The BusinessWeek 50 Ranking
23
Caterpillar
The world's hunger for raw materials has paid off hugely for Caterpillar. Orders for its earth-moving equipment and heavy-duty engines poured in faster than Cat could build them, especially in the U.S. After years of struggling with minimal price hikes, the Peoria-based manufacturer finally gained leverage with its customers. It was able to raise prices three times in a year. The result: an 85% jump in profits, to an all-time high, with revenue topping $30 billion for the first time. Shares have returned 28% over the past 12 months. And Cat's not done: Prices are going up 1% to 5% more in late spring.
Company Info
| 2004 Rank | 76 |
| STOCK INFO | CAT |
| Market Value | $32.4 BILLION |
| Total Return | (1-yr.) 28.0%
(3-yr.) 84.0% |
| 2004 sales | $30.3 BILLION |
| Sales Growth | (1-yr.) 33%
(3-yr.) 13.8% |
| Net income | $2 BILLION |
| Net Income Growth | (1-yr.) 85%
(3-yr.) 36.4% |
| Net Margin* | 6.7% |
| Return on Equity* | 27.3% |
| Industry | CAPITAL GOODS |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
More in S&P 500 Companies Scoreboard >
*Trailing 12 months
Company data as of 2/28/05 provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat
Caterpillar: The View From the Cab
Caterpillar May Need More Muscle
U.S.: Optimistic Businesses Are Revving Up for Growth
Heavy Metal
Company Snapshot
Caterpillar, Inc. manufactures construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. It operates in three segments: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. Machinery segment engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of construction, mining, agricultural, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, mining shovels, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, telescopic handlers, skid steer loaders, and related parts. It also provides logistics services for other companies. Engines segment designs and manufactures engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems; on-highway vehicles and locomotives; marine, petroleum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications; and related parts. Financial Products segment consists of Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial), Caterpillar Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Cat Insurance), and their subsidiaries. Cat Financial provides a range of financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, as well as other equipment and marine vessels. It also extends loans to customers and dealers. Cat Insurance provides various forms of insurance to customers and dealers to help support the purchase and lease of equipment. Caterpillar offers its products worldwide. The company was formed as Caterpillar Tractor Co. in 1925, pursuant to the merger of The Holt Manufacturing Company and the C. L. Best Tractor Co. Caterpillar Tractor Co. changed its name to Caterpillar, Inc. in 1986. The company is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.
No. of Employees
76,920
Data provided by 
