Caterpillar IncRecord sales, 73% profit jump, tariff recovery boosting margins, raised outlook, and analyst price target increase.

Caterpillar reported record quarterly sales exceeding $20 billion and a 73% jump in profit per share, while a $392 million IEEPA tariff recovery boosted adjusted operating margin to 21.9%. The one-time clawback, combined with lower ongoing tariff costs of about $400 million versus a prior $700 million estimate, added 430 basis points to margins and shifted full-year margin expectations toward the middle of the target range. The backlog swelled to $72 billion, up 92% year-over-year, with Power & Energy sales to users surging 33% on data-center demand and lead times for gas engines extending into late 2028. Oppenheimer raised its price target to $1,118 from $1,105, citing acceleration across all segments, while the average analyst target stands at $1,013. Caterpillar lifted its full-year sales outlook to mid- to high-teens growth and expects free cash flow in the top half of its $6 billion to $15 billion range.
Caterpillar IncRecord sales, 73% profit jump, tariff recovery boosting margins, raised outlook, and analyst price target increase.