8-KRegulation FD

CATERPILLAR INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Jul 24, 2017)

Filed July 24, 2017For Securities:CAT

Summary

This 8-K filing from Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) on July 24, 2017, provides supplemental information regarding retail sales of machines and power systems. The data, based on unaudited dealer reports, offers insights into trends and demand levels across different geographic regions and industries served by Caterpillar. It is important to note that this information is intended to provide an approximate indication of trends and is not a substitute for Caterpillar's audited financial statements. The filing highlights retail sales performance for the three-month rolling periods ending in April, May, and June 2017, compared to the prior year. This supplemental disclosure aims to give investors a better understanding of the business, especially given the lag between Caterpillar's sales to dealers and dealers' sales to end-users. While the data is unaudited and may not be fully accurate or complete, it serves as a valuable, albeit approximate, indicator of market dynamics.

Key Highlights

  • 1Caterpillar is providing supplemental data on retail sales of machines and power systems to end users and OEMs, based on unaudited dealer reports.
  • 2The filing covers rolling three-month periods ending April, May, and June 2017, compared to the same periods in the prior year.
  • 3Retail sales of Total Machines globally showed an upward trend, increasing by 7% for the period ending June 2017.
  • 4Construction Industries segment showed strong growth in retail machine sales, particularly in Asia/Pacific (up 48% as of June 2017) and North America (up 5% as of June 2017).
  • 5Resource Industries segment experienced declines in retail machine sales across most regions, with a global decrease of 1% as of June 2017.
  • 6Energy & Transportation segment retail sales showed mixed performance, with Industrial (up 10% as of June 2017) and Oil & Gas (up 6% as of June 2017) showing positive trends, while Power Generation and Transportation saw declines.
  • 7The supplemental data is intended to provide an approximate indication of trends and is not a substitute for Caterpillar's audited financial statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of this 8-K filing is to provide supplemental information on Caterpillar's retail sales of machines and power systems. This data, based on unaudited dealer reports, aims to give investors a better understanding of business trends and demand, especially given the time lag between Caterpillar selling to dealers and dealers selling to end-users.

The retail sales data presented is based on unaudited reports voluntarily provided by independent dealers. Caterpillar states that this data may not be accurate or complete and is intended solely to convey an approximate indication of trends, direction, and magnitude. It is not a substitute for the company's audited financial statements.

The Construction Industries segment is showing robust retail sales growth, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region and North America. The 'Total Machines' category globally also experienced an increase in retail sales. Within Energy & Transportation, the Industrial and Oil & Gas sectors demonstrated positive retail sales trends.

Yes, the Resource Industries segment generally experienced declines in retail machine sales across most regions for the periods presented, with a global decrease reported. The Energy & Transportation segment also saw declines in its Power Generation and Transportation sub-sectors.