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Caterpillar Posts Record Q2 Sales, Boosts Dow 450 Points

8/4/2026

47 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Caterpillar Inc. posted a record Q2 2026 sales figure of $20.54 billion on Aug. 4.
Adjusted earnings per share rose 73% to $8.17, with net income reaching $3.59 billion.
New orders of $9.4 billion lifted the backlog to a record $72.1 billion, up 92% year over year.
Shares jumped about 11% in pre-market trading, adding roughly 450 points to the Dow.

History

Historical Context

In 2008, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped into a bear market, Caterpillar— a Dow component— posted a record net income of $3.557 billion, marking a turnaround from the early-1980s near-bankruptcy that had threatened the firm. This profit underscored a long-standing pattern: core construction-equipment demand fuels the company’s growth and sustains its influence on the Dow.

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Story summary

Caterpillar Inc. posted a record Q2 2026 sales figure of $20.54 billion on Aug. 4.
Adjusted earnings per share rose 73% to $8.17, with net income reaching $3.59 billion.
New orders of $9.4 billion lifted the backlog to a record $72.1 billion, up 92% year over year.
Shares jumped about 11% in pre-market trading, adding roughly 450 points to the Dow.

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