Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 4, 2026Caterpillar Reports Second-Quarter 2026 Results
Sales and revenues increased 24% to $20.543 billion, operating profit increased 50% to $4.295 billion, and adjusted profit per share increased to $8.17. All three primary segments reported higher sales and profit, while the company deployed $2.2 billion for repurchases and dividends.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated Sales and RevenuesGAAP | $20.543 billion | – | 24% |
| Sales volumeother | $3.1 billion | – | – |
| Price realizationother | $595 million | – | – |
| Operating profitGAAP | $4.295 billion | – | 50% |
| Operating profit marginGAAP | 20.9% | – | – |
| Adjusted operating profit marginnon-GAAP | 21.9% | – | – |
| Profit per shareGAAP | $7.77 | – | – |
| Adjusted profit per sharenon-GAAP | $8.17 | – | – |
| Other income (expense)GAAP | income of $398 million | – | – |
| Effective tax rateGAAP | 23.1% | – | – |
| Global estimated annual effective tax rate excluding discrete itemsother | 23.0% | – | – |
| Enterprise operating cash flowother | $4.4 billion | – | – |
| Enterprise cashother | $6.7 billion | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power & EnergyThe increase was primarily due to higher sales volume of $736 million, favorable price realization of $212 million and higher inter-segment sales of $200 million. Power Generation sales increased in large reciprocating engines and in turbines and turbine-related services, primarily in data center applications. | $8.238 billion | – | 17% |
| Construction IndustriesThe increase in sales was mainly due to higher sales volume of $1.8 billion and favorable price realization of $309 million. Higher sales volume was primarily driven by higher sales of equipment to end users. | $8.346 billion | – | 35% |
| Resource IndustriesSales increased by $762 million, with $639 million of sales volume, $75 million of price realization and $65 million of currency impacts. | $4.648 billion | – | 20% |
| All Other SegmentSales decreased by $1 million. | $84 million | – | (1%) |
| Financial Products SegmentSales and revenues increased by $103 million. | $1.145 billion | – | 10% |
Capital returns
- Deployed $2.2 billion of cash for share repurchases and dividends in the second quarter
- Deployed $1.5 billion of cash for repurchases of Caterpillar common stock
- Deployed $0.7 billion of cash for dividends
What drove it
- The increase in consolidated sales and revenues was primarily due to higher sales volume of $3.1 billion and favorable price realization of $595 million.
- Higher sales volume was mainly driven by higher sales of equipment to end users.
- Sales were higher across the three primary segments.
- Operating profit increased primarily due to the profit impact of higher sales volume.
- Power Generation sales increased in large reciprocating engines and in turbines and turbine-related services, primarily in data center applications.
- Construction Industries sales growth was led by North America, where sales increased 50%.
Concerns
- Operating profit in the second quarter of 2026 included $392 million of expected International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff recoveries.
- Power & Energy unfavorable manufacturing costs of $149 million largely reflected increased period manufacturing costs.
- Asia/Pacific Construction Industries sales increased 3%.
- Other income included favorable impacts from foreign currency, total return swap contracts and investment and interest income.
- The global estimated annual effective tax rate excluded the impact of second quarter losses of $139 million for the divestiture of certain non-U.S. entities with no related tax benefit.
What to watch
- Strong order rates and a growing backlog across all three primary segments.
- Power Generation sales in large reciprocating engines and turbines and turbine-related services, primarily in data center applications.
- The effect of expected International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff recoveries on operating profit.
- Construction Industries sales volume and dealer inventory changes in North America.
- Manufacturing costs in Power & Energy.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Enterprise operating cash flow was $4.4 billion for the second quarter of 2026
- The company ended the second quarter with $6.7 billion of enterprise cash
Analysis
Caterpillar reported a strong second quarter, with consolidated sales and revenues increasing 24% to $20.543 billion from $16.569 billion. Management attributed the increase primarily to higher sales volume of $3.1 billion and favorable price realization of $595 million. Higher sales volume was mainly driven by higher sales of equipment to end users, and sales were higher across all three primary segments. The company described the quarter as its first with more than $20 billion in sales and revenues.
Management, verbatim
This is the first time in company history that we have generated over $20 billion in sales and revenues in a single quarter. This milestone underscores both the essential work our customers do every day and the dedication of Caterpillar employees worldwide to solving our customers’ toughest challenges. Strong order rates and a growing backlog reflect broadening momentum across all three of our primary segments.
Joe Creed, Caterpillar Chairman and CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Period end date
- Gross margin
- Gross profit
- Net income
- Diluted share count
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics
- Free cash flow
- Debt
- Forward guidance
- Previous-release outlook for comparison
- Complete Construction Industries discussion, including the filing text following the truncated excerpt
- Resource Industries detailed sales and profit discussion
- All Other Segment detailed sales and profit discussion
- Financial Products detailed sales and profit discussion
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.