Caterpillar Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Results

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) announced fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2024.

Sales and revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $16.2 billion, a 5% decrease compared with $17.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Operating profit margin was 18.0% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with 18.4% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted operating profit margin was 18.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with 18.9% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Fourth-quarter 2024 profit per share was $5.78, compared with $5.28 profit per share in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted profit per share in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $5.14, compared with fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted profit per share of $5.23.

Full-year sales and revenues in 2024 were $64.8 billion, down 3% compared with $67.1 billion in 2023. The decrease reflected lower sales volume of $3.5 billion, partially offset by favorable price realization of $1.2 billion. Lower sales volume was primarily driven by lower sales of equipment to end users. Operating profit margin was 20.2% in 2024, compared with 19.3% in 2023. Adjusted operating profit margin was 20.7% in 2024, compared with 20.5% in 2023. Full-year profit was $22.05 per share in 2024, compared with profit of $20.12 per share in 2023. Adjusted profit per share in 2024 was $21.90, compared with adjusted profit per share of $21.21 in 2023.

"I'm proud of our global team's strong performance in 2024 as they delivered record adjusted profit per share and strong ME&T free cash flow," said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby. "As we kick off our centennial year, we remain committed to serving our customers, executing our strategy and continuing to invest for long-term profitable growth."

In 2024, adjusted operating profit margin and adjusted profit per share excluded restructuring costs. 2024 adjusted profit per share also excluded a discrete tax benefit for a tax law change related to currency translation and excluded mark-to-market gains for remeasurement of pension and other postemployment benefit (OPEB) plans. In 2023, adjusted operating profit margin and adjusted profit per share excluded restructuring costs, which included the impact of the divestiture of the company's Longwall business and other restructuring costs. 2023 adjusted profit per share also excluded a benefit for certain deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments and mark-to-market gains for remeasurement of pension and OPEB plans. Please see a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the appendix on pages 14 to 16.

For the full year 2024, enterprise operating cash flow was $12.0 billion, and the company ended the fourth quarter with $6.9 billion of enterprise cash. During the year, the company deployed $7.7 billion of cash for repurchases of Caterpillar common stock and $2.6 billion of cash for dividends.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Consolidated Sales and Revenues

Consolidated Sales and Revenues Comparison 
Fourth Quarter 2024 vs. Fourth Quarter 2023

To access this chart, go to https://investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx for the downloadable version of Caterpillar fourth-quarter 2024 earnings.  

The chart above graphically illustrates reasons for the change in consolidated sales and revenues between the fourth quarter of 2023 (at left) and the fourth quarter of 2024 (at right). Caterpillar management utilizes these charts internally to visually communicate with the company's board of directors and employees.

Total sales and revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $16.215 billion, a decrease of $855 million, or 5%, compared with $17.070 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales volume of $859 million. The decrease in sales volume was mainly driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories and lower sales of equipment to end users. Dealer inventory decreased by $1.3 billion during the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with a decrease of $900 million during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Sales were lower across the three primary segments.

Consolidated Operating Profit

Consolidated Operating Profit Comparison
Fourth Quarter 2024 vs. Fourth Quarter 2023

To access this chart, go to https://investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx for the downloadable version of Caterpillar fourth-quarter 2024 earnings.  

The chart above graphically illustrates reasons for the change in consolidated operating profit between the fourth quarter of 2023 (at left) and the fourth quarter of 2024 (at right). Caterpillar management utilizes these charts internally to visually communicate with the company's board of directors and employees. The bar titled Other includes consolidating adjustments and Machinery, Energy & Transportation's other operating (income) expenses.

Operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $2.924 billion, a decrease of $210 million, or 7%, compared with $3.134 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the profit impact of lower sales volume.

Operating profit margin was 18.0% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with 18.4% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted operating profit margin was 18.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with 18.9% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Other Profit/Loss and Tax Items

• Other income (expense) in the fourth quarter of 2024 was income of $426 million, compared with income of $241 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The change was primarily driven by favorable foreign currency impacts.
  
  
• The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 14.3% compared to 18.1% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Excluding the discrete items discussed below, the annual tax rate was 22.2% for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 21.4% for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase from 2023 was primarily related to changes in the geographic mix of profits from a tax perspective.
  
  In the fourth quarter of 2024, the company recorded a discrete tax benefit of $224 million for a tax law change related to currency translation. The company recorded a $33 million benefit in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to a $112 million benefit in the fourth quarter of 2023 for the change in the estimated annual tax rate through the first nine months. The company also recorded a tax charge of $43 million related to $154 million of mark-to-market gains for remeasurement of pension and OPEB plans in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to a tax charge of $26 million related to $97 million of mark-to-market gains in the fourth quarter of 2023. In addition, a discrete tax benefit of $8 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with a $3 million benefit in the fourth quarter of 2023, for the settlement of stock-based compensation awards with associated tax deductions in excess of cumulative U.S. GAAP compensation expense. 
  
  Please see a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the appendix on pages 14 to 16.

Construction Industries' total sales were $6.003 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $516 million, or 8%, compared with $6.519 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable price realization of $300 million and lower sales volume of $227 million. The decrease in sales volume was mainly driven by lower sales of equipment to end users and by the impact from changes in dealer inventories. Dealer inventory decreased more during the fourth quarter of 2024 than during the fourth quarter of 2023.

• In North America, sales decreased due to lower sales volume and unfavorable price realization. Lower sales volume was mainly driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories. Dealer inventory decreased more during the fourth quarter of 2024 than during the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Sales increased in Latin America due to higher sales volume, partially offset by unfavorable currency impacts, primarily related to the Brazilian real, and unfavorable price realization. Higher sales volume was mainly driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories. Dealer inventory decreased less during the fourth quarter of 2024 than during the fourth quarter of 2023.
• In EAME, sales decreased slightly due to unfavorable price realization, partially offset by higher sales volume and favorable currency impacts, primarily related to the euro. Higher sales volume was mainly due to the impact from changes in dealer inventories, partially offset by lower sales of equipment to end users. Dealer inventory decreased less during the fourth quarter of 2024 than during the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Sales decreased in Asia/Pacific due to unfavorable price realization and lower sales volume, partially offset by favorable currency impacts primarily related to the Australian dollar. Lower sales volume was mainly due to lower sales of equipment to end users, partially offset by the impact from changes in dealer inventories. Dealer inventory decreased less during the fourth quarter of 2024 than during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Construction Industries' segment profit was $1.174 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $361 million, or 24%, compared with $1.535 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable price realization.

Resource Industries' total sales were $2.962 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $280 million, or 9%, compared with $3.242 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales volume. The decrease in sales volume was mainly driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories. Dealer inventory decreased more during the fourth quarter of 2024 than during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Resource Industries' segment profit was $466 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $134 million, or 22%, compared with $600 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the profit impact of lower sales volume.

Energy & Transportation's total sales were $7.649 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $20 million, compared with $7.669 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower sales volume of $301 million, partially offset by favorable price realization of $221 million and higher inter-segment sales of $52 million.

• Oil and Gas – Sales decreased in reciprocating engines used in well servicing and gas compression applications. Sales also decreased for turbines and turbine-related services.
• Power Generation – Sales increased in large reciprocating engines, primarily data center applications. Turbines and turbine-related services increased as well.
• Industrial – Sales decreased primarily in North America and Asia/Pacific.
• Transportation – Sales decreased slightly as lower sales of reciprocating engine aftermarket parts and international locomotive deliveries were mostly offset by increased sales in rail services and marine.

Energy & Transportation's segment profit was $1.477 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $48 million, or 3%, compared with $1.429 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to favorable price realization of $221 million, partially offset by the profit impact of lower sales volume of $158 million and unfavorable manufacturing costs of $17 million. Unfavorable manufacturing costs largely reflected increased period manufacturing costs.

Financial Products' segment revenues were $1.024 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $43 million, or 4%, compared with $981 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to a favorable impact from higher average earning assets of $29 million driven by North America, and a favorable impact from higher average financing rates across all regions except North America of $11 million.

Financial Products' segment profit was $166 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $68 million, or 29%, compared with $234 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was mainly due to an unfavorable impact from equity securities of $23 million, an unfavorable impact from lower margin of $17 million and higher provision for credit losses at Cat Financial of $17 million.

At the end of 2024, past dues at Cat Financial were 1.56%, compared with 1.79% at the end of 2023. Write-offs, net of recoveries, were $115 million for 2024, compared with $65 million for 2023. As of December 31, 2024, Cat Financial's allowance for credit losses totaled $267 million, or 0.91% of finance receivables, compared with $331 million, or 1.18% of finance receivables, at December 31, 2023.

Corporate Items and Eliminations

Expense for corporate items and eliminations was $227 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $257 million from the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily driven by decreased expenses due to timing differences, a favorable change in fair value adjustments related to deferred compensation plans and lower restructuring costs.

Notes

i.  Glossary of terms is included on the Caterpillar website at https://investors.caterpillar.com/overview/default.aspx.
ii.  Sales of equipment to end users is demonstrated by the company's Rolling 3 Month Retail Sales Statistics filed in a Form 8-K on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
iii.  Information on non-GAAP financial measures is included in the appendix on pages 14 to 16.
iv.  Some amounts within this report are rounded to the millions or billions and may not add.
v.  Caterpillar will conduct a teleconference and live webcast, with a slide presentation, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, to discuss its 2024 fourth-quarter and full-year results. The accompanying slides will be available before the webcast on the Caterpillar website at https://investors.caterpillar.com/events-presentations/default.aspx.

About Caterpillar

With 2024 sales and revenues of $64.8 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html.

Caterpillar's latest financial results are also available online:

https://investors.caterpillar.com/overview/default.aspx

https://investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx(live broadcast/replays of quarterly conference call)

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," "forecast," "target," "guide," "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) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position, including the imposition of new tariffs or changes in existing tariff rates; (vi) our ability to develop, produce and market quality products that meet our customers' needs; (vii) the impact of the highly competitive environment in which we operate on our sales and pricing; (viii) information technology security threats and computer crime; (ix) inventory management decisions and sourcing practices of our dealers and our OEM customers; (x) a failure to realize, or a delay in realizing, all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; (xi) union disputes or other employee relations issues; (xii) adverse effects of unexpected events; (xiii) disruptions or volatility in global financial markets limiting our sources of liquidity or the liquidity of our customers, dealers and suppliers; (xiv) 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; (xv) our Financial Products segment's risks associated with the financial services industry; (xvi) changes in interest rates or market liquidity conditions; (xvii) an increase in delinquencies, repossessions or net losses of Cat Financial's customers; (xviii) currency fluctuations; (xix) our or Cat Financial's compliance with financial and other restrictive covenants in debt agreements; (xx) increased pension plan funding obligations; (xxi) alleged or actual violations of trade or anti-corruption laws and regulations; (xxii) additional tax expense or exposure, including the impact of U.S. tax reform; (xxiii) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or government investigations; (xxiv) new regulations or changes in financial services regulations; (xxv) compliance with environmental laws and regulations; (xxvi) catastrophic events, including global pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and (xxvii) other factors described in more detail in Caterpillar's Forms 10-Q, 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

APPENDIX

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The following definitions are provided for the non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures have no standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures for other companies. Management does not intend these items to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures.

The company believes it is important to separately quantify the profit impact of six significant items in order for the company's results to be meaningful to readers. These items consist of (i) restructuring income/costs related to the divestitures of certain non-U.S. entities in 2024, (ii) other restructuring income/costs, (iii) pension and OPEB mark-to-market gains/losses resulting from plan remeasurements, (iv) a discrete tax benefit for a tax law change related to currency translation in 2024, (v) restructuring costs related to the divestiture of the company's Longwall business in 2023 and (vi) certain deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments in 2023. The company does not consider these items indicative of earnings from ongoing business activities and believes the non-GAAP measure provides investors with useful perspective on underlying business results and trends and aids with assessing the company's period-over-period results.

Reconciliations of adjusted results to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are as follows: