The world’s leading producer of mining construction and operation equipment, Caterpillar, has released for the first quarter a revenue of $16 billion, up 23% and a net income of $1.6 billion, up 29%.
Moreover, the group has revised upwards its forecast for annual profit to $9.50 per share, against $9.25 previously. It kept its forecast for sales, between $68 and $70 billion. The order book continued to increase in the first quarter at $ 30.7 billion. Besides, the management announced to face a slowdown in China and Brazil which curb their expansion to master inflation.
Technically, Caterpillar’s stock has failed to sustain bullish impetus. The share has declined and evolve now in a trading range bounded by USD 99.7/109.2. Currently, the security is near the lower bound, represented by the USD 99.7 mid-term support, and could head back towards the upper bound i nthe next sessions.
Thus, investors could take a buy position on the lower bound to target the upper bound at USD 109.2. A stop-loss will be fixed at USD 95.5, below a small gap at USD 96.
Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading producer of mining construction and operation equipment, diesel and natural gas motors, and industrial gas turbines. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- sale of machines and motors (94.5%): terracing and construction machines (power shovels, high-lifts, bulldozers, etc.), agricultural and forestry tractors, motors and turbines (for heavy trucks, boats, industrial machines, and power stations), conveyer systems, hydraulic circuits and components, etc.;
- financial services (5.2%) ;
-other (0.6%).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: North America (51.6%), Europe/Africa/Middle East (20.4%), Asia/Pacific (18.1%) and Latin America (9.9%).