Caterpillar IncRecord backlog of $63B driven by AI data center demand, revenue up 22%, earnings up 30%.
Meta and other large technology companies are racing to build massive AI data centers, creating a major bottleneck that is driving record backlogs for industrial stocks Caterpillar and Eaton. Caterpillar, which makes earth-moving equipment and on-site power generators, reported a record backlog of $63 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 79% from a year earlier, with revenues up 22% and adjusted earnings up 30%. Eaton, which sells electrical infrastructure for power management, saw its Americas business backlog grow over 40% year over year driven by AI demand, with order growth expanding at a 60% clip. Both stocks trade at elevated valuations—Caterpillar at 45 times earnings and Eaton at 38 times—but the ongoing AI data center buildout could sustain their momentum.
Caterpillar IncRecord backlog of $63B driven by AI data center demand, revenue up 22%, earnings up 30%.
Eaton Corporation PLCAmericas business backlog grew over 40% YoY driven by AI demand, order growth at 60%.