-- Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook on Thursday as the heavy equipment manufacturer's first-quarter results exceeded market expectations.
Sales and revenue are now expected to rise by low double digits for 2026, the company said in an earnings presentation. That compares with its earlier view that sales would land around the top end of its 5% to 7% compound annual growth rate target. The current consensus on FactSet is for sales of $74.1 billion.
"The increase in our full-year sales and revenue expectation is supported by solid sales to users," incoming Chief Financial Officer Kyle Epley said on an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. "We expect strong sales growth across each of our primary segments, driven mainly by volume and price."
Caterpillar shares rose 8.4% in Thursday trading. The stock has jumped 53% this year.
Incremental tariff costs are projected at $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion in 2026, down from prior guidance of around $2.6 billion.
"Our expectation for tariff costs in the second through fourth quarters has not changed significantly since January, based on the recent ruling on tariffs by the US Supreme Court," Epley said on the call. "We expect to ramp up our actions to mitigate our tariff costs in the back half of the year."
The Supreme Court in February invalidated President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Caterpillar reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $5.54 per share, up from $4.25 a year earlier and above Wall Street's $4.65 estimate. Sales and revenue rose 22% to $17.42 billion, topping the average analyst forecast of $16.53 billion.
The company attributed the revenue increase primarily to higher sales volume of $2.3 billion, driven by changes in dealer inventories and stronger equipment sales to end users, along with favorable price realization of $426 million.
Sales in the power and energy segment climbed 22% to $7.03 billion, while the construction industries business jumped 38% to $7.16 billion. Resource industries posted $3.8 billion, up from $3.66 billion.
In the second quarter, Caterpillar expects sales to rise from a year earlier. The Street is looking for $18.33 billion. The company also forecasts tariff costs of about $700 million.
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