Caterpillar Achieves Positive First Quarter

Caterpillar Inc. announced first-quarter 2022 sales and revenues of $13.6 billion, a 14% increase compared with $11.9 billion in the first quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher sales volume, driven by higher end-user demand for equipment and services and the impact from changes in dealer inventories, as well as favorable price realization. Dealers increased inventories more during the first quarter of 2022 than during the first quarter of 2021.

Operating profit margin was 13.7% for the first quarter of 2022, compared with 15.3% for the first quarter of 2021. First-quarter 2022 profit per share was $2.86, compared with first-quarter 2021 profit per share of $2.77. 

Construction Industries’ total sales were $6.115 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $656 million, or 12%, compared with $5.459 billion in the first quarter of 2021. The increase was due to favorable price realization and higher sales volume, partially offset by unfavorable currency impacts related to the euro, Japanese yen and Australian dollar. 

The increase in sales volume was driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories and higher end-user demand for aftermarket parts. Across all regions, dealers increased inventories more during the first quarter of 2022 than during the first quarter of 2021.

In North America, sales increased due to higher sales volume and favorable price realization. Higher sales volume was driven by higher end-user demand for equipment and aftermarket parts from improving non-residential construction, as well as continued strength in residential construction and the impact from changes in dealer inventories.

Sales increased in Latin America primarily due to higher sales volume, led by higher end-user demand across the region and the impact from changes in dealer inventories, as well as favorable price realization.

Construction Industries’ profit was $1.057 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $15 million, or 1%, compared with $1.042 billion in the first quarter of 2021. Unfavorable manufacturing costs were more than offset by favorable price realization and higher sales volume. Unfavorable manufacturing costs largely reflected higher material and freight costs.

“I’m proud of our global team’s performance as they achieved double-digit sales growth despite ongoing supply chain challenges. We remain focused on supporting our customers and executing our strategy for long-term profitable growth,” said Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby. “Our strong balance sheet allowed us to repurchase shares and pay dividends totaling $1.4 billion in the quarter.”

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