a Form 8-K on August 18, 2011, to provide supplemental, unaudited dealer-reported statistics on machine and engine retail sales for July 2011. This information, presented in constant dollars and based on rolling three-month periods, offers insights into the company's performance and market demand trends across various regions and business sectors. The data indicates robust growth in machine deliveries to end-users globally, with the "World" category showing a 35% increase for the three months ending July 2011 compared to the prior year. Strong performance was noted across all major regions, particularly in EAME (Europe, Africa, and Middle East) and Latin America, which saw significant year-over-year increases. For engines, the "Total" segment also exhibited positive growth of 19% in the same period, driven primarily by the Petroleum and Industrial sectors, while the Marine sector experienced a slight decline. Investors can use this data as an early indicator of Caterpillar's business momentum and the health of the industries it serves.

Key Highlights

  • 1Supplemental dealer-reported retail statistics for machines and engines for July 2011 were released.
  • 2Global machine retail deliveries showed a strong 35% year-over-year increase for the rolling three-month period ending July 2011.
  • 3The Asia/Pacific region saw a 20% increase, EAME (Europe, Africa, Middle East) increased by 51%, and Latin America by 52% in machine deliveries.
  • 4North America machine deliveries also showed significant growth, up 27% for the period.
  • 5Engine retail deliveries (Total) increased by 19% year-over-year for the rolling three-month period ending July 2011.
  • 6Key engine sectors with positive growth include Petroleum (21%) and Industrial (37%).
  • 7The Marine engine sector experienced a slight decline of 1% in the rolling three-month period.

Frequently Asked Questions

This Form 8-K is filed to provide investors with supplemental, unaudited statistics on dealer-reported retail sales of Caterpillar's machines and engines. This information is provided to offer a better understanding of the company's business and the industries it serves, particularly due to time lags between Caterpillar's sales to dealers and dealers' deliveries to end-users.

These statistics represent a rolling three-month period ending in the indicated month (July, June, May 2011) and compare the percentage change in unit sales to the same three-month period in the prior year. The figures are reported in constant dollars and are based on unaudited reports from Caterpillar's independent dealers, offering an early indicator of sales trends.

For machines, the EAME (Europe, Africa, and Middle East) and Latin America regions demonstrated particularly strong growth, with increases of 51% and 52% respectively in the three months ending July 2011. For engines, the Industrial sector showed a robust 37% increase, followed by Petroleum at 21%.

For machinery, the primary end-use segments in 2010 were Heavy Construction (34%), Mining (28%), and General Construction (17%). For engines, the main distribution segments in 2010 were Petroleum (37%), Industrial (19%), and Electric Power Generation (33%).