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Caterpillar (CAT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $893.22, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $899.58, Change: $+24.80, Percent Change: +2.83%
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Following Q1 results, we lift our 12-month target to $1,050 from $700, valuing shares at 36x our 2027 EPS outlook of $29.21 (lifted from $27.57; 2026 EPS forecast revised to $24.31 from $22.62), a premium to CAT's historical multiple range. With broadening growth across CAT's machinery portfolio and better than anticipated management of tariff impacts ($2.2 to $2.4 billion impact guided, down from $2.6 billion initial outlook), we view the multiple as more justified. Order backlog expansion stood out to us in Q1, hitting a record $63 billion following a $12 billion sequential jump. Supportive commodity prices and dealer inventory restocking contributed to cyclical strength in orders for construction and mining machinery, with these better-than-expected trends underpinning our upgraded earnings forecasts for 2026 and 2027. Q1 further validated CAT's Power & Energy business as a core growth engine for the company, with the 2030 sales target for power generation being lifted to more than 3x its 2024 baseline.
Caterpillar's (CAT) execution in the face of ongoing macro headwinds as well as its solid backlog of $63 billion continue to aid an attractive longer term growth, Morgan Stanley said in a Friday note.The company raised its near-term and longer term outlooks on the back of its strong Q1 results and capacity investments in its large reciprocating engines, Morgan Stanley said, adding that the confidence is further bolstered by rising capex from several hyperscalers.Morgan Stanley said it has shifted its valuation methodology on Caterpillar to a multi-growth stage discounted cash flow that assumes a 2025 to 2030 sales compound annual growth rate of 12%, a 2030 to 2040 CAGR of 8% and discounts steady 30% incremental margins and no material downturn in the core cyclical construction or mining businesses.Morgan Stanley upgraded its rating on the company's stock to equalweight from underweight and adjusted its price target to $915 from $430.Price: $887.85, Change: $-2.26, Percent Change: -0.25%
Caterpillar (CAT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $860.22, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $900.44, Change: $+10.33, Percent Change: +1.16%
Caterpillar (CAT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $841.70, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $902.41, Change: $+12.30, Percent Change: +1.38%
Caterpillar (CAT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $841.70, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite hit new closing highs on Thursday, with the two equity indexes recording their biggest monthly gains since 2020.The S&P 500 rose 1% to 7,209, while the Nasdaq climbed 0.9% to 24,892.3, both logging record closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.6% to 49,652.1. Barring technology, all sectors were in the green, led by communication services' 4% jump.This month, the Nasdaq jumped 15.3%, logging its best monthly performance since April 2020. The S&P 500 gained 10.4%, the biggest monthly gain since November 2020. The Dow climbed 7.1%.In company news, Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) first-quarter results exceeded Wall Street's estimates late Wednesday as revenue for Google's cloud and services businesses climbed. Alphabet increased its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to up to $190 billion. Shares climbed 10%.Caterpillar (CAT) surged 9.9%, the best performer on the Dow. The heavy equipment manufacturer raised its full-year sales outlook as its first-quarter results exceeded market expectations.Eli Lilly (LLY) lifted its full-year outlook, while the drugmaker reported first-quarter results above market estimates. The stock advanced 9.8%.Meta Platforms (META) shares plunged 8.6%, among the steepest declines on the S&P 500. The Facebook parent late Wednesday raised its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing.Microsoft (MSFT) shares declined 3.9%, the second-worst performer on the Dow, as the tech giant said late Wednesday its capital expenditure will be about $190 billion in 2026. The company's aggressive capital expenditure will likely keep free cash flow under pressure in the near term, Truist Securities said in a note.Brent crude fell 3.3% at $114.09 per barrel, having topped $126 earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate fell 1.8% to $105.01.On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark lending rate steady, saying the Iran war is fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook.The most recent policy statement had an implied easing bias, but that could soon be removed amid a growing divide among policymakers over the direction of interest rates, Stifel said in a note Thursday.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down 2.4 basis points at 4.41% and the two-year rate falling 7.8 basis points to 3.89%.US economic growth fell short of Wall Street's expectations in the first quarter as spending slowed amid inflationary pressures that economists said will likely keep consumers under pressure."The core of the economy remained solid in (the first quarter), driven by the (artificial intelligence) buildout and the tax cuts beginning to feed through," Oxford Economics Chief US Economist Michael Pearce said in remarks emailed to. "Those factors will continue to drive growth over the rest of the year, but the jump in energy prices will take some of the shine off what would otherwise have been a strong year for the economy."Separate official data showed that US inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure price index, accelerated in March to the fastest pace since mid-2022 as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices soaring."Inflationary pressures continued to percolate," Ksenia Bushmeneva, economist at TD Economics, said in a report. "The situation around the energy crisis remains uncertain and gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time."Gold rose 1.6% at $4,635 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 2.9% to $74.18 per ounce.
US equity indexes rose in a broad-based rally as the impact of artificial intelligence showed in corporate earnings, and a preliminary Q1 economic growth estimate helped investors put ongoing geopolitical tensions on the back burner.The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.6% to 49,652.14, with the S&P 500 up 1% to 7,209.01 and the Nasdaq Composite higher by 0.9% to 24,892.31 on Thursday. Communication services, industrials, and utilities led the gainers, while technology emerged as the sole decliner.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 10%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company late Wednesday reported Q1 earnings and revenue above market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 15%, among the top performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the firm posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and sales. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded consensus. Its shares soared 9.9%, the Dow's leader.Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 8.6%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat.Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Shares were down 3.9%, among the steepest decliners on the Nasdaq and the Dow.In economic news, gross domestic product rose by 2.0% annualized in Q1 following a 0.5% gain in Q4, according to an advance estimate of economic growth, slower than the 2.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Non-residential investment was "very strong overall, driven by investment in information processing equipment, software, and R&D, overwhelming declines in both residential and non-residential structures," Thomas Simons, Jefferies Chief US Economist, said in a note. "The impact of AI infrastructure investment is clearly evident in the data, driving growth beyond the strength of the consumer."The personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 0.7% in March, as expected, lifting the year-over-year rate to 3.5% from 2.8%. The price index increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February. The core PCE price index increased by 0.3%, as forecast, following a 0.4% gain in February. The year-over-year rate accelerated to 3.2%, in line with expectations, from 3.0% in the previous month.Initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 3,500 to 207,500.In geopolitics, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.Nevertheless, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 1.4% to $105.41, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.4% to $114.01.Most US Treasury yields declined, with the 10-year down 3.8 basis points to 4.38%, and the two-year slumped 5.9 basis points to 3.87%.In precious metals, gold futures climbed 1.5% to $4,629.3, and silver futures jumped 3.1% to $73.81.
US equity indexes surged in a broad-based rally led by communication services and industrials ahead of the close on Thursday, whistling past a worsening geopolitical environment.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.8% to 49,733.1, with the S&P 500 up 1.1% to 7,216.5 and the Nasdaq Composite higher by 1% to 24,923.8. Technology was the sole decliner, but was off session lows in the final leg of trading.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 7%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 14%, the top performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Wednesday. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded market expectations. Its shares soared 8.7%, the Dow's leader.US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.Nevertheless, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 1.6% to $105.22, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.4% to $114.01.In economic news, the US core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose to 3.2% year-on-year in March from 3%, meeting expectations. Core PCE climbed 0.3% month-over-month, as expected, but down from the 0.4% reported in February.Most US Treasury yields dropped, with the 10-year down 3.2 basis points to 4.38%, and the two-year slumped 5.3 basis points to 3.88%.
US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday as investors digested the latest batch of corporate results, while oil prices turned lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.5% at 49,601.7 after midday Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 7,187.1. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.5% to 24,800.9. Barring technology, all sectors were in the green, led by communication services' 3.5% jump.In company news, Caterpillar (CAT) shares surged 10% intraday, the best performer on the Dow and among the biggest gainers on the S&P 500. The heavy equipment manufacturer raised its full-year sales outlook as its first-quarter results exceeded market expectations.Eli Lilly (LLY) lifted its full-year outlook, while the drugmaker reported first-quarter results above market estimates. The stock was up 10%.Meta Platforms (META) shares plunged 9.2%, among the steepest declines on the S&P 500, as the Facebook parent raised its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing.Microsoft (MSFT) shares were down 5.8%, the worst performer on the Dow, as the tech giant said its capital expenditures will be about $190 billion in 2026, while its fiscal third-quarter results topped market estimates.iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings after the markets close.Oil prices pulled back after surging in the previous session, with Brent crude down 3.5% at $113.94 per barrel, having topped $126 earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate fell 2.5% to $104.22.In economic news, US economic growth fell short of Wall Street's expectations in the first quarter as spending slowed amid inflationary pressures that economists said will likely keep consumers under pressure."The core of the economy remained solid in (the first quarter), driven by the (artificial intelligence) buildout and the tax cuts beginning to feed through," Oxford Economics Chief US Economist Michael Pearce said in remarks emailed to. "Those factors will continue to drive growth over the rest of the year, but the jump in energy prices will take some of the shine off what would otherwise have been a strong year for the economy."US inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure price index, accelerated in March to the fastest pace since mid-2022 as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices soaring."Inflationary pressures continued to percolate," Ksenia Bushmeneva, economist at TD Economics, said in a report. "The situation around the energy crisis remains uncertain and gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time."On Wednesday, the Fed kept its benchmark lending rate steady, saying the Iran war is fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook.US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 3.8 basis points at 4.40% and the two-year rate falling 6.9 basis points to 3.90%.Gold rose 1.3% at $4,620 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 2% to $73.51 per ounce.
US equity indexes rose after midday Thursday as investors weighed mega-cap corporate earnings and a warning from Iran's new supreme leader that Tehran won't give up its nuclear stockpile.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.4% to 49,552.2, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% to 7,170.3. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.1% to 24,700.5. All sectors except technology and consumer discretionary rose. Communication services, industrials, and health care led the gainers.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 7%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 14%, the top performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Wednesday. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded market expectations. Its shares soared 8.7%, the Dow's leader.Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 9%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat. Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Shares were down 4.6%, among the steepest decliners on the Nasdaq and the Dow.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 2.2% to $104.49, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.3% to $114.09.In precious metals, gold futures climbed 1.3% to $4,621.5, and silver futures jumped 2.1% to $73.07.Most US Treasury yields dropped, with the 10-year down 1.8 basis points to 4.4% and the two-year slumped 4.3 basis points to 3.89%.In economic news, the personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 0.7% in March, as expected, lifting the year-over-year rate to 3.5% from 2.8%. The price index increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February. The core PCE price index increased by 0.3%, as expected, following a 0.4% gain in February. The year-over-year rate accelerated to 3.2% from 3.0% in the previous month.US economic growth, measured by gross domestic product, rose by 2.0% in Q1 after a 0.5% gain in Q4, slower than a 2.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.US initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 3,500 to 207,500.
All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Thursday, as investors digest a slew of earnings reports from the giant tech companies as well as the Federal Reserve's decision Wednesday to leave interest rates unchanged.In company news, Meta Platforms (META) reported Q1 earnings late Wednesday of $10.44 per diluted share, up from $6.43 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $6.67. Meta Q1 revenue was $56.31 billion, up from $42.31 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $55.56 billion. For Q2, Meta said it expects revenue of $58 billion to $61 billion, compared to the FactSet consensus of $59.48 billion. Full-year 2026 capital expenditures are expected to be between $125 billion and $145 billion, up from the prior outlook of $115 billion to $135 billion, Chief Financial Officer Susan Li said on a call with analysts. The daily active people average for March was 3.56 billion, up 4% year over year but down slightly quarter over year due to internet disruptions in Iran and WhatsApp restrictions in Russia, the company said. After the earnings report, Meta commenced a US investment-grade bond sale in as many as six parts through which it is looking to raise up to $25 billion. Meta shares were down 9.5% around midday.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) reported Q1 earnings late Wednesday of $5.11 per diluted share, up from $2.81 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus estimate of $2.63. Alphabet Q1 revenue was $109.9 billion, up from $90.2 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $106.96 billion. The tech giant raised it quarterly cash dividend to $0.22 per share from $0.21 per share, payable June 15 to shareholders of record as of June 8. Alphabet's Class C and Class A shares were up 7.2% and 7.3%, respectively.Amazon (AMZN) reported Q1 earnings late Wednesday of $2.78 per diluted share, up from $1.59 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.63. Amazon Q1 revenue was $181.52 billion, up from $155.67 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $177.28 billion. For Q2, the company said it expects revenue of $194 billion to $199 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $188.96 billion. Amazon shares were down 1.2%.Microsoft (MSFT) reported fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $4.27 per diluted share, up from $3.54 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.05. Fiscal Q3 revenue was $82.89 billion, up from $70.07 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $81.40 billion. Microsoft shares were down 4.5%.Eli Lilly (LLY) reported Q1 non-GAAP earnings Thursday of $8.55 per diluted share, up from $3.34 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $6.97. Lilly Q1 revenue was $19.80 billion, up from $12.73 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $17.82 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $35.50 to $37.00, up from its previous guidance of $33.50 to $35.00 and above the FactSet consensus of $34.51. Full-year revenue is expected to be between $82 billion and $85 billion, up from its previous outlook of $80 billion to $83 billion and compared to the FactSet consensus of $82.07 billion. Eli Lilly shares were up 8.1%.Qualcomm (QCOM) reported fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $2.65 per diluted share, down from $2.85 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $2.56. Fiscal Q2 revenue was $10.60 billion, down from $10.97 billion a year ago but above the FactSet consensus of $10.69 billion. For fiscal Q3, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $2.10 to $2.30, below the FactSet consensus of $2.42. Fiscal Q3 revenue is expected to be between $9.20 billion to $10 billion, below the FactSet consensus of $10.19 billion. CFO Akash Palkhiwala said on the company's earnings call that the company expects shipments to Chinese Android customers to recover after inventory corrections. Qualcomm also said it has secured a "multi-generation engagement" with a leading hyperscaler, with initial shipments expected to begin later this year. Qualcomm shares were up 18.0%.Caterpillar (CAT) reported Q1 adjusted profit Thursday of $5.54 per share, up from $4.25 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.65. Total Q1 sales and revenue were $17.42 billion, up from $14.25 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $16.53 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects low double-digit sales and revenue growth, higher year-over-year free cash flow in its primary operating segment of machinery, power and energy, and adjusted operating profit margin near the bottom of the target range. Caterpillar shares were up 8.6%.Mastercard (MA) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of $4.60 per diluted share, up from $3.73 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.41. Net Q1 revenue was $8.40 billion, up from $7.25 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $8.26 billion. Mastercard shares were down 3.6%.Stellantis (STLA) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of 40.21 per diluted share, upf rom $0.04 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $0.19. Net Q1 revenue was $38.13 billion, up from $25.81 billion ay ear ago but below the FactSet consensus from four analysts of $44.95 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects mid-single-digit net revenue growth. Stellantis shares were down 4.9%.Price: $606.15, Change: $-62.97, Percent Change: -9.41%
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.Price: $877.66, Change: $+67.61, Percent Change: +8.35%
(Updates with the latest stock movement in the headline and the first paragraph, and 2026 guidance details in the last paragraph.Caterpillar (CAT) shares rose 9.6% in Thursday trading after the company posted better-than-expected Q1 results and raised its 2026 revenue guidance.The company reported Q1 adjusted profit of $5.54 per share, up from $4.25 a year earlier.Analysts polled by FactSet expected $4.65.Total sales and revenue for the quarter ended March 31 were $17.42 billion, compared with $14.25 billion a year earlier.Analysts polled by FactSet expected $16.53 billion.Chief Executive Joseph Creed said during the earnings call that the company raised its outlook and now expects low double-digit growth for full-year 2026 sales and revenue, citing solid execution and resilient markets.Price: $887.52, Change: $+77.47, Percent Change: +9.56%
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) advanced 0.5% in Thursday's premarket activity, amid optimistic big tech earnings reports and a deluge of economic data.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.6%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.5% before the start of regular trading.Reports releasing at 8:30 am ET include the Q1 gross domestic product (GDP) from Washington, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE)-core inflation report for March, the weekly jobless claims bulletin, and the Q1 Employment Cost Index.The April Chicago PMI posts at 9:45 am, followed by the February leading indicators report at 10 am, and the weekly natural gas stocks at 10:30 am ET.In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 0.7%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.7% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 1.4%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.Power Play:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated by 0.5%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1.5%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was up 1.9%.Willis Towers Watson (WTW) shares were down more than 9% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Winners and Losers:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 1.2%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was 1.1% higher, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was up 0.7%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.2%.Eli Lilly (LLY) stock was up more than 7% premarket after the company reported higher Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained by 0.4%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 1% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) rose 2%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) advanced by 1.3%.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares were up 7% in Thursday's premarket activity after the tech giant reported overnight Q1 earnings and sales above market expectations.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.5%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was up 1.6% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) gained 0.4%.Caterpillar (CAT) stock was up more than 5% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted profit and revenue.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.3%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.2% lower, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) retreated 0.1%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) was up 0.6%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) gained 0.03%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) declined by 0.6%.Unilever (UL) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after the company said its Q1 underlying sales grew by 3.8%.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 0.9%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) declined by 1.1%.ConocoPhillips (COP) stock was down more than 2% before the opening bell after the company reported lower Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell by 2.3% to $104.44 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated by 1.4% to $2.61 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) decreased by 2.6%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.5% lower.Gold futures for May were up by 1.8% to $4,641.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures rose by 2.6% to $73.96 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 1.9% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gained by 2.7%.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Caterpillar's (CAT) Q1 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $5.47 vs. the consensus of $4.64, as sales surged 22% Y/Y to $17.4B, supported by $2.3B from higher volumes and $426M from pricing. Despite tariff headwinds that pressured operating margins lower by 30 bps, operating profit rose 20% on strong sales growth. Growth stemmed from CAT's cyclical Construction segment rather than the increasingly important Power & Energy business. Management guided tariff costs at $2.2B-$2.4B for 2026. Construction Industries led with sales rising 38% to $7.2B and segment profit surging 50% to $1.54B, with margins expanding 160 bps to 21.4% despite tariff pressures from dealer restocking. Power & Energy maintained momentum with 22% sales growth to $7B; however, margins compressed 170 bps to 20.6% as tariff costs weighed, while power generation sales increased 41% to $2.8B on data center demand. Resource Industries disappointed, with segment profit plummeting 39% to $378M as margins compressed 700 bps to 10.0%.
US equity markets were mostly pointing higher before the opening bell Thursday as investors digest the latest financial results from some of the biggest technology companies and await a key inflation report.The S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq added 0.2% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.2%. The indexes finished the previous trading session mixed.Shares of Meta Platforms (META) fell 8.8% pre-bell after the Facebook parent lifted its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing, even though it reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results. Microsoft (MSFT) decreased 1.8% as the tech giant said its capital expenditures will be about $190 billion in 2026, while its fiscal third-quarter results topped market estimates."It's crystal clear to us that the (artificial intelligence) revolution is accelerating at a warp speed pace with 2026 being an inflection point year for AI with hyperscalers now investing over $700 billion in (capital expenditures) in (2026) to capitalize on the opportunities in the space," Wedbush Securities said in a Thursday client note.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) class A and C shares climbed more than 6% each amid upbeat first-quarter results. Amazon (AMZN) inclined 2.5% as the e-commerce giant issued a strong second-quarter revenue outlook.iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings after the markets close. Eli Lilly (LLY), Mastercard (MA), Caterpillar (CAT), Merck (MRK), Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Hershey (HSY) are slated to announce their results before the bell, among others.The personal income and outlays report for March is due to be released at 8:30 am ET. The report includes the personal consumption expenditure core price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric.The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as policymakers saw the Middle East conflict fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook. In a post-meeting press conference, Jerome Powell said he will stay on as a Fed governor for an indefinite period after his term as Fed chief expires on May 15.The US Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday voted to advance Kevin Warsh's nomination as Fed chair to the Republican-controlled Senate.Treasury yields were down in premarket action, with the two-year rate retreating 3.2 basis points to 3.9% and the 10-year rate off 1.8 basis points to 4.4%.President Donald Trump is expected to receive a briefing on fresh potential military options against Iran on Thursday, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge. Trump recently told the news outlet that he will maintain the US naval blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal.West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 0.2% to $106.62 a barrel before the open, while Brent decreased 1.6% to $116.20.Thursday's economic calendar also has the initial estimate report for the first-quarter gross domestic product at 8:30 am, along with the weekly jobless claims bulletin. The Chicago purchasing managers' index for April posts at 9:45 am.Gold rose 1.8% to $4,642 per troy ounce, while bitcoin moved 0.7% higher to $75,974.
Caterpillar (CAT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $768.50, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $811.04, Change: $+10.59, Percent Change: +1.32%
The industrial sector likely saw strong demand in the first quarter, despite concerns around the impact of the Iran war, Truist Securities said in a note on Friday.The broader momentum is attributable to improved demand in machinery markets and growth across data centers, aerospace, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, according to the note."Rising input costs tied to the Iran war are manageable in the short term," Truist analysts, including Jamie Cook, said.While there are worries tied to tariffs, "we would be more concerned about a prolonged war with Iran and the potential macro repercussions," Cook said.Oil prices plunged on Friday after Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Energy prices have surged following the US-Israel war with Tehran. US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism over the prospects of a deal with Iran ahead of the expiration of a two-week ceasefire between the two sides."We see a positive setup for first-quarter prints across machinery, multi-industry and infrastructure services," Cook wrote.Within the machinery industry, the brokerage maintained 2026 estimates for Deere (DE), AGCO (AGCO) and CNH Industrial (CNH) amid order momentum. Caterpillar (CAT) is expected to deliver another strong quarter, Cook said.Infrastructure service companies AECOM (ACM) and Jacobs (J) must convince investors with sustainable organic growth and margin improvement, though Jacobs is seen posting a solid quarter.Multi industry player Parker-Hannifin (PH) is on track for continued earnings beats and raises, with signs that industrial organic growth is improving, Cook said. AMETEK (AME) is recovering and holds capacity for more deals, according to the research note.AMETEK completed its acquisition of Faro Technologies in 2025.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Ahead of CAT's Q1 print, we maintain our 12-month target at $700 but downgrade our rating on shares to Sell from Hold due to valuation and margin risk. Our target values shares at 25.4x our 2027 EPS view of $27.57 (revised from $27.46; 2026 EPS estimate updated to $22.61 from $23.43), a premium to CAT's historical forward multiple that we believe is warranted given unprecedented demand for power generators. While robust generator demand and safety stockpiling activity of construction/mining equipment is encouraging, we expect tariff impacts to be potentially a greater threat to profitability in 2026 given amended Section 232 tariffs that now apply duties to the full customs value of the products instead of only to the value of the metal inputs (went into effect April 6, 2026). Given CAT's complex and highly stretched global supply chain network, the company is vulnerable to sweeping protectionist trade actions. We see downside risk in shares, as a 160%+ return over the past year carries higher expectations.
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