Caterpillar Delivers Record-Breaking 2011 Results (USA)

Driven by outstanding execution and stronger global demand, Caterpillar Inc. delivered record-breaking 2011 sales and revenues of $60.138 billion, an increase of 41 percent from $42.588 billion in 2010. Profit in 2011 was $4.928 billion, an increase of 83 percent from $2.700 billion in 2010. Profit per share of $7.40 was up 78 percent from $4.15 in 2010. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Bucyrus International, Inc. (Bucyrus), 2011 profit was $7.79 per share, up 88 percent from a year ago.

Fourth-quarter sales and revenues in 2011 were an all-time quarterly record at $17.243 billion, an increase of 35 percent compared with $12.807 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth-quarter profit was $1.547 billion compared with $968 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Profit of $2.32 per share was 58 percent higher than the $1.47 per share in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“Our strategy is squarely focused on customers, and in 2011 our employees, suppliers and dealers delivered. We improved product quality, invested significantly in manufacturing capacity and product development, and improved our market position. We completed two large acquisitions—Bucyrus and Motoren-Werke Mannheim Holding GmbH (MWM)—in important growth industries that are a great strategic fit and provide our customers an even broader range of products,” said Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman.

“We also delivered for stockholders with outstanding financial results, beating our previous 2008 profit record of $5.66 per share by more than 30 percent. It was a great year for cash generation as well with our Machinery and Power Systems (M&PS) operating cash flow near $8 billion—our best year ever,” Oberhelman added.

“The 2011 increase in sales and revenues was the largest percentage increase in any year since 1947, and much of it was driven by demand for Caterpillar products and services outside of the United States. As a result, 2011 was a record-breaking year for U.S. exports at nearly $20 billion, which supported thousands of jobs in the United States, demonstrating the tangible benefits of free trade. Sales and export growth creates jobs, both in the United States and around the world. Not including acquisitions, our global workforce grew by more than 14,000 in 2011, and since the start of 2010, we have increased our workforce by more than 33,000, with more than 14,000 of those jobs in the United States,” Oberhelman added.

2012 Outlook

The outlook for 2012 sales and revenues has increased and is expected to be in a range of $68 to $72 billion. Profit per share is expected to be about $9.25 at the middle of the sales and revenues range. The outlook includes full-year results for the two large acquisitions that CAT completed in 2011—Bucyrus and MWM.

“We’re expecting 2012 to be another year of good growth and continued focus on executing our strategy. While we have much to do in 2012, we’ll be particularly focused on four things—continuing to improve quality, our investment in product development, integrating our acquisitions and adding production capacity. We’re very tight on production capacity for many of our products and are continuing to invest in new and existing factories. Our investments in capital expenditures and R&D will certainly add cost in 2012, but it’s the right thing to do. We expect 2012 to be a new sales record at a time when construction activity in the United States and Europe—two large markets for us—are still depressed. Our employees and suppliers have done a great job taking care of our customers, but we have to be prepared for recovery in the developed world beyond 2012 and continuing growth in emerging markets,” Oberhelman said.

“In 2011 our investment in M&PS capital expenditures was $2.6 billion, with nearly 60 percent of that investment in the United States. For 2012, we expect capital expenditures of about $4 billion. We are transforming Caterpillar with an intense focus on customers driving a reinvigorated sense of urgency as we invest and grow the company like never before. As I look forward to the goals we set for 2015, I am more confident than ever that we will deliver, and we’re in a hurry to do it,” Oberhelman said.

More info: CAT

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Dredging Today Staff, January 26, 2012; Images: caterpillar