What is the primary purpose of this 8-K filing?

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to provide supplemental, unaudited data on Caterpillar's retail sales of machines and power systems to end users and OEMs. This information is intended to give investors insight into sales trends and the company's business, particularly given the time lag between sales to dealers and end-user purchases.

How reliable is the data presented in this report?

The data is based on unaudited reports voluntarily provided by Caterpillar's independent dealers and OEMs. It is not subject to Caterpillar's internal controls over financial reporting and may not be accurate or complete. Therefore, it should be viewed as an approximate indication of trends, direction, and magnitude, not as a substitute for audited financial statements.

Have there been any changes to how the reported segments are defined?

Yes, beginning with January 2015, the data for Resource Industries and Total Machines now includes draglines, electric rope shovels, hydraulic shovels, drills, and former 'Unit Rig' brand large mining trucks, which were not previously included in the definition of Resource Industries for this report.

CAT 8-K: Regulation FD — Jun 18, 2015

Q: What are the key trends indicated by the retail sales data for May 2015?

The data indicates a general global decline in retail machine sales, with significant weakness in Latin America and Asia/Pacific, partially offset by modest growth in North America. The Resource Industries segment shows mixed results regionally, while Construction Industries are broadly down. Energy & Transportation also presents a mixed picture across its various sub-sectors.

Summary

Caterpillar Inc. filed an 8-K report on June 18, 2015, to provide supplemental information regarding its retail sales of machines and power systems for the three-month rolling period ending May 2015. This data is voluntarily reported by independent dealers and OEMs and is not subject to internal financial controls, therefore it should be viewed as an indicator of trends rather than precise financial performance. The company presents this data to offer insight into its business and the industries it serves, acknowledging the time lag between sales to dealers and end-user sales. The report highlights a continued global downturn in retail machine sales, with notable declines in Latin America and Asia/Pacific, partially offset by modest growth in North America. The Resource Industries segment showed mixed results, with significant growth in Asia/Pacific but weakness in EAME and Latin America. The Construction Industries segment experienced broad declines across most regions, with North America showing a slight decrease. The Energy & Transportation segment also saw mixed performance, with declines in Industrial and Transportation sectors, while Power Generation showed slight growth and Oil & Gas remained relatively stable.

Key Highlights

1Global retail sales of Caterpillar machines experienced a 12% decline for the three-month rolling period ending May 2015 compared to the prior year.
2Significant regional weakness was observed in Latin America (down 50%) and Asia/Pacific (down 14%) for total machine retail sales.
3North America showed resilience in total machine retail sales, with a 1% increase for the period.
4The Resource Industries segment, while generally down globally (8%), saw a substantial 40% increase in Asia/Pacific retail sales.
5The Construction Industries segment faced broad weakness, with a 14% global decline, driven by a 53% drop in Latin America and a 1% drop in North America.
6In the Energy & Transportation segment, Power Generation sales were up 1% for the period, while Transportation sales declined 17% and Industrial sales fell 9%.

CATERPILLAR INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Jun 18, 2015)

Summary

Key Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions