DEERFIELD, Ill. — Caterpillar, Inc. saw a downward trend in 2019 from 2018, numbers released Friday show.
The company took in $53.8 billion in sales and revenues in 2019, compared to $54.7 billion in 2018, equating to a 2% decrease.
That number included an 8% decrease in sales and revenues in the fourth quarter from 2018, a decline from $14.3 billion to $13.1 billion.
CAT officials attributed that decline mainly to $700 million in decreased dealer machine and engine inventories during the quarter.
There was a $200 million increase of dealer machine and engine inventories in Q4 2018.
While fourth quarter profits-per-share increased in 2019 from $2.55 in 2018 to $2.63, 2019’s overall adjusted profit-per-share was $11.06, compared with $11.22 in 2018.
The company said it forecasts 2020’s profit-per-share to be in the $8.50-$10.00 range.
There was more money in the enterprise cash coffers at the end of 2019 than in 2018, a comparison of $8.3 billion to $7.9 billion. About $6.2 billion in capital was returned to shareholders.
