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

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to provide supplemental, unaudited information regarding Caterpillar's retail sales of machines and power systems to end users and OEMs. This data is intended to help investors better understand business trends and the industries served by Caterpillar, especially given the time lag between sales to dealers and sales to end users.

How reliable is the data presented in this report?

The information presented is based on unaudited reports voluntarily provided by Caterpillar's independent dealers and is not subject to the company's internal controls over financial reporting. Therefore, the data may not be accurate or complete and is intended solely to indicate approximate trends, direction, and magnitude of retail sales, not as a substitute for audited financial statements.

Which geographic regions showed the strongest retail sales growth for machines?

For the 3-month rolling period ended March 2018, the Asia/Pacific region showed particularly strong growth, with total machine retail sales up 31%. Latin America also demonstrated significant increases in machine sales, especially within the Resource Industries segment.

What were the key trends in the Energy & Transportation segment?

The Energy & Transportation segment experienced a 21% increase in total retail sales for the 3-month period ended March 2018. The Oil & Gas sub-segment was a major driver of this growth, with retail sales up 43% year-over-year, while Power Generation sales increased by 18%.

CAT 8-K: Regulation FD — Apr 23, 2018

Summary

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) filed an 8-K on April 23, 2018, to provide supplemental information on retail sales of machines and power systems to end users and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). This data is based on unaudited reports from independent dealers and offers an indication of sales trends, not a substitute for audited financial statements. The report focuses on rolling 3-month retail sales statistics, providing insights into the performance across different geographic regions and industry segments for the period ending March 2018. Key takeaways from the furnished data indicate robust year-over-year retail sales growth globally for total machines, driven significantly by strong performance in Asia/Pacific and Latin America for both the Resource Industries and Construction Industries segments. The Energy & Transportation segment also showed positive overall growth, with the Oil & Gas sub-segment experiencing particularly strong gains. Investors can use this information to gauge underlying demand in key markets and industries served by Caterpillar, complementing the company's official financial reporting.

Key Highlights

1Furnishes supplemental, unaudited retail sales data for machines and power systems based on dealer reports.
2Provides rolling 3-month retail sales statistics ending March 2018 compared to the prior year.
3Total machines retail sales globally increased by 26% for the 3-month period ending March 2018.
4Asia/Pacific region showed strong growth across Total Machines (31%), Resource Industries (40%), and Construction Industries (29%).
5Latin America demonstrated significant growth in Resource Industries (61%) and Construction Industries (22%).
6Energy & Transportation segment saw a 21% increase in total retail sales, with Oil & Gas up 43%.

CATERPILLAR INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Apr 23, 2018)

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Key Highlights

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