Caterpillar Reports Good Q3 2012, But ...

Caterpillar Inc. announces strong improvement in its Third-Quarter 2012 results, but outlook not so bright.

Caterpillar Inc. announce third-quarter 2012 sales and revenues of $16.445 billion, a 5-percent increase from third-quarter 2011 sales and revenues of $15.716 billion. 

“Last quarter and then again a month ago at MINExpo, we discussed economic and geopolitical headwinds facing the world, and we are certainly continuing to see the impact of those uncertainties in our business,” said Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman.  “Even so, we had a record third quarter, and our entire organization is focused on finishing 2012 as the best year for sales and profit in our history”

2012 Outlook
"We now expect 2012 sales and revenues to be about $66 billion and profit in a range of $9.00 to $9.25 per share.  The previous outlook for sales and revenues was a range of $68 to $70 billion with profit of about $9.60 per share at the middle of the sales and revenues outlook range."

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The decline in the sales and revenues outlook reflects global economic conditions that are weaker than we had previously expected.  In addition, Cat dealers have lowered order rates well below end-user demand to reduce their inventories.  Production across much of the company has been lowered, resulting in temporary shutdowns and layoffs.  Lower production will continue until inventories and dealer order rates move back in line with dealer deliveries to end users.  The reduction in the profit outlook is in line with the lower sales and revenues outlook, partially offset by the gain on the sale of a majority interest in our third party logistics business.
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Preliminary 2013 Sales and Revenues Outlook

"From an economic standpoint, we are expecting slightly better world growth in 2013 with modest improvement in the United States, China and most of the developing world, but continuing difficulty in Europe.  Based on our economic forecast, our preliminary outlook for 2013 is for sales and revenues to be about the same as 2012 in a range of up 5 percent to down 5 percent."