Caterpillar Reports First-Quarter 2018 Results - 24.04.18 - News

DEERFIELD, Ill., April 24, 2018

First Quarter

($ in billions except profit per share)

2018

2017

Sales and Revenues

$12.9

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Caterpillar Inc.

334,00 €

-0,74%

$9.8

Profit Per Share

$2.74

$0.32

Adjusted Profit Per Share

$2.82

$1.28

First-quarter sales and revenues up 31 percent
Significant increase in profit per share; adjusted profit per share more than doubled
Raised full-year profit per share outlook
Repurchased $500 million of common stock

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced first-quarter 2018 sales and revenues of $12.9 billion, compared with $9.8 billion in the first quarter of 2017. First-quarter 2018 profit of $2.74 per share was a first-quarter record. Profit was $0.32 per share in the first quarter of 2017. Adjusted profit per share in the first quarter of 2018 was $2.82, compared with first-quarter 2017 adjusted profit per share of $1.28.

Caterpillar's financial position remains strong. During the first quarter of 2018, Machinery, Energy & Transportation (ME&T) operating cash flow was $948 million and the company repurchased $500 million of Caterpillar common stock. The company ended the first quarter of 2018 with an enterprise cash balance of $7.9 billion.

"I'd like to thank our global Caterpillar team for outstanding results. The combination of strength in many of our end markets and our team's continued focus on operational excellence - including strong cost control - helped us deliver improved margins and a record first-quarter profit," said Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby.

2018 Outlook

In January, Caterpillar provided a 2018 profit outlook range of $7.75 to $8.75 per share. The company is increasing its 2018 profit outlook by $2.00 per share to a range of $9.75 to $10.75 per share, primarily due to growing demand for products and services. The outlook includes about $400 million of restructuring costs, unchanged from the previous outlook. The revised outlook range for adjusted profit is $10.25 to $11.25 per share.

"Based on our strong first-quarter results and higher demand across all regions and most end markets, we are raising our outlook for 2018. We will continue to make targeted investments in expanded offerings and services, consistent with our strategy for long-term profitable growth," said Umpleby.

Following is a summary of sales assumptions for 2018 as compared to 2017:

Construction Industries – The company expects broad-based growth in all regions in 2018, with the biggest drivers being continued strength for construction activity in North America and infrastructure development in China. EAME is expected to continue to grow amid high business confidence and stability in oil-producing countries. The recovery that has started in Latin America is expected to continue.

Resource Industries – The company believes global economic conditions and favorable commodity price levels will drive miners to increase capital expenditures in 2018 for both equipment replacement cycles and expansions. In addition, higher machine utilization levels should support aftermarket parts growth. Strong global demand for commodities is also expected to be a positive for heavy construction and quarry and aggregate customers.

Energy & Transportation – Sales into Oil and Gas applications are expected to increase in 2018, led by continued strong demand for reciprocating engines for well servicing and gas compression applications in North America. The current turbines backlog remains healthy in support of the midstream Oil and Gas business. Rail traffic in North America has increased, with reductions in the number of idled locomotives and railcars. As a result, the company expects an increase in Transportation sales primarily from growth in rail services. After a multi-year downturn, the company expects Power Generation sales to increase as global economic conditions improve. Sales of engines into Industrial applications are expected to be up in 2018 primarily due to projected demand in EAME.

Following are key elements of the revised 2018 profit outlook:

Better than expected sales volume is the primary driver of the raised profit outlook, with higher volume expected across the three primary segments when compared with the prior outlook.
Improved price realization is expected to be partially offset by material cost increases primarily driven by higher commodity prices.
Despite the anticipated increase in volume, the company expects period costs, excluding short-term incentive compensation expense, to be in line with the prior outlook.
Short-term incentive compensation expense is now expected to be about $1.4 billion, nearly the same as 2017.
The outlook assumes continued global economic growth. Any potential impacts from future geopolitical risks and increased trade restrictions have not been included in the outlook.
The outlook does not include a mark-to-market gain or loss for remeasurement of pension and other postemployment benefit (OPEB) plans or changes to provisional estimates recorded in 2017 for U.S. tax reform.

Notes:

Glossary of terms is included on pages 15-16; first occurrence of terms shown in bold italics.
Information on non-GAAP financial measures is included on page 17.
Caterpillar will conduct a teleconference and live webcast, with a slide presentation, beginning at 10 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to discuss its 2018 first-quarter financial results. The accompanying slides will be available before the webcast on the Caterpillar website at http://www.caterpillar.com/investors/events-and-presentations.

About Caterpillar:
For more than 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2017 sales and revenues of $45.462 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three primary segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "estimate," "will be," "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "project," "intend," "could," "should" or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions. These statements do not guarantee future performance and speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

Caterpillar's actual results may differ materially from those described or implied in our forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) global and regional economic conditions and economic conditions in the industries we serve; (ii) commodity price changes, material price increases, fluctuations in demand for our products or significant shortages of material; (iii) government monetary or fiscal policies; (iv) political and economic risks, commercial instability and events beyond our control in the countries in which we operate; (v) our ability to develop, produce and market quality products that meet our customers' needs; (vi) the impact of the highly competitive environment in which we operate on our sales and pricing; (vii) information technology security threats and computer crime; (viii) additional restructuring costs or a failure to realize anticipated savings or benefits from past or future cost reduction actions; (ix) failure to realize all of the anticipated benefits from initiatives to increase our productivity, efficiency and cash flow and to reduce costs; (x) inventory management decisions and sourcing practices of our dealers and our OEM customers; (xi) a failure to realize, or a delay in realizing, all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; (xii) union disputes or other employee relations issues; (xiii) adverse effects of unexpected events including natural disasters; (xiv) disruptions or volatility in global financial markets limiting our sources of liquidity or the liquidity of our customers, dealers and suppliers; (xv) failure to maintain our credit ratings and potential resulting increases to our cost of borrowing and adverse effects on our cost of funds, liquidity, competitive position and access to capital markets; (xvi) our Financial Products segment's risks associated with the financial services industry; (xvii) changes in interest rates or market liquidity conditions; (xviii) an increase in delinquencies, repossessions or net losses of Cat Financial's customers; (xix) currency fluctuations; (xx) our or Cat Financial's compliance with financial and other restrictive covenants in debt agreements; (xxi) increased pension plan funding obligations; (xxii) alleged or actual violations of trade or anti-corruption laws and regulations; (xxiii) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position; (xxiv) additional tax expense or exposure, including the impact of U.S. tax reform; (xxv) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or government investigations; (xxvi) new regulations or changes in financial services regulations; (xxvii) compliance with environmental laws and regulations; and (xxviii) other factors described in more detail in Caterpillar's Forms 10-Q, 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Consolidated Sales and Revenues

Consolidated Sales and Revenues Comparison
First Quarter 2018 vs. First Quarter 2017

To access this chart, go to http://www.caterpillar.com/en/investors/quarterly-results.html for the downloadable version of Caterpillar 1Q 2018 earnings.

The chart above graphically illustrates reasons for the change in Consolidated Sales and Revenues between the first quarter of 2017 (at left) and the first quarter of 2018 (at right). Items favorably impacting sales and revenues appear as upward stair steps with the corresponding dollar amounts above each bar, while items negatively impacting sales and revenues appear as downward stair steps with dollar amounts reflected in parentheses above each bar. Caterpillar management utilizes these charts internally to visually communicate with the company's board of directors and employees.

Sales and Revenues

Total sales and revenues were $12.859 billion in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $3.037 billion, or 31 percent, compared with $9.822 billion in the first quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily due to higher sales volume driven by improved end-user demand across all regions and most end markets as well as favorable changes in dealer inventories. The impact of changes in dealer inventories was favorable as there was a more significant increase in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017. The company believes the increase in dealer inventories is reflective of current end-user demand.

Strong end-user demand and favorable changes in dealer inventories drove higher sales volume across the three primary segments with the largest increase in Construction Industries. Sales were also higher due to currency impacts, primarily from a stronger euro and Chinese yuan. Favorable price realization across the three primary segments also contributed to the sales improvement.

The largest sales increase was in North America, which improved 33 percent as strong economic conditions in key end markets drove higher end-user demand. Also contributing to the increase was the impact of a more significant increase in dealer inventories in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017.

Asia/Pacific sales increased 44 percent mostly due to higher end-user demand, primarily for construction equipment in China, the impact of favorable changes in dealer inventories and a stronger Chinese yuan. The impact of changes in dealer inventories was favorable as dealer inventories increased slightly in the first quarter of 2018, compared to a decrease in the first quarter of 2017.

EAME sales increased 25 percent primarily due to the impact of a stronger euro, the impact of favorable changes in dealer inventories and higher end-user demand as economic conditions have improved. The impact of changes in dealer inventories was favorable as increases were greater in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017.

Sales increased 24 percent in Latin America primarily due to stabilizing economic conditions in several countries in the region that resulted in improved demand from low levels.

Consolidated Operating Profit

Consolidated Operating Profit Comparison
First Quarter 2018 vs. First Quarter 2017

To access this chart, go to http://www.caterpillar.com/en/investors/quarterly-results.html for the downloadable version of Caterpillar 1Q 2018 earnings.

The chart above graphically illustrates reasons for the change in Consolidated Operating Profit between the first quarter of 2017 (at left) and the first quarter of 2018 (at right). Items favorably impacting operating profit appear as upward stair steps with the corresponding dollar amounts above each bar, while items negatively impacting operating profit appear as downward stair steps with dollar amounts reflected in parentheses above each bar. Caterpillar management utilizes these charts internally to visually communicate with the company's board of directors and employees. The bar entitled Other includes consolidating adjustments and Machinery, Energy & Transportation other operating (income) expenses.

Operating profit for the first quarter of 2018 was $2.108 billion, compared to $380 million in the first quarter of 2017. The increase of $1.728 billion was mostly due to higher sales volume and lower restructuring costs. Favorable price realization was largely offset by higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) and research and development (R&D) expenses and lower operating profit from Financial Products.

Manufacturing costs were about flat as lower warranty expense and the favorable impact from cost absorption were about offset by higher material costs, freight costs and short-term incentive compensation expense. Cost absorption was favorable as inventory increased more in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017, as production volumes continue to increase in 2018. Material costs were unfavorable primarily due to increases in steel prices. SG&A/R&D expenses were unfavorable mostly due to higher short-term incentive compensation expense and targeted investments that primarily impacted SG&A.

Restructuring costs were $69 million in the first quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of 2017, restructuring costs of $723 million were primarily related to the announced closure of the facility in Gosselies, Belgium.

Other Profit/Loss Items

Interest expense excluding Financial Products in the first quarter of 2018 was $101 million, a decrease of $22 million from the first quarter of 2017, primarily due to an early debt retirement in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Other income/expense in the first quarter of 2018 was income of $127 million, compared with income of $32 million in the first quarter of 2017. The favorable change was primarily due to pension and OPEB plans, including the absence of restructuring costs and higher expected return on plan assets (see Q&A #7 for additional information). Also contributing to the favorable change were lower net losses from currency translation and hedging in the first quarter of 2018 than in the first quarter of 2017.
The provision for income taxes in the first quarter of 2018 reflects an estimated annual tax rate of 24 percent, compared to 32 percent for the first quarter of 2017, excluding the discrete items discussed in the following paragraph. The decrease is primarily due to the reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate beginning January 1, 2018, along with other changes in the geographic mix of profits from a tax perspective.

In addition, a discrete tax benefit of $40 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $17 million in the first quarter of 2017, for the settlement of stock-based compensation awards with associated tax deductions in excess of cumulative U.S. GAAP compensation expense. The provision for income taxes in the first quarter of 2017 also included a $15 million increase to prior year taxes related to non-U.S. restructuring costs.

Global Workforce

Caterpillar worldwide full-time employment was about 99,700 at the end of the first quarter of 2018. The increase of about 4,400 full-time employees from the end of the first quarter of 2017 was due to an increase in production employment primarily to support higher volumes. Support and management employment was about flat. The flexible workforce increased by about 6,500, also primarily due to higher production volumes. In total, the global workforce increased by about 10,900.

	March 31
	2018	2017	Increase
Full-time employment	99,700	95,300	4,400
Flexible workforce	19,100	12,600	6,500
Total	118,800	107,900	10,900

Geographic Summary
U.S. workforce	51,500	46,500	5,000
Non-U.S. workforce	67,300	61,400	5,900
Total	118,800	107,900	10,900

SEGMENT RESULTS

Sales and Revenues by Geographic Region

North
America

Latin
America

EAME

Asia/Pacific

External Sales
and Revenues

Inter-Segment

Total Sales
and Revenues

(Millions of dollars)

$

% Chg

$

% Chg

$

% Chg

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