Summary
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) filed an 8-K on April 24, 2017, to provide supplemental information regarding retail sales statistics for machines and power systems. This data, based on voluntary reports from independent dealers and not subject to internal financial controls, offers an indication of trends and is intended to help investors better understand the business amidst potential delays between Caterpillar's sales to dealers and dealers' sales to end-users. The report highlights key retail sales trends across different geographic regions and industry segments for the rolling three-month periods ending in January, February, and March 2017. Investors should note that the data is presented in constant dollars and based on unit sales, offering a directional view rather than precise financial performance metrics.
Key Highlights
- 1Supplemental data on retail sales of machines and power systems is being provided to offer insights into end-user demand.
- 2The information is based on unaudited dealer reports and is intended as an indication of trends, not a substitute for audited financial statements.
- 3For the three-month period ending March 2017, global machine retail sales showed a slight increase of 1% year-over-year, a rebound from prior months showing declines.
- 4Asia/Pacific region demonstrated significant strength in machine retail sales, with a 46% increase for the period ending March 2017.
- 5Construction Industries segment saw a 7% increase in global machine retail sales for the period ending March 2017, driven by strong performance in Asia/Pacific.
- 6Resource Industries segment experienced a notable decline in machine retail sales globally, down 19% for the period ending March 2017.
- 7Energy & Transportation retail sales showed a mixed picture, with a 1% increase overall for the period ending March 2017, driven by Oil & Gas (+15%), while Power Generation, Industrial, and Transportation segments declined.