Energy & Transportation
Our Energy & Transportation segment supports customers in oil and gas, power generation, marine, rail and industrial applications, including Caterpillar machines. The product and services portfolio includes reciprocating engines, generator sets, integrated systems and solutions, turbines and turbine-related services, electrified powertrain and zero-emission power sources and service solutions development, the remanufacturing of Caterpillar engines and components, remanufacturing services for other companies, diesel-electric locomotives and other rail-related products and services and product support of on-highway vocational trucks for North America.
Regulatory emissions standards require us to continue to make investments as new products and new regulations are introduced. Ongoing compliance with these regulations remains a focus. Emissions compliance in developing markets is complex due to rapidly evolving and unique requirements where enforcement processes can often vary. We employ robust product development, manufacturing processes and testing to help us comply with these regulations.
The competitive environment for reciprocating engines in marine, oil and gas, industrial and electric power generation systems along with turbines in oil and gas and electric power generation consists of a few larger global competitors that compete in a variety of markets that Caterpillar serves, and a substantial number of smaller companies that compete in a limited-size product range, geographic region and/or application. Principal global competitors include Cummins Inc., Deutz AG, Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Siemens Energy Global GmbH. Other competitors, such as Volvo Penta AB, FPT Industrial (Iveco Group), INNIO, GE Vernova, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Energy Solution & Marine Engineering, MAN Energy Solutions (VW), Weichai Power Co., Ltd., and other emerging market competitors compete in certain markets in which Caterpillar competes. An additional set of competitors, including Aggreko plc, Generac Holdings, Kohler Energy, Baker Hughes Co., and others, are primarily packagers who source engines and/or other components from domestic and international suppliers and market products regionally and internationally through a variety of distribution channels. In rail-related businesses, our global competitors include Wabtec Freight, The Greenbrier Companies, Voestalpine AG, and Vossloh AG, Alstom SA, Siemens Mobility, and CRRC Corp., LTD. We also compete with other companies on a more limited range of products, services and/or geographic regions.
The Energy & Transportation portfolio includes the following products and related parts:
•Reciprocating engine powered generator sets
•Reciprocating engines, drivetrain and integrated systems and solutions supplied to the industrial industry as well as Caterpillar machinery
•Integrated systems and solutions used in the electric power generation industry
•Turbines, centrifugal gas compressors and related services
•Reciprocating engines, drivetrain and integrated systems and solutions for the marine and oil and gas industries
•Diesel-electric locomotives and components and other rail-related products and services
Financial Products Segment
The business of our Financial Products Segment is primarily conducted by Cat Financial, Insurance Services and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Cat Financial is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. and it provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives to customers and dealers around the world for Caterpillar products and services, as well as financing for vehicles and power generation facilities that, in most cases, incorporate Caterpillar products. Retail financing is primarily comprised of installment sale contracts and other equipment-related loans, working capital loans, finance leases and operating leases. Wholesale financing to Caterpillar dealers consists primarily of inventory and rental fleet financing. In addition, Cat Financial purchases short-term wholesale trade receivables from Caterpillar. The various financing plans offered by Cat Financial are designed to support sales of Caterpillar products and services and generate financing income for Cat Financial. A significant portion of our activity is conducted in North America and we have additional offices and subsidiaries in Latin America, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa.
For over 40 years, Cat Financial has been providing financing for Caterpillar products, contributing to our knowledge of asset values, industry trends, financing structures and customer needs.
In certain instances, Cat Financial’s operations are subject to supervision and regulation by state, federal and various foreign governmental authorities, and may be subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing various requirements and restrictions which, among other things, (i) regulate credit granting activities and the administration of loans, (ii) establish maximum interest rates, finance charges and other charges, (iii) require disclosures to customers, (iv) govern secured transactions, (v) set collection, foreclosure, repossession and other trade practices and (vi) regulate the use and reporting of information related to a borrower’s credit experience. Cat Financial’s ability to comply with these and other governmental and legal requirements and restrictions affects its operations.
Cat Financial’s retail loans include:
•Loans that allow customers and dealers to use their Caterpillar equipment or other assets as collateral to obtain financing.
•Installment sale contracts, which are equipment loans that enable customers to purchase equipment with structured payments over time.
Cat Financial's retail leases include:
•Finance (non-tax) leases, where the lessee for tax purposes is considered to be the owner of the equipment during the term of the lease, that either require or allow the customer to purchase the equipment for a fixed price at the end of the term.
•Tax leases that are classified as either operating or finance leases for financial accounting purposes, depending on the characteristics of the lease. For tax purposes, we are considered the owner of the equipment.
Cat Financial also purchases short-term receivables from Caterpillar.
Cat Financial’s wholesale loans and leases include inventory/rental programs, which provide assistance to dealers by financing their new Caterpillar inventory and rental fleets.
Cat Financial operates in a highly competitive environment, with financing for users of Caterpillar equipment and services available through a variety of sources, principally commercial banks and finance and leasing companies. Our competitors include Wells Fargo Equipment Finance Inc., Banc of America Leasing & Capital LLC, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions Limited, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Société Générale S.A. and various other banks and finance companies. In addition, many of the manufacturers that compete with Caterpillar also own financial subsidiaries, such as John Deere Capital Corporation, Komatsu Financial L.P., Volvo Financial Services and Kubota Credit Corporation, which utilize many below-market interest rate programs (funded by the manufacturer) to support machine sales. Cat Financial works with the broader Caterpillar organization to provide a broad array of financial merchandising programs to compete around the world.
The financial results of Cat Financial are largely dependent upon the ability of Caterpillar dealers to sell equipment and customers’ willingness to enter into financing or leasing agreements. Cat Financial is also affected by, among other things, the availability of funds from its financing sources, its cost of funds relative to its competitors and general economic conditions such as inflation and market interest rates.
Cat Financial has a match-funding policy that addresses interest rate risk by aligning the interest rate profile (fixed or floating rate and duration) of its debt portfolio with the interest rate profile of its receivables portfolio within predetermined ranges on an ongoing basis. In connection with that policy, Cat Financial uses interest rate derivative instruments to modify the debt structure to match assets within the receivables portfolio. This matched funding reduces the volatility of margins between interest-bearing assets and interest-bearing liabilities, regardless of which direction interest rates move. For more information regarding match funding, please see Note 4 — “Derivative financial instruments and risk management” of Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." See also the risk factors associated with our financial products business included in Item 1 A. of this Form 10-K.
In managing foreign currency risk for Cat Financial’s operations, the objective is to minimize earnings volatility resulting from conversion and the remeasurement of net foreign currency balance sheet positions, and future transactions denominated in foreign currencies. This policy allows the use of foreign currency forward, option and cross currency contracts to offset the risk of currency mismatch between the assets and liabilities, and exchange rate risk associated with future transactions denominated in foreign currencies.
Cat Financial provides financing only when certain criteria are met. Credit decisions are based on a variety of credit quality factors including prior payment experience, customer financial information, credit ratings, loan-to-value ratios and other internal metrics. Cat Financial typically maintains a security interest in retail-financed equipment and generally requires physical damage insurance coverage on financed equipment. Cat Financial finances a significant portion of Caterpillar dealers’ sales and inventory of Caterpillar equipment throughout the world. Cat Financial’s competitive position is improved by marketing programs offered in conjunction with Caterpillar and/or Caterpillar dealers. Under these programs, Caterpillar, or the dealer, funds an amount at the outset of the transaction, which Cat Financial then recognizes as revenue over the term of the financing. We believe that these marketing programs provide Cat Financial a significant competitive advantage in financing Caterpillar products.
Caterpillar Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., is a U.S. insurance company domiciled in Missouri and primarily regulated by the Missouri Department of Insurance. Caterpillar Insurance Company is licensed to conduct property and casualty insurance business in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, and as such, is also regulated in those jurisdictions. The State of Missouri acts as the lead regulatory authority and monitors Caterpillar Insurance Company’s financial status to ensure that it is in compliance with minimum solvency requirements, as well as other financial ratios prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Caterpillar Insurance Company is also licensed to conduct insurance business through a branch in Zurich, Switzerland and, as such, is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.
Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar, is a U.S. insurance company domiciled in Missouri and primarily regulated by the Missouri Department of Insurance. Caterpillar Life Insurance Company is licensed to conduct life and accident and health insurance business in 26 states and the District of Columbia and, as such, is also regulated in those jurisdictions. The State of Missouri acts as the lead regulatory authority and it monitors the financial status to ensure that it is in compliance with minimum solvency requirements, as well as other financial ratios prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Caterpillar Life Insurance Company provides reinsurance coverage to Caterpillar Insurance Company. Specifically, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company has entered into a reinsurance agreement with Caterpillar Insurance Company, assuming 100% of the risk of an Accident and Health Stop Loss Insurance Policy to cover a Caterpillar Voluntary Employees' Benefits Association (VEBA) Trust for medical losses sustained by a select group of Caterpillar retirees and dependents.
Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., is a captive insurance company domiciled in Bermuda and regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd. is registered as a Class 2 (General Business) and Class B (Long-Term) insurer with the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Under its Class 2 insurance license, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd. insures its parent and affiliates for general liability, property, auto liability and cargo. It also provides reinsurance to Caterpillar Insurance Company under a quota share reinsurance agreement for its contractual liability and contractors’ equipment programs in the United States. In addition, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd. reinsures 100% of the international employee benefit plans of Caterpillar Inc. through retrocession agreements with other insurers. The employee benefits coverages include medical and accident coverages. which are reported under its Class 2 insurance license and life and disability coverages, which are reported under its Class B insurance license. The Bermuda Monetary Authority is responsible for monitoring compliance with solvency requirements and requires an Annual Financial Filing for this purpose.
Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., is a Tennessee insurance agency licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. It provides brokerage and insurance services for all property and casualty and life and health lines of business.
Caterpillar’s insurance group provides protection and service for claims under the following programs:
•Contractual Liability Insurance to insure certain service contract obligations of Caterpillar and its affiliates, Caterpillar dealers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
•Cargo reinsurance for the worldwide cargo risks of Caterpillar products.
•Contractors’ Equipment Physical Damage Insurance for equipment manufactured by Caterpillar or OEMs, which is leased, rented or sold by third party dealers to customers.
•General liability, employer’s liability, auto liability and property insurance for Caterpillar.
•Life, disability, medical and accident reinsurance for Caterpillar's international employee benefits program (non-U.S.).
•Reinsurance to cover VEBA Trust for medical claims of certain Caterpillar retirees and dependents.
•Brokerage and insurance services for property and casualty and life and health business.
Competitive Environment
Caterpillar products and services are sold worldwide into a variety of highly competitive markets. In all markets, we compete on the basis of product performance, customer service, quality and price. From time to time, the intensity of competition results in price discounting in a particular industry or region. Such price discounting puts pressure on margins and can negatively impact operating profit. Outside the United States, certain competitors enjoy competitive advantages inherent to operating in their home countries or regions.
Raw Materials and Component Products
We source our raw materials and manufactured components from suppliers both domestically and internationally. These purchases include unformed materials and rough and finished parts. Unformed materials include a variety of steel products, which are then cut or formed to shape and machined in our facilities. Rough parts include various sized steel and iron castings and forgings, which are machined to final specification levels inside our facilities. Finished parts are ready to assemble components, which are made either to Caterpillar specifications or to supplier developed specifications. We machine and assemble some of the components used in our machines, engines and power generation units and to support our after-market dealer parts sales. We also purchase various goods and services used in production, logistics, offices and product development processes. We maintain global strategic sourcing models to meet our global facilities’ production needs while building long-term supplier relationships and leveraging enterprise spend. We expect our suppliers to maintain, at all times, industry-leading levels of quality and the ability to timely deliver raw materials and component products for our machine and engine products. However, in some cases, increases in demand or supply chain disruptions have led to parts and components constraints across some products. We use a variety of agreements with suppliers to protect our intellectual property and processes to monitor and mitigate risks of the supply base causing a business disruption. The risks monitored include supplier financial viability, the ability to increase or decrease production levels, business continuity, quality and delivery.
Patents and Trademarks
We own a number of patents and trademarks, which have been obtained over a period of years and relate to the products we manufacture and the services we provide. These patents and trademarks are generally considered beneficial to our business. We do not regard our business as being dependent upon any single patent or group of patents.
Order Backlog
The dollar amount of backlog believed to be firm was approximately $27.5 billion at December 31, 2023 and $30.4 billion at December 31, 2022. Compared with year-end 2022, the order backlog decreased across the three primary segments. Of the total backlog at December 31, 2023, approximately $5.8 billion was not expected to be filled in 2024.
Dealers and Distributors
We distribute our machines principally through a worldwide organization of dealers (dealer network), 43 located in the United States and 113 located outside the United States, serving 191 countries. We sell reciprocating engines principally through the dealer network and to other manufacturers for use in products. We also sell some of the reciprocating engines manufactured by our subsidiary Perkins Engines Company Limited through its worldwide network of 88 distributors covering 185 countries. We sell the FG Wilson branded electric power generation systems through its worldwide network of 110 distributors covering 109 countries.
Our dealers do not deal exclusively with our products; however, in most cases sales and servicing of our products are the dealers’ principal business. We sell some products, primarily turbines and locomotives, directly to end customers through sales forces employed by the company. At times, these employees are assisted by independent sales representatives.
While the large majority of our worldwide dealers are independently owned and operated, we own and operate a dealership in Japan that covers approximately 80% of the Japanese market: Nippon Caterpillar Division. We are currently operating this Japanese dealer directly and we report its results in the All Other operating segment. There are also three independent dealers in the Southern Region of Japan.
For Caterpillar-branded products, the company’s relationship with each of its independent dealers is memorialized in standard sales and service agreements. Pursuant to these agreements, the company grants the dealer the right to purchase and sell its products and to service the products in a specified geographic service territory. The company establishes prices to dealers after receiving input from dealers on transactional pricing in the marketplace. The company also agrees to defend its intellectual property and to provide warranty and technical support to the dealer. The agreement further grants the dealer a non-exclusive license to use the company’s trademarks, service marks and brand names. In some instances, a separate trademark agreement exists between the company and a dealer.
In exchange for these rights, the agreement obligates the dealer to develop and promote the sale of the company’s products to current and prospective customers in the dealer’s service territory. Each dealer agrees to employ adequate sales and support personnel to market, sell and promote the company’s products, demonstrate and exhibit the products, perform the company’s product improvement programs, inform the company concerning any features that might affect the safe operation of any of the company’s products and maintain detailed books and records of the dealer’s financial condition, sales and inventories and make these books and records available at the company’s reasonable request.
These sales and service agreements are terminable at will by either party primarily upon 90 days written notice.
Human Capital
Core Values
Caterpillar’s global workforce is united by Our Values In Action, Caterpillar’s Code of Conduct. Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Commitment and Sustainability provide the foundation for our values-based culture. Our diversity and inclusion principles are embedded in our values. Our values unite us, and reflect our diverse cultures, languages, geographies, and businesses, as one Caterpillar team.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of our employees is an important focus at Caterpillar, and we strive to continually reduce our recordable injuries utilizing programs that amplify our safety culture, globally. In 2023, the Company achieved a recordable injury frequency rate of 0.40, compared to the 2022 recordable injury frequency rate of 0.44. In addition, Caterpillar has refreshed our safety strategy to enhance our focus on preventing serious injuries and to encourage learning from those closest to the work.
Talent Development and Training
In addition to our focus on values and safety, we strive to continually attract, develop, engage, and retain a high-performing diverse global team that executes our enterprise strategy of long-term profitable growth.
We are committed to employee development and helping individuals reach their full potential, by making on-going investments in our team. Our global internships, engineering co-ops, and career programs for engineering, marketing, and manufacturing provide development opportunities for early career employees. We also have a continual focus on strengthening technical, professional and leadership capabilities at every level using contemporary learning strategies to foster high performance. Strategic talent reviews and succession planning occur at a minimum, annually, across our businesses.
Our leadership development programs focus on encouraging a variety of experiences to help employees broaden understanding and increase perspective. Our leadership curriculums include managing for inclusion and building resilient and high performing teams as core development principles. Additionally, skill-based programs to upskill our manufacturing employees are developed locally and tailored to the specific needs of the business.
Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to fostering a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment that is representative of the many customers and communities we serve around the globe. Our strategic approach weaves diversity and inclusion seamlessly into the business, ensuring that the principles guide us in our daily operating rhythm. Our 14 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are sponsored and supported by leadership, help ensure different voices and perspectives contribute to our strategy for long-term profitable growth. They also engage our employees, helping contribute to development and retention.
Our ERGs provide many contributions, such as mentoring programs that connect diverse employees with senior leaders who can support their career goals, partnerships with recruiters and diverse early career and professional organizations that can assist in strengthening the diverse talent pipeline and programs that educate and inform on the richness of the global cultures that we share.
Compensation, Benefits and Employee Insights
Providing competitive benefits and compensation underpins our commitment to our engaged and productive employees. Our pay-for-performance philosophy aligns employee’s individual contributions, behaviors and business results with individual rewards. Our comprehensive Total Health programs focus on purpose, as well as physical and mental health, emotional and social support, and financial wellness. The annual Employee Insights Survey provides all employees the opportunity to confidentially share their perspectives and engages leaders to listen, learn and respond to employee feedback to help foster a positive work environment.
Employment
Management aligns employment levels with the needs of the business. We believe we have the appropriate human capital resources to successfully operate and deliver our enterprise strategy. As of December 31, 2023, we employed about 113,200 full-time persons of whom approximately 62,400 were located outside the United States. In the United States, we employed approximately 50,800 full-time persons, most of whom are at-will employees and, therefore, not subject to any type of employment contract or agreement. At select business units, we have hired certain highly specialized employees under employment contracts that specify a term of employment, pay and other benefits.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Full-Time Employees at Year-End | | | | |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | |
| Inside U.S. | 50,800 | | 48,200 | |
| Outside U.S. | 62,400 | | 60,900 | |
| Total | 113,200 | | 109,100 | |
| | | | |
| By Region: | | | | |
| North America | 51,200 | | 48,700 | |
| EAME | 16,600 | | 16,900 | |
| Latin America | 20,300 | | 19,100 | |
| Asia/Pacific | 25,100 | | 24,400 | |
| Total | 113,200 | | 109,100 | |
| | | | |
As of December 31, 2023, there were 7,973 hourly production employees in the United States who were covered by collective bargaining agreements with various labor unions, including The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), The International Association of Machinists and The United Steelworkers. Outside the United States, the company enters into employment contracts and agreements in those countries in which such relationships are mandatory or customary. The provisions of these agreements generally correspond in each case with the required or customary terms in the subject jurisdiction.
Environmental Matters
The company is regulated by federal, state and international environmental laws governing our use, transport and disposal of substances and control of emissions. In addition to governing our manufacturing and other operations, these laws often impact the development of our products, including, but not limited to, required compliance with air emissions standards applicable to internal combustion engines. We have made, and will continue to make, significant research and development and capital expenditures to comply with these emissions standards.
We are engaged in remedial activities at a number of locations, often with other companies, pursuant to federal and state laws. When it is probable we will pay remedial costs at a site, and those costs can be reasonably estimated, the investigation, remediation, and operating and maintenance costs of the remedial action are accrued against our earnings. Costs are accrued
based on consideration of currently available data and information with respect to each individual site, including available technologies, current applicable laws and regulations, and prior remediation experience. Where no amount within a range of estimates is more likely, we accrue the minimum. Where multiple potentially responsible parties are involved, we consider our proportionate share of the probable costs. In formulating the estimate of probable costs, we do not consider amounts expected to be recovered from insurance companies or others. We reassess these accrued amounts on a quarterly basis. The amount recorded for environmental remediation is not material and is included in the line item "Accrued expenses" in Statement 3 — "Consolidated Financial Position at December 31" of Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." There is no more than a remote chance that a material amount for remedial activities at any individual site, or at all the sites in the aggregate, will be required.
Available Information
The company files electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) required reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 11-K; proxy materials; ownership reports for insiders as required by Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act); registration statements on Forms S-3 and S-8, as necessary; and other forms or reports as required. The SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The company maintains a website (www.Caterpillar.com) and copies of our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished with the SEC are available free of charge through our website (www.Caterpillar.com/secfilings) as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. Copies of our board committee charters, our board’s Guidelines on Corporate Governance Issues, Worldwide Code of Conduct and other corporate governance information are available on our website (www.Caterpillar.com/governance) and are also available free of charge. The information contained on the company’s website is not included in, or incorporated by reference into, this annual report on Form 10-K.
Additional company information may be obtained as follows:
Current information -
•view additional financial information on-line at www.Caterpillar.com/en/investors/financial-information.html
•request, view or download materials on-line or register for email alerts at www.Caterpillar.com/materialsrequest
Historical information -
•view/download on-line at www.Caterpillar.com/historical
Item 1A.Risk Factors.
The statements in this section describe the most significant risks to our business and should be considered carefully in conjunction with Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” to this Form 10-K. In addition, the statements in this section and other sections of this Form 10-K, including in Part II, Item 7 “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” include “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve uncertainties that could significantly impact results. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events about the company or our outlook. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact they do not relate to historical or current facts and by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “will be,” “should,” “plan,” “forecast,” “target,” “guide,” “project,” “intend,” “could” and similar words or expressions.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and on known risks and uncertainties. Although we believe we have been prudent in our assumptions, any or all of our forward-looking statements may prove to be inaccurate, and we can make no guarantees about our future performance. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could materially differ from past results and/or those anticipated, estimated or projected.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should, however, consult any subsequent disclosures we make in our filings with the SEC on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.
The following is a cautionary discussion of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we believe are material to our business. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this report, the following are some of the important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, we believe could make our actual results differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. It is impossible to predict or identify all such factors and, as a result, you should not consider the following factors to be a complete discussion of risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
MACROECONOMIC RISKS
Our business and the industries we serve are highly sensitive to global and regional economic conditions.
Our results of operations are materially affected by economic conditions globally and regionally and in the particular industries we serve. The demand for our products and services tends to be cyclical and can be significantly reduced in periods of economic weakness characterized by lower levels of government and business investment, lower levels of business confidence, lower corporate earnings, high real interest rates, lower credit activity or tighter credit conditions, perceived or actual industry overcapacity, higher unemployment and lower consumer spending. A prolonged period of economic weakness may also result in increased expenses due to higher allowances for doubtful accounts and potential goodwill and asset impairment charges. Economic conditions vary across regions and countries, and demand for our products and services generally increases in those regions and countries experiencing economic growth and investment. Slower economic growth or a change in the global mix of regions and countries experiencing economic growth and investment could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The energy, transportation, and mining industries are significant adopters of Caterpillar products. In these industries customers are likely to base their purchase decisions upon expected future commodity dynamics, including price. Commodity price volatility may be abrupt and unpredictable in response to global economic conditions, government actions, regulatory changes, supply/demand dynamics, innovation, and commodity substitutions among others. Economic conditions affecting the industries we serve may reduce capital expenditures in response to a variety of the aforementioned conditions. Reduction in these capital expenditures may lead to decreased demand for Caterpillar products and services as well as aftermarket parts as customers may choose to extend preventative maintenance and delay overhauls when possible.
The rates of infrastructure spending, commercial construction and housing starts also play a significant role in our results. Our products are an integral component of these activities, and as these activities decrease, demand for our products and services may be significantly impacted, which could negatively impact our results.
Catastrophic events, including global pandemics, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.
The occurrence of a major earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami or other weather event, power loss, telecommunications failure, software or hardware malfunctions, pandemics, cyber-attack, war, terrorist attack or other catastrophic event that our disaster recovery plans do not adequately address, could adversely affect our employees, our systems, our ability to produce and distribute our products, and our reputation. For example, a pandemic had a significant impact around the world, prompting governments and businesses to take unprecedented measures in response. Such measures included travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders and shutdowns. Those measures impacted or could again impact all or portions of our workforce and operations and the operations of our customers, dealers and suppliers. Current material and component shortages, logistics constraints and labor inefficiencies limited and or could continue to limit our ability to meet customer demand, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.
Pandemics can significantly increase economic and customer demand uncertainty, cause inflationary pressure in the U.S. and elsewhere and lead to volatility in customer demand for the Company’s products and services and cause supply chain disruptions. Economic uncertainties could continue to affect customer demand for the Company’s products and services, the value of the equipment financed or leased, the demand for financing and the financial condition and credit risk of our dealers and customers.
A catastrophic event resulting in the destruction or disruption of our workforce, our systems, our ability to produce and distribute our products, any of our data centers or our critical business or information technology systems could adversely affect our ability to conduct normal business operations and our operating results or cash flows. The adverse effects of any such catastrophic event would be exacerbated if experienced at the same time as another unexpected and adverse event.
Commodity price changes, material price increases, fluctuations in demand for our products and services, significant disruptions to our supply chains or significant shortages of labor and material may adversely impact our financial results or our ability to meet commitments to customers.
We are a significant user of steel and many other commodities required for the manufacture of our products. Increases in the prices of such commodities would increase our costs, negatively impacting our business, results of operations and financial condition if we are unable to fully offset the effect of these increased costs through price increases, productivity improvements, cost reduction programs or hedging programs.
We rely on suppliers to produce or secure material required for the manufacture of our products. Production challenges at suppliers (including suppliers of semiconductors), a disruption in deliveries to or from suppliers or decreased availability of raw materials or commodities could have an adverse effect on our ability to meet our commitments to customers or increase our operating costs. On the other hand, in circumstances where demand for our products is less than we expect, we may experience excess inventories and be forced to incur additional costs and our profitability may suffer. Our business, competitive position, results of operations or financial condition could be negatively impacted if supply is insufficient for our operations, if significant transportation delays interfere with deliveries, if we experience excess inventories or if we are unable to adjust our production schedules or our purchases from suppliers to reflect changes in customer demand and market fluctuations on a timely basis.
Changes in government monetary or fiscal policies may negatively impact our results.
Most countries where our products and services are sold have established central banks to regulate monetary systems and influence economic activities, generally by adjusting interest rates. Interest rate changes affect overall economic growth, which affects demand for residential and nonresidential structures, as well as energy and mined products, which in turn affects sales of our products and services that support these activities. Interest rate changes may also affect our customers’ ability to finance machine purchases, can change the optimal time to keep machines in a fleet and can impact the ability of our suppliers to finance the production of parts and components necessary to manufacture and support our products. Increases in interest rates could negatively impact sales and create supply chain inefficiencies.
Central banks and other policy arms of many countries may take actions to vary the amount of liquidity and credit available in an economy. The impact from a change in liquidity and credit policies could negatively affect the customers and markets we serve or our suppliers, create supply chain inefficiencies and could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in monetary and fiscal policies, along with other factors, may cause currency exchange rates to fluctuate. Actions that lead the currency exchange rate of a country where we manufacture products to increase relative to other currencies could reduce the competitiveness of products made in that country, which could adversely affect our competitive position, results of operations and financial condition.
Government policies on taxes and spending also affect our business. Throughout the world, government spending finances a significant portion of infrastructure development, such as highways, rail systems, airports, sewer and water systems, waterways and dams. Tax regulations determine asset depreciation lives and impact the after-tax returns on business activity and investment, both of which influence investment decisions. Unfavorable developments, such as decisions to reduce public spending or to increase taxes, could negatively impact our results.
Our global operations are exposed to political and economic risks, commercial instability and events beyond our control in the countries in which we operate.
Our global operations are dependent upon products manufactured, purchased and sold in the U.S. and internationally, including in countries with political and economic instability or uncertainty. Some countries have greater political and economic volatility and greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions than others. Our business could be negatively impacted by adverse fluctuations in freight costs, fuel costs (e.g., diesel, bunker, jet), limitations on shipping and receiving capacity, and other disruptions in the transportation and shipping infrastructure at important geographic points of exit and entry for our products. Operating in different regions and countries exposes us to numerous risks, including:
•multiple and potentially conflicting laws, regulations and policies that are subject to change;
•imposition of currency restrictions, restrictions on repatriation of earnings or other restraints;
•imposition of new or additional tariffs or quotas;
•withdrawal from or modification of trade agreements or the negotiation of new trade agreements;
•imposition of new or additional trade and economic sanctions laws imposed by the U.S. or foreign governments;
•war or acts of terrorism; and
•political and economic instability or civil unrest that may severely disrupt economic activity in affected countries.
The occurrence of one or more of these events may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
The success of our business depends on our ability to develop, produce and market quality products that meet our customers’ needs.
Our business relies on continued global demand for our brands and products. To achieve business goals, we must develop and sell products that appeal to our dealers, OEMs and end-user customers. This is dependent on a number of factors, including our ability to maintain key dealer relationships; our ability to produce products that meet the quality, performance and price expectations of our customers and our ability to develop effective sales, advertising and marketing programs. In addition, our continued success in selling products that appeal to our customers is dependent on leading-edge innovation, with respect to both products and operations, and on the availability and effectiveness of legal protection for our innovations. Failure to continue to deliver high quality, innovative, competitive products to the marketplace, to adequately protect our intellectual property rights; to supply products that meet applicable regulatory requirements, including engine exhaust emission requirements or to predict market demands for, or gain market acceptance of, our products, could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We operate in a highly competitive environment, which could adversely affect our sales and pricing.
We operate in a highly competitive environment. We compete on the basis of a variety of factors, including product performance, customer service, quality and price. There can be no assurance that our products will be able to compete successfully with other companies’ products. Thus, our share of industry sales could be reduced due to aggressive pricing or product strategies pursued by competitors, unanticipated product or manufacturing difficulties, our failure to price our products competitively, our failure to produce our products at a competitive cost or an unexpected buildup in competitors’ new machine or dealer-owned rental fleets, which could lead to downward pressure on machine rental rates and/or used equipment prices.
Lack of customer acceptance of price increases we announce from time to time, changes in customer requirements for price discounts, changes in our customers’ behavior or a weak pricing environment could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, our results and ability to compete may be impacted negatively by changes in our geographic and product mix of sales.
Increased information technology security threats and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to our systems, networks, products and services.
We rely upon information technology systems and networks, some of which are managed by third parties, in connection with a variety of business activities. Additionally, we collect and store sensitive information relating to our business, customers, dealers, suppliers and employees. Operating these information technology systems and networks and processing and maintaining this data in a secure manner, is critical to our business operations and strategy. Information technology security threats -- from user error to cybersecurity attacks designed to gain unauthorized access to our systems, networks and data -- are increasing in frequency and sophistication. Cybersecurity attacks from threat actors globally range from random attempts to coordinated and targeted attacks, including sophisticated computer crime and advanced persistent threats. These threats pose a risk to the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data. Cybersecurity attacks could also include attacks targeting customer data or the security, integrity and/or reliability of the hardware and software installed in our products. It is possible that our information technology systems and networks, or those managed or provided by third parties, could have vulnerabilities, which could go unnoticed for a period of time. While various procedures and controls have been and are being utilized to mitigate such risks, there can be no guarantee that the actions and controls we have implemented and are implementing, or which we cause or have caused third-party service providers to implement, will be sufficient to protect and mitigate associated risks to our systems, information or other property.
We have experienced cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities in our systems and those of our third party providers, and we have experienced viruses and attacks targeting our information technology systems and networks. Such prior events, to date, have not had a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, the potential consequences of a future material cybersecurity attack include reputational damage, litigation with third parties, government enforcement actions, penalties, disruption to systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information, corruption of data, diminution in the value of our investment in research, development and engineering, and increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs, which in turn could adversely affect our competitiveness, results of operations and financial condition. Due to the evolving nature of such security threats, the potential impact of any future incident cannot be predicted. Further, the amount of insurance coverage we maintain may be inadequate to cover claims or liabilities relating to a cybersecurity attack.
In addition, data we collect, store and process are subject to a variety of U.S. and international laws and regulations, such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act, which may carry significant potential penalties for noncompliance.
Our business is subject to the inventory management decisions and sourcing practices of our dealers and our OEM customers.
We sell finished products primarily through an independent dealer network and directly to OEMs and are subject to risks relating to their inventory management decisions and operational and sourcing practices. Both carry inventories of finished products as part of ongoing operations and adjust those inventories based on their assessments of future needs and market conditions, including levels of used equipment inventory and machine rental usage rates. Such adjustments may impact our results positively or negatively. If the inventory levels of our dealers and OEM customers are higher than they desire, they may postpone product purchases from us, which could cause our sales to be lower than the end-user demand for our products and negatively impact our results. Similarly, our results could be negatively impacted through the loss of time-sensitive sales if our dealers and OEM customers do not maintain inventory levels sufficient to meet customer demand.
We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures, or these benefits may take longer to realize than expected.
In pursuing our business strategy, we routinely evaluate targets and enter into agreements regarding possible acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. We often compete with others for the same opportunities. To be successful, we conduct due diligence to identify valuation issues and potential loss contingencies, negotiate transaction terms, complete complex transactions and manage post-closing matters such as the integration of acquired businesses. Further, while we seek to mitigate risks and liabilities of such transactions through due diligence, among other things, there may be risks and liabilities that our due diligence efforts fail to discover, that are not accurately or completely disclosed to us or that we inadequately assess. We may incur unanticipated costs or expenses following a completed acquisition, including post-closing asset impairment charges, expenses associated with eliminating duplicate facilities, litigation, and other liabilities. Risks associated with our past or future acquisitions also include the following:
•the failure to achieve the acquisition's revenue or profit forecast;
•the business culture of the acquired business may not match well with our culture;
•technological and product synergies, economies of scale and cost reductions may not occur as expected;
•unforeseen expenses, delays or conditions may be imposed upon the acquisition, including due to required regulatory approvals or consents;
•we may acquire or assume unexpected liabilities or be subject to unexpected penalties or other enforcement actions;
•faulty assumptions may be made regarding the macroeconomic environment or the integration process;
•unforeseen difficulties may arise in integrating operations, processes and systems;
•higher than expected investments may be required to implement necessary compliance processes and related systems, including information technology systems, accounting systems and internal controls over financial reporting;
•we may fail to retain, motivate and integrate key management and other employees of the acquired business;
•higher than expected costs may arise due to unforeseen changes in tax, trade, environmental, labor, safety, payroll or pension policies in any jurisdiction in which the acquired business conducts its operations; and
•we may experience problems in retaining customers and integrating customer bases.
Many of these factors will be outside of our control and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues and diversion of management’s time and attention. They may also delay the realization of the benefits we anticipate when we enter into a transaction.
In order to conserve cash for operations, we may undertake acquisitions financed in part through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities, or other arrangements. Such acquisition financing could result in a decrease in our earnings and adversely affect other leverage measures. If we issue equity securities or equity-linked securities, the issued securities may have a dilutive effect on the interests of the holders of our common shares.
Failure to implement our acquisition strategy, including successfully integrating acquired businesses, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, we make strategic divestitures from time to time. In the case of divestitures, we may agree to indemnify acquiring parties for certain liabilities arising from our former businesses. These divestitures may also result in continued financial involvement in the divested businesses following the transaction, including through guarantees or other financial arrangements. Lower performance by those divested businesses could affect our future financial results.
Union disputes or other labor matters could adversely affect our operations and financial results.
Some of our employees are represented by labor unions in a number of countries under various collective bargaining agreements with varying durations and expiration dates. There can be no assurance that any current or future issues with our employees will be resolved or that we will not encounter future strikes, work stoppages or other disputes with labor unions or our employees. We may not be able to satisfactorily renegotiate collective bargaining agreements in the United States and other countries when they expire. If we fail to renegotiate our existing collective bargaining agreements, we could encounter strikes or work stoppages or other disputes with labor unions. In addition, existing collective bargaining agreements may not prevent a strike or work stoppage at our facilities in the future. We may also be subject to general country strikes or work stoppages unrelated to our business or collective bargaining agreements. A work stoppage or other limitations on production at our facilities for any reason could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, many of our customers and suppliers have unionized work forces. Strikes or work stoppages experienced by our customers or suppliers could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Unexpected events may increase our cost of doing business or disrupt our operations.
The occurrence of one or more unexpected events, including war, acts of terrorism or violence, civil unrest, fires, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other forms of severe weather in the United States or in other countries in which we operate or in which our suppliers are located could adversely affect our operations and financial performance. Natural disasters, pandemic illness, equipment failures, power outages or other unexpected events could result in physical damage to and complete or partial closure of one or more of our manufacturing facilities or distribution centers, temporary or long-term disruption in the supply of component products from some local and international suppliers, and disruption and delay in the transport of our products to dealers, end-users and distribution centers. Existing insurance coverage may not provide protection for all of the costs that may arise from such events.
FINANCIAL RISKS
Disruptions or volatility in global financial markets could limit our sources of liquidity, or the liquidity of our customers, dealers and suppliers.
Continuing to meet our cash requirements over the long-term requires substantial liquidity and access to varied sources of funds, including capital and credit markets. Global economic conditions may cause volatility and disruptions in capital and credit markets. Market volatility, changes in counterparty credit risk, the impact of government intervention in financial markets and general economic conditions may also adversely impact our ability to access capital and credit markets to fund operating needs. Global or regional economic downturns could cause financial markets to decrease the availability of liquidity, credit and credit capacity for certain issuers, including certain customers, dealers and suppliers. An inability to access capital and credit markets may have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and competitive position. Furthermore, changes in global economic conditions, including material cost increases and decreases in economic activity in key markets we serve, and the success of plans to manage cost increases, inventory and other important elements of our business may significantly impact our ability to generate funds from operations.
In addition, demand for our products generally depends on customers’ ability to pay for our products, which, in turn, depends on their access to funds. Changes in global economic conditions may result in customers experiencing increased difficulty in generating funds from operations. Capital and credit market volatility and uncertainty may cause financial institutions to revise their lending standards, resulting in customers’ decreased access to capital. If capital and credit market volatility occurs, customers’ liquidity may decline which, in turn, would reduce their ability to purchase our products.
Failure to maintain our credit ratings could increase our cost of borrowing and could adversely affect our cost of funds, liquidity, competitive position and access to capital markets.
Each of Caterpillar’s and Cat Financial’s costs of borrowing and their respective ability to access the capital markets are affected not only by market conditions but also by the short- and long-term credit ratings assigned to their respective debt by the major credit rating agencies. These ratings are based, in significant part, on each of Caterpillar’s and Cat Financial’s performance as measured by financial metrics such as net worth, profitability, interest coverage and leverage ratios, as well as transparency with rating agencies and timeliness of financial reporting. There can be no assurance that Caterpillar and Cat Financial will be able to maintain their credit ratings. We receive debt ratings from the major credit rating agencies. A downgrade of our credit rating by any of the major credit rating agencies could result in increased borrowing costs and could adversely affect Caterpillar’s and Cat Financial’s liquidity, competitive position and access to the capital markets, including restricting, in whole or in part, access to the commercial paper market. There can be no assurance that the commercial paper market will continue to be a reliable source of short-term financing for Cat Financial or an available source of short-term financing for Caterpillar. An inability to access the capital markets could have an adverse effect on our cash flow, results of operations and financial condition.
Our Financial Products segment is subject to risks associated with the financial services industry.
Cat Financial is significant to our operations and provides financing support for a significant share of our global sales. The inability of Cat Financial to access funds to support its financing activities to our customers could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Continuing to meet Cat Financial's cash requirements over the long-term could require substantial liquidity and access to sources of funds, including capital and credit markets. Cat Financial has continued to maintain access to key global medium-term note and commercial paper markets, but there can be no assurance that such markets will continue to represent a reliable source of financing. If global economic conditions were to deteriorate, Cat Financial could face materially higher financing costs, become unable to access adequate funding to operate and grow its business and/or meet its debt service obligations as they mature. Cat Financial also could be required to draw upon contractually committed lending agreements and/or seek other funding sources. However, there can be no assurance that such agreements and other funding sources would be sufficient or even available under extreme market conditions. Any of these events could negatively impact Cat Financial’s business, as well as our and Cat Financial's results of operations and financial condition.
Market disruption and volatility may also lead to numerous risks in connection with these events, including but not limited to:
•Market developments that may affect customer confidence levels and cause declines in the demand for financing and adverse changes in payment patterns, causing increases in delinquencies and default rates, which could increase Cat Financial’s write-offs and provision for credit losses.
•The process Cat Financial uses to estimate losses inherent in its credit exposure requires a high degree of management’s judgment regarding numerous subjective qualitative factors, including forecasts of economic conditions and how economic predictors might impair the ability of its borrowers to repay their loans. Financial market disruption and volatility may impact the accuracy of these judgments.
•Cat Financial’s ability to engage in routine funding transactions or to borrow from other financial institutions on acceptable terms or at all could be adversely affected by disruptions in the capital markets or other events, including actions by rating agencies and deteriorating investor expectations.
•As Cat Financial’s borrowing agreements are primarily with financial institutions, their ability to perform in accordance with any of our underlying agreements could be adversely affected by market volatility and/or disruptions in financial markets.
Changes in interest rates or market liquidity conditions could adversely affect Cat Financial's and our earnings and/or cash flow.
Changes in interest rates and market liquidity conditions could have an adverse impact on Cat Financial's and our earnings and cash flows. Changes in market interest rates may influence its and our borrowing costs, returns on financial investments and the valuation of derivative contracts. Because a significant number of the loans made by Cat Financial are made utilizing fixed interest rates, its business results are subject to fluctuations in interest rates. Certain loans made by Cat Financial and various financing extended to Cat Financial are made at variable rates that use floating reference rates or indices, including the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, an index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities,as a benchmark for establishing the interest rate.
Together with Cat Financial we created a cross-functional team that assesses risk across multiple categories as it relates to the use of floating reference rates or indices, such as SOFR, in securities, loans, derivatives, and other financial obligations or extensions of credit held by or due to us. Cat Financial manages interest rate and market liquidity risks through a variety of techniques that include a match funding strategy, the selective use of derivatives and a broadly diversified funding program. There can be no assurance, however, that fluctuations in interest rates and market liquidity conditions will not have an adverse impact on its and our earnings and cash flows. If any of the variety of instruments and strategies Cat Financial uses to hedge its exposure to these types of risk is ineffective, this may have an adverse impact on our earnings and cash flows. With respect to Insurance Services' investment activities, changes in equity and bond markets could result in a decline in value of its investment portfolio, resulting in an unfavorable impact to earnings.
An increase in delinquencies, repossessions or net losses of Cat Financial customers could adversely affect its results.
Inherent in the operation of Cat Financial is the credit risk associated with its customers. The creditworthiness of each customer and the rate of delinquencies, repossessions and net losses on customer obligations are directly impacted by several factors, including relevant industry and economic conditions, the availability of capital, the experience and expertise of the customer's management team, commodity prices, political events and the sustained value of the underlying collateral. Any increase in delinquencies, repossessions and net losses on customer obligations could have a material adverse effect on Cat Financial's and our earnings and cash flows. Cat Financial evaluates and adjusts its allowance for credit losses related to past due and non-performing receivables on a regular basis. However, adverse economic conditions or other factors that might cause deterioration of the financial health of its customers could change the timing and level of payments received and necessitate an increase in Cat Financial's estimated losses, which could also have a material adverse effect on Cat Financial's and our earnings and cash flows.
Currency exchange rate fluctuations affect our results of operations.
We conduct operations in many countries involving transactions denominated in a variety of currencies. We are subject to currency-exchange rate risk to the extent that our costs are denominated in currencies other than those in which we earn revenues. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates have had, and will continue to have, an impact on our results as expressed in U.S. dollars. There can be no assurance that currency exchange rate fluctuations will not adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. While the use of currency hedging instruments may provide us with protection from adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates, by utilizing these instruments we potentially forego the benefits that might result from favorable fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In addition, our outlooks do not assume fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates from the date of our outlooks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in any outlooks and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We also face risks arising from the imposition of exchange controls and currency devaluations. Exchange controls may limit our ability to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars or to remit dividends and other payments by our foreign subsidiaries or businesses located in or conducted within a country imposing controls. Currency devaluations result in a diminished value of funds denominated in the currency of the country instituting the devaluation.
Restrictive covenants in our debt agreements could limit our financial and operating flexibility.
We maintain a number of credit facilities to support general corporate purposes (facilities) and have issued debt securities to manage liquidity and fund operations (debt securities). The agreements relating to a number of the facilities and the debt securities contain certain restrictive covenants applicable to us and certain subsidiaries, including Cat Financial. These covenants include maintaining a minimum consolidated net worth (defined as the consolidated shareholder’s equity including
preferred stock but excluding the pension and other post-retirement benefits balance within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)), limitations on the incurrence of liens and certain restrictions on consolidation and merger. Cat Financial has also agreed under certain of these agreements not to exceed a certain leverage ratio (consolidated debt to consolidated net worth, calculated (1) on a monthly basis as the average of the leverage ratios determined on the last day of each of the six preceding calendar months and (2) at each December 31), to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio (calculated as (1) profit excluding income taxes, interest expense and net gain (loss) from interest rate derivatives to (2) interest expense calculated at the end of each fiscal quarter for the prior four consecutive fiscal quarter period and not to terminate, amend or modify its support agreement with us.
A breach of one or more of the covenants could result in adverse consequences that could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. These consequences may include the acceleration of amounts outstanding under certain of the facilities, triggering of an obligation to redeem certain debt securities, termination of existing unused commitments by our lenders, refusal by our lenders to extend further credit under one or more of the facilities or to enter into new facilities or the lowering or modification of our credit ratings or those of one or more of our subsidiaries.
Sustained increases in funding obligations under our pension plans may impair our liquidity or financial condition.
We maintain certain defined benefit pension plans for our employees, which impose on us certain funding obligations. We use many assumptions in determining our future payment obligations under the plans. Significant adverse changes in credit or capital markets could result in actual rates of return on pension investments being materially lower than projected and result in increased contribution requirements. These factors could significantly increase our payment obligations under the plans, and as a result, adversely affect our business and overall financial condition. We may be required to make material contributions to our pension plans in the future and may fund contributions through the use of cash on hand, the proceeds of borrowings, shares of our common stock or a combination of the foregoing, as permitted by applicable law.
LEGAL & REGULATORY RISKS
Our global operations are subject to a wide-range of trade and anti-corruption laws and regulations.
Due to the international scope of our operations, we are subject to a complex system of import- and export-related laws and regulations. These include U.S. regulations issued by Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Office of Antiboycott Compliance, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, as well as the counterparts of these agencies in other countries. Any alleged or actual violations may subject us to increased government scrutiny, investigation and civil and criminal penalties, and may limit our ability to import or export our products or to provide services outside the United States. Furthermore, embargoes and sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other governments restricting or prohibiting sales to specific persons or countries or based on product classification may expose us to potential criminal and civil sanctions. We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which our operations might be subject. We also cannot predict in certain locations the manner in which existing laws might be administered or interpreted.
In addition, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar foreign anti-corruption laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to improperly influence foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or obtaining an unfair advantage. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws. Our operations outside the United States, including in developing countries, expose us to the risk of such violations. Violations of anti-corruption laws or regulations by our employees, intermediaries acting on our behalf, or our joint venture partners may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions. Violations may also disrupt our business, and may result in an adverse effect on our reputation, business and results of operations or financial condition.
International trade policies may impact demand for our products and our competitive position.
Government policies on international trade and investment such as import quotas, capital controls or tariffs, whether adopted by individual governments or addressed by regional trade blocs, can affect the demand for our products and services, impact the competitive position of our products or prevent us from being able to sell products in certain countries. The implementation of more restrictive trade policies (such as more detailed inspections, higher tariffs or new barriers to entry) in countries where we sell large quantities of products and services could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, a government’s adoption of “buy national” policies or retaliation by another government against such policies could have a negative impact on our results of operations.
We may incur additional tax expense or become subject to additional tax exposure.
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous other jurisdictions. Our future results of operations could be adversely affected by changes in the effective tax rate as a result of a change in the mix of earnings between U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions or among jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates. In addition, our future results of operations could also be adversely affected by changes in our overall profitability, changes in tax laws or treaties or in their application or interpretation, changes in tax rates, changes in generally accepted accounting principles, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in the amount of earnings indefinitely reinvested in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions, the results of audits and examinations of previously filed tax returns and continuing assessments of our tax exposures. We are also subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these examinations. If our effective tax rates were to increase, or if the ultimate determination of our taxes owed is for an amount in excess of amounts previously accrued, our operating results, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected. For information regarding additional legal matters related to our taxes, please see Note 6 — “Income taxes” and Note 22 — “Environmental and legal matters” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Costs associated with lawsuits or investigations or adverse rulings in enforcement or other legal proceedings may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are subject to a variety of legal proceedings and legal compliance risks in virtually every part of the world. We face risk of exposure to various types of claims, lawsuits and government investigations. We are involved in various claims and lawsuits related to product design, manufacture and performance liability (including claimed asbestos exposure), contracts, employment issues, environmental matters, intellectual property rights, tax, securities and other legal proceedings that arise in and outside of the ordinary course of our business. The industries in which we operate are also periodically reviewed or investigated by regulators, which could lead to enforcement actions, fines and penalties or the assertion of private litigation claims. It is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of claims, investigations and lawsuits, and we could in the future incur judgments, fines or penalties or enter into settlements of lawsuits and claims that could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations or financial condition in any particular period.
The global and diverse nature of our operations means that legal and compliance risks will continue to exist and additional legal proceedings and other contingencies, the outcome of which cannot be predicted with certainty, may arise from time to time. In addition, subsequent developments in legal proceedings may affect our assessment and estimates of loss contingencies recorded as a reserve and require us to make payments in excess of our reserves. Such payments could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business and results of operations or financial condition.
New regulations or changes in financial services regulation could adversely impact Caterpillar and Cat Financial.
Cat Financial’s operations are highly regulated by governmental authorities in the locations where it operates, which can impose significant additional costs and/or restrictions on its business. In the United States, for example, certain Cat Financial activities are subject to the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), which includes extensive provisions regulating the financial services industry. As a result, Cat Financial has become and could continue to become subject to additional regulatory costs that could be significant and have an adverse effect on Cat Financial’s and our results of operations and financial condition. Changes in regulations or additional regulations in the United States or internationally impacting the financial services industry could also add significant cost or operational constraints that might have an adverse effect on Cat Financial’s and our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to stringent environmental laws and regulations that impose significant compliance costs.
Our facilities, operations and products are subject to increasingly stringent environmental laws and regulations globally, including laws and regulations governing emissions to noise, air, releases to soil and discharges to water and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste materials. Some environmental laws impose strict, retroactive and joint and several liability for the remediation of the release of hazardous substances, even for conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred, or for the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators, predecessors or other third parties. Failure to comply with environmental laws could expose us to penalties or clean-up costs, civil or criminal liability and sanctions on certain of our activities, as well as damage to property or natural resources. The potential liabilities, sanctions, damages and remediation efforts related to any non-compliance with such laws and regulations could negatively impact our ability to conduct our operations and our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, there can be no assurances that we will not be adversely affected by costs, liabilities or claims with respect to existing or subsequently acquired operations or under present laws and regulations or those that may be adopted or imposed in the future.
Environmental laws and regulations may change from time to time, as may related interpretations and other guidance. Changes in environmental laws or regulations could result in higher expenses and payments. Uncertainty relating to environmental laws or regulations may also affect how we conduct our operations and structure our investments and could limit our ability to enforce our rights. Changes in environmental and climate change laws or regulations, including laws relating to greenhouse gas emissions, could lead to new or additional investment in product designs and could increase environmental compliance expenditures. Changes in climate change concerns, or in the regulation of such concerns, including greenhouse gas emissions, could subject us to additional costs and restrictions, including increased energy and raw materials costs. If environmental laws or regulations are either changed or adopted and impose significant operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon us or our products, they could negatively impact our reputation, business, capital expenditures, results of operations, financial condition and competitive position.
The Company’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for certain legal actions between the Company and its shareholders, which could discourage claims or limit the ability of the Company’s shareholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum viewed by the shareholders as more favorable for disputes with the Company or the Company’s directors, officers or other employees.
The Company’s amended and restated bylaws provide to the fullest extent permitted by law that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
The exclusive forum provisions in our bylaws could limit our shareholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with the Company or its directors, officers or other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in the Company’s amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, the Company may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions. The exclusive forum provision in the Company’s amended and restated bylaws will not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for actions brought under the federal securities laws including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
As required by Item 106 of Regulation S-K, the following sets forth information regarding our cybersecurity strategy, risk management and governance.
Cybersecurity Strategy and Risk Management
Cybersecurity is critical to advancing our overall objectives and enabling our digital efforts. As a global company, we face a wide variety of cybersecurity threats that range from common attacks such as ransomware and denial-of-service, to attacks from more advanced adversaries. Our customers, suppliers, and other partners face similar cybersecurity threats, and a cybersecurity incident impacting these entities could materially adversely affect our operations, performance and results. These cybersecurity threats and related risks make it imperative that we maintain focus on cybersecurity and systemic risks.
We maintain a comprehensive cybersecurity program which is integrated within the Company’s enterprise risk management system and encompasses the corporate information technology and operational technology environments as well as customer-facing products. Our cybersecurity program has implemented a governance structure and process to identify, assess, manage, mitigate, respond to and report on cybersecurity risks. We utilize cybersecurity policies and frameworks based on industry and government standards. Our cyber risk management program controls are based on recognized best practices and standards, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cyber Security Framework and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 27001) Information Security Management System Requirements. We partner with third parties to support and evaluate our cybersecurity program. These third-party services span areas including cybersecurity maturity assessments, incident response, penetration testing, consulting on best practices, and others. We also consume threat intelligence from several paid and non-paid sources.
We maintain a 24 x 7 operations center which serves as a central location for the reporting of cybersecurity matters, provides monitoring of our global cybersecurity environment, and coordinates the investigation and remediation of alerts. As cybersecurity events occur, the cybersecurity team focuses on responding to and containing the threat and minimizing impact. In the event of an incident, the cybersecurity team assesses, among other factors, safety impact, supply chain and manufacturing disruption, data and personal information loss, business operations disruption, projected cost and potential for reputational harm, with participation from technical, legal and law enforcement support, as appropriate.
We have implemented a cybersecurity awareness program which covers topics such as phishing, social networking safety, password security and mobile device usage. We have mandatory training in the areas of cybersecurity, privacy, and confidential information handling. We also conduct regular phishing training and simulations for our employees and contractors. We provide extensive specialized role-based training to technical professionals in cybersecurity, secure application development, and other focus areas. We also conduct periodic tabletop exercises to validate our preparation for cyber events.
We operate a third-party cybersecurity program with the goal of minimizing disruption to the Company’s business and production operations, strengthening supply chain resilience, and supporting the integrity of components and systems used in its products and services. We rely heavily on our supply chain to deliver our products and services to our customers, and a cybersecurity incident at a supplier, subcontractor or joint venture partner could materially adversely impact us. We assess third-party cybersecurity controls through a cybersecurity third-party risk assessment process. Identified deficiencies are addressed through a risk remediation process. For select suppliers, we engage third-party cybersecurity monitoring and alerting services, and seek to work directly with those suppliers to address potential deficiencies identified.
As of the date of this report, we do not believe that risks from any cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, have materially affected or are reasonably likely to affect us, including our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. That said, as discussed more fully under Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Operational Risks— Increased information technology security threats and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to our systems, networks, products and services” of this Form 10-K, these threats pose a risk to the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data. Cybersecurity attacks could also include attacks targeting customer data or the security, integrity and/or reliability of the hardware and software installed in our products. It is possible that our information technology systems and networks, or those managed or provided by third parties, could have vulnerabilities, which could go unnoticed for a period of time. While various procedures and controls have been and are being utilized to mitigate such risks, there can be no guarantee that the actions and controls we have implemented and are implementing, or which we cause or have caused third-party service providers to implement, will be sufficient to protect and mitigate associated risks to our systems, information or other property.
Cybersecurity Governance
Caterpillar’s board has oversight for risk management with a focus on the most significant risks facing the Company, including strategic, operational, financial and legal compliance risks. The board’s risk oversight process builds upon management’s risk assessment and mitigation processes, which include an enterprise risk management program of which our cybersecurity processes are an integral component.
The board implements its risk oversight function both as a board and through delegation to board committees, which meet regularly and report back to the board. The board has delegated the oversight of specific risks to board committees that align with their functional responsibilities. The Audit Committee (the “AC”) assists the board in overseeing the enterprise risk management program and evaluates and monitors risks related to, among other things, the Company’s information security program. The AC assesses cybersecurity and information technology risks and the controls implemented to monitor and mitigate these risks. The Company’s Chief Information Officer & Senior Vice President, Caterpillar IT (the “CIO”) attends all bimonthly AC meetings and provides cybersecurity updates to the AC and board.
Our cybersecurity program is overseen by our CIO, who has been a Caterpillar employee for nearly twenty-five years. Prior to her current appointment as our CIO in September 2020, she was the Chief Information Officer for the Company’s Financial Products Division. Her extensive background in IT includes global leadership for large-scale systems transformations, cybersecurity, cloud and application management, global data center management, worldwide network, servers and storage, database management and end-user services. Our CIO leads a cross-functional cybersecurity team comprised of professionals from our product, cybersecurity, legal and compliance organizations who focus on managing the security of our connected solutions. This team manages the Company’s global IT systems, IT risk management, cybersecurity, global infrastructure and IT transformations.
Item 1D.Executive Officers of the Registrant.
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| Name and age | | Present Caterpillar Inc. position
and date of initial election | | Principal positions held during the
past five years if other than
Caterpillar Inc. position currently held |
| D. James Umpleby III (65) | | Chairman of the Board (2018) and Chief Executive Officer (2017) | | Group President (2013-2016) |
| Andrew R.J. Bonfield (61) | | Chief Financial Officer (2018) | | Group Chief Financial Officer for a multinational electricity and gas utility company (2010-2018) |
| Bob De Lange (54) | | Group President (2017) | | Vice President (2015-2016), Worldwide Product Manager, Medium Wheel Loaders, (2013-2014) |
| Denise C. Johnson (57) | | Group President (2016) | | Vice President (2012-2016) |
| Joseph E. Creed (48) | | Chief Operating Officer (2023) | | Group President (2021-2023), Vice President, Oil & Gas and Marine Division (2019-2020), Interim Chief Financial Officer (2018), Vice President, Finance Services Division (2017), Group Chief Financial Officer, Energy and Transportation (2013-2016) |
| Anthony D. Fassino (53) | | Group President (2021) | | Vice President, Building Construction Products (2018-2020), Director of Worldwide Forestry Products (2016-2018) |
| Derek R. Owens (50) | | Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel (2023) | | Senior Vice President (2023), Deputy General Counsel (2021-2023), Associate General Counsel, Litigation & Investigations (2019-2021), Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office of the Department of Justice (2005-2019) |
| Cheryl H. Johnson (63) | | Chief Human Resources Officer (2017) | | Executive Vice President of Human Resources for a global multi-industry aerospace, defense and industrial manufacturing company (2012-2017) |
| William E. Schaupp (52) | | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (2022) | | Finance Director, Global Finance Services Division (2021-2022) Vice President and Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of PPG Industries, Inc. (2018-2021) |
| Jason E. Kaiser (45) | | Group President (2024) | | Senior Vice President, Electric Power Division (2021-2023), General Manager, Electric Power Division (2019-2021), Product Manager, Electric Power Division (2016-2019) |
Item 2.Properties.
General Information
Caterpillar’s operations are highly integrated. Although the majority of our plants are involved primarily in production relating to our Construction Industries, Resource Industries or Energy & Transportation segments, several plants are involved in manufacturing relating to more than one business segment. In addition, several plants reported in our financial statements under the All Other segment are involved in the manufacturing of components that are used in the assembly of products for more than one business segment. Caterpillar’s parts distribution centers are involved in the storage and distribution of parts for Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation. The research and development activities carried on at our Technical Centers in Aurora and Mossville, Illinois involve products for Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation.
We believe the properties we own to be generally well maintained and adequate for present use. Through planned capital expenditures, we expect these properties to remain adequate for future needs. Properties we lease are covered by leases expiring over terms of generally one to ten years. We do not anticipate any difficulty in retaining occupancy of any leased facilities, either by renewing leases prior to expiration or by replacing them with equivalent leased facilities.
Headquarters and Other Key Offices
Our corporate headquarters is in a leased office located in Irving, Texas. Our Financial Products business is headquartered in offices in Nashville, Tennessee. Additional key offices are located inside and outside the United States.
Technical Center, Training Centers, Demonstration Areas and Proving Grounds
We operate Technical Centers located in Aurora and Mossville, Illinois; Wuxi, China; and Chennai, India. Our demonstration centers are located in Tinaja Hills, Arizona; Edwards, Illinois; Chichibu, Japan and Malaga, Spain. We have various other technical and training centers, demonstration areas and proving grounds located both inside and outside the United States.
Parts Distribution Centers
Distribution of our parts is conducted from parts distribution centers inside and outside the United States. We operate parts distribution centers in the following locations: Arvin, California; Denver, Colorado; Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Morton, Illinois; St. Paul, Minnesota; Clayton, Ohio; York, Pennsylvania; Waco, Texas; Spokane, Washington; Melbourne, Australia; Queensland, Australia; Grimbergen, Belgium; Piracicaba, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Sagami, Japan; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Moscow, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We also own or lease other facilities that support our distribution activities.
Remanufacturing and Components
Remanufacturing of our products is reported in our Energy & Transportation segment and is conducted primarily at the facilities in the following locations: Franklin, Indiana; Bogor, Indonesia; Corinth, Mississippi; Prentiss County, Mississippi; West Fargo, North Dakota; Piracicaba, Brazil; Shanghai, China; and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
Component manufacturing is reported in the All Other segment and is conducted primarily at facilities in the following locations: East Peoria, Illinois; Mapleton, Illinois; Peoria, Illinois; Bogor, Indonesia; Menominee, Michigan; Boonville, Missouri; West Plains, Missouri; Goldsboro, North Carolina; Sumter, South Carolina; Tianjin, China; Xuzhou, China; Atessa, Italy; Bazzano, Italy; Frosinone, Italy; San Eusebio, Italy; Ramos Arizpe, Mexico; Pyeongtaek, South Korea; and Skinningrove, United Kingdom.
We also lease or own other facilities that support our remanufacturing and component manufacturing activities.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing of products for our Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation segments is conducted primarily at the locations listed below. These facilities are believed to be suitable for their intended purposes, with adequate capacities for current and projected needs for existing products.
Our principal manufacturing facilities include those used by the following segments in the following locations:
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| Segment | | U.S. Facilities | | Facilities Outside the U.S. |
| | | | | |
| Construction Industries | | Arkansas: North Little Rock | | Brazil: Campo Largo, Piracicaba |
| | | Georgia: Athens | | China: Suzhou, Wujiang, Xuzhou, Qingzhou |
| | | Illinois: Decatur, East Peoria | | France: Grenoble, Echirolles |
| | | Kansas: Wamego | | Hungary: Godollo |
| | Minnesota: Brooklyn Park | | India: Hosur, Thiruvallur |
| | | North Carolina: Clayton, Sanford | | Italy: Minerbio, Cattolica |
| | | Texas: Victoria | | Japan: Akashi |
| | | | Mexico: Torreon |
| | | | | Netherlands: Den Bosch |
| | | | Poland: Janow, Sosnowiec |
| | | | Thailand: Rayong |
| | | | | United Kingdom: Desford, Stockton |
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| Sales and Revenues by Geographic Region |
| North America | | Latin America | | EAME | | Asia/Pacific | | External Sales and Revenues | | Inter-Segment | | Total Sales and Revenues |
| (Millions of dollars) | $ | | % Chg | | $ | | % Chg | | $ | | % Chg | | $ | | % Chg | | $ | | % Chg | | $ | | % Chg | | $ | | % Chg |
| 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Construction Industries | $ | 15,343 | | | 24% | | $ | 2,307 | | | (19%) | | $ | 5,254 | | | 3% | | $ | 4,390 | | | (9%) | | $ | 27,294 | | | 9% | | $ | 124 | | | (13%) | | $ | 27,418 | | | 9 | % |
| Resource Industries | 5,256 | | | 16% | | 2,040 | | | 11% | | 2,069 | | | (6%) | | 3,879 | | | 13% | | 13,244 | | | 10% | | 339 | | | 13% | | 13,583 | | | 10 | % |
| Energy & Transportation | 11,982 | | | 31% | | 1,983 | | | 11% | | 5,929 | | | 13% | | 3,461 | | | 10% | | 23,355 | | | 21% | | 4,646 | | | 5% | | 28,001 | | | 18 | % |
| All Other Segment | 65 | | | 2% | | (1) | | | (150%) | | 18 | | | 127% | | 49 | | | (66%) | | 131 | | | (10%) | | 318 | | | 4% | | 449 | | | — | % |
| Corporate Items and Eliminations | (133) | | | | | (3) | | | | | (5) | | | | | (14) | | | | | (155) | | | | | (5,427) | | | | | (5,582) | | | |
| Machinery, Energy & Transportation | 32,513 | | | 25% | | 6,326 | | | (2%) | | 13,265 | | | 6% | | 11,765 | | | 2% | | 63,869 | | | 13% | | — | | | —% | | 63,869 | | | 13 | % |
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| Financial Products Segment | 2,440 | | | 17% | | 416 | | | 20% | | 491 | | | 24% | | 438 | | | 2% | | 3,785 | | 1 | 16% | | — | | | —% | | 3,785 | | | 16 | % |
| Corporate Items and Eliminations | (347) | | | | | (77) | | | | | (83) | | | | | (87) | | | | | (594) | | | | | — | | | | | (594) | | | |
| Financial Products Revenues | 2,093 | | | 12% | | 339 | | | 26% | | 408 | | | 17% | | 351 | | | (3%) | | 3,191 | | | 12% | | — | | | —% | | 3,191 | | | 12 | % |
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| Consolidated Sales and Revenues | $ | 34,606 | | | 24% | | $ | 6,665 | | | (1%) | | $ | 13,673 | | | 7% | | $ | 12,116 | | | 2% | | $ | 67,060 | | | 13% | | $ | — | | | —% | | $ | 67,060 | | | 13 | % |
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| 2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Construction Industries | $ | 12,367 | | | | | $ | 2,843 | | | | | $ | 5,099 | | | | | $ | 4,818 | | | | | $ | 25,127 | | | | | $ | 142 | | | | | $ | 25,269 | | | |
| Resource Industries | 4,531 | | | | | 1,840 | | | | | 2,205 | | | | | 3,437 | | | | | 12,013 | | | | | 301 | | | | | 12,314 | | | |
| Energy & Transportation | 9,175 | | | | | 1,784 | | | | | 5,232 | | | | | 3,146 | | | | | 19,337 | | | | | 4,415 | | | | | 23,752 | | | |
| All Other Segment | 64 | | | | | 2 | | | | | (66) | | | | | 145 | | | | | 145 | | | | | 305 | | | | | 450 | | | |
| Corporate Items and Eliminations | (29) | | | | | (1) | | | | | (5) | | | | | (13) | | | | | (48) | | | | | (5,163) | | | | | (5,211) | | | |
| Machinery, Energy & Transportation | 26,108 | | | | | 6,468 | | | | | 12,465 | | | | | 11,533 | | | | | 56,574 | | | | | — | | | | | 56,574 | | | |
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| Financial Products Segment | 2,078 | | | | | 348 | | | | | 396 | | | | | 431 | | | | | 3,253 | | 1 | | | — | | | | | 3,253 | | | |
| Corporate Items and Eliminations | (205) | | | | | (78) | | | | | (47) | | | | | (70) | | | | | (400) | | | | | — | | | | | (400) | | | |
| Financial Products Revenues | 1,873 | | | | | 270 | | | | | 349 | | | | | 361 | | | | | 2,853 | | | | | — | | | | | 2,853 | | | |
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| Consolidated Sales and Revenues | $ | 27,981 | | | | | $ | 6,738 | | | | | $ | 12,814 | | | | | $ | 11,894 | | | | | $ | 59,427 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 59,427 | | | |
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1 Includes revenues from Machinery, Energy & Transportation of $690 million and $478 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING PROFIT
The chart above graphically illustrates reasons for the change in consolidated operating profit between 2022 (at left) and 2023 (at right). Caterpillar management utilizes these charts internally to visually communicate with the company’s board of directors and employees. The bar entitled Other includes consolidating adjustments and Machinery, Energy & Transportation other operating (income) expenses.
Operating profit was $12.966 billion in 2023, an increase of $5.062 billion, or 64 percent, compared with $7.904 billion in 2022. The increase was primarily due to favorable price realization, higher sales volume and the absence of a 2022 goodwill impairment charge related to the Rail division, partially offset by higher SG&A/R&D expenses, unfavorable manufacturing costs and the impact of the divestiture of the company's Longwall business. The increase in SG&A/R&D expenses was primarily driven by investments aligned with strategic initiatives, higher short-term incentive compensation expense and an unfavorable change in fair value adjustments related to deferred compensation plans. Unfavorable manufacturing costs reflected lower freight being more than offset by higher material costs, increased period manufacturing costs, the impact of manufacturing inefficiencies and unfavorable cost absorption. Cost absorption was unfavorable as inventory increased more during 2022 than during 2023.
Short-term incentive compensation expense is directly related to financial and operational performance, measured against targets set annually. Expense for 2023 was about $1.7 billion, compared with $1.4 billion in 2022. For 2024, we expect short-term incentive compensation expense will be about $1.2 billion.
In the first quarter of 2023, the divestiture of the company’s Longwall business was finalized, resulting in an unfavorable impact to operating profit of $586 million, primarily a non-cash item driven by the release of accumulated foreign currency translation.
Operating profit margin was 19.3 percent in 2023, compared with 13.3 percent in 2022.
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| Profit (Loss) by Segment | | | | | | | | |
| (Millions of dollars) | | 2023 | | 2022 | | $
Change | | %
Change |
| Construction Industries | | $ | 6,975 | | | $ | 4,743 | | | $ | 2,232 | | | 47 | % |
| Resource Industries | | 2,834 | | | 1,827 | | | 1,007 | | | 55 | % |
| Energy & Transportation | | 4,936 | | | 3,309 | | | 1,627 | | | 49 | % |
| All Other Segment | | 18 | | | (11) | | | 29 | | | 264 | % |
| Corporate Items and Eliminations | | (2,104) | | | (2,435) | | | 331 | | | |
| Machinery, Energy & Transportation | | 12,659 | | | 7,433 | | | 5,226 | | | 70 | % |
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| Financial Products Segment | | 909 | | | 864 | | | 45 | | | 5 | % |
| Corporate Items and Eliminations | | 14 | | | 26 | | | (12) | | | |
| Financial Products | | 923 | | | 890 | | | 33 | | | 4 | % |
| Consolidating Adjustments | | (616) | | | (419) | | | (197) | | | |
| Consolidated Operating Profit | | $ | 12,966 | | | $ | 7,904 | | | $ | 5,062 | | | 64 | % |
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Other Profit/Loss and Tax Items
•Interest expense excluding Financial Products in 2023 was $511 million, compared with $443 million in 2022. The increase was due to higher average borrowing rates.
•Other income (expense) in 2023 was income of $595 million, compared with income of $1.291 billion in 2022. The change was primarily driven by lower mark-to-market gains for remeasurement of pension and OPEB plans and unfavorable impacts from pension and OPEB plan costs and foreign currency exchange, partially offset by higher investment and interest income.
•The provision for income taxes for 2023 reflected an annual effective tax rate of 21.4 percent, compared with 23.2 percent for 2022, excluding the discrete items discussed below. The decrease from 2022 was primarily related to changes in the geographic mix of profits from a tax perspective.
The 2023 annual effective tax rate excludes the impact of the nondeductible loss of $586 million related to the divestiture of the company’s Longwall business. The company also recorded a tax charge of $26 million related to $97 million of pension and OPEB mark-to-market gains in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to a tax charge of $124 million related to $606 million of mark-to-market gains in the fourth quarter of 2022. In addition, the company recorded a discrete tax benefit of $57 million in 2023 for the settlement of stock-based compensation awards with associated tax deductions in excess of cumulative U.S. GAAP compensation expense, compared with a $33 million benefit for 2022. In 2023, the company recorded a discrete tax benefit of $88 million due to a change in the valuation allowance for certain non-U.S. deferred tax assets. In 2022, the company also recorded discrete benefits of $90 million to reflect changes in estimates related to prior years and a tax benefit of $36 million related to the goodwill impairment charge of $925 million.
Construction Industries
Construction Industries’ total sales were $27.418 billion in 2023, an increase of $2.149 billion, or 9 percent, compared with $25.269 billion in 2022. The increase was due to favorable price realization, partially offset by lower sales volume. The decrease in sales volume was driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories, partially offset by higher sales of equipment to end users. Dealer inventory increased more during 2022 than during 2023.
•In North America, sales increased due to favorable price realization and higher sales volume. Higher sales volume was driven by higher sales of equipment to end users and the impact from changes in dealer inventories. Dealer inventory increased more during 2023 than during 2022.
•Sales decreased in Latin America primarily due to lower sales volume, partially offset by favorable price realization. Lower sales volume was driven by the impact from changes in dealer inventories and lower sales of equipment to end users. Dealer inventory increased during 2022, compared with a decrease during 2023.
•In EAME, sales increased due to favorable price realization and favorable currency impacts, primarily related to the euro, partially offset by lower sales volume. Lower sales volume was due to the impact from changes in dealer inventories and lower sales of equipment to end users. Dealer inventory increased during 2022, compared with a decrease during 2023.
•Sales decreased in Asia/Pacific due to lower sales volume and unfavorable currency impacts, primarily related to the Japanese yen, Australian dollar and Chinese yuan, partially offset by favorable price realization. Lower sales volume was driven by lower sales of equipment to end users.
Construction Industries’ profit was $6.975 billion in 2023, an increase of $2.232 billion, or 47 percent, compared with $4.743 billion in 2022. The increase was mainly due to favorable price realization.
Construction Industries’ profit as a percent of total sales was 25.4 percent in 2023, compared with 18.8 percent in 2022.
Resource Industries
Resource Industries’ total sales were $13.583 billion in 2023, an increase of $1.269 billion, or 10 percent, compared with $12.314 billion in 2022. The increase was due to favorable price realization, partially offset by lower sales volume. Sales volume decreased as higher sales of equipment to end users were more than offset by the impact from changes in dealer inventories and lower aftermarket parts sales volume. Dealer inventory increased more during 2022 than during 2023.
Resource Industries’ profit was $2.834 billion in 2023, an increase of $1.007 billion, or 55 percent, compared with $1.827 billion in 2022. The increase was mainly due to favorable price realization, partially offset by unfavorable manufacturing costs and currency impacts. Unfavorable manufacturing costs were driven by higher materials costs, the impact of manufacturing inefficiencies and unfavorable cost absorption, partially offset by lower freight. Cost absorption was unfavorable as inventory increased more during 2022 than during 2023.
Resource Industries’ profit as a percent of total sales was 20.9 percent for 2023, compared with 14.8 percent for 2022.
Energy & Transportation
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| Sales by Application | | | | | | | | |
| (Millions of dollars) | | 2023 | | 2022 | | $
Change | | % Change |
| Oil and Gas | | $ | 6,988 | | | $ | 5,330 | | | $ | 1,658 | | | 31 | % |
| Power Generation | | 6,362 | | | 4,940 | | | 1,422 | | | 29 | % |
| Industrial | | 4,871 | | | 4,426 | | | 445 | | | 10 | % |
| Transportation | | 5,134 | | | 4,641 | | | 493 | | | 11 | % |
| External Sales | | 23,355 | | | 19,337 | | | 4,018 | | | 21 | % |
| Inter-Segment | | 4,646 | | | 4,415 | | | 231 | | | 5 | % |
| Total Sales | | $ | 28,001 | | | $ | 23,752 | | | $ | 4,249 | | | 18 | % |
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Energy & Transportation’s total sales were $28.001 billion in 2023, an increase of $4.249 billion, or 18 percent, compared with $23.752 billion in 2022. Sales increased across all applications and inter-segment sales. The increase in sales was primarily due to higher sales volume and favorable price realization.
•Oil and Gas – Sales increased for turbines and turbine-related services. Sales also increased in reciprocating engines used in well servicing and gas compression applications.
•Power Generation – Sales increased in large reciprocating engines, primarily data center applications, and small reciprocating engines. Turbines and turbine-related services increased as well.
•Industrial – Sales were up across all regions.
•Transportation – Sales increased in rail services and marine. International locomotive deliveries were also higher.
Energy & Transportation’s profit was $4.936 billion in 2023, an increase of $1.627 billion, or 49 percent, compared with $3.309 billion in 2022. The increase was mainly due to favorable price realization and higher sales volume, partially offset by unfavorable manufacturing costs and higher SG&A/R&D expenses. Unfavorable manufacturing costs were driven by higher material costs, increased period manufacturing costs and the impact of manufacturing inefficiencies, partially offset by lower freight. The increase in SG&A/R&D expenses was primarily driven by investments aligned with strategic initiatives and higher short-term incentive compensation expense.
Energy & Transportation’s profit as a percent of total sales was 17.6 percent in 2023, compared with 13.9 percent in 2022.
Financial Products Segment
Financial Products’ segment revenues were $3.785 billion in 2023, an increase of $532 million, or 16 percent, compared with $3.253 billion in 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher average financing rates across all regions.
Financial Products’ segment profit was $909 million in 2023, an increase of $45 million, or 5 percent, compared with $864 million in 2022. The increase was mainly due to higher net yield on average earning assets and lower provision for credit losses at Cat Financial, partially offset by an increase in SG&A expenses.
Corporate Items and Eliminations
Expense for corporate items and eliminations was $2.090 billion in 2023, a decrease of $319 million from 2022, primarily driven by the absence of a 2022 goodwill impairment charge related to the Rail division and decreased expenses due to timing differences, partially offset by higher restructuring costs, which included the impact of the divestiture of the company's Longwall business and other restructuring costs, higher corporate costs, an unfavorable change in fair value adjustments related to deferred compensation plans and unfavorable impacts of segment reporting methodology differences.
In the first quarter of 2023, the divestiture of the company’s Longwall business was finalized, resulting in an unfavorable impact to operating profit of $586 million, primarily a non-cash item driven by the release of accumulated foreign currency translation. This impact was included in total restructuring costs.
2022 COMPARED WITH 2021
For discussions related to the consolidated sales and revenue and consolidated operating profit between 2022 and 2021, refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2023 and hereby incorporated by reference.
RESTRUCTURING COSTS
In 2024, we expect to incur about $300 to $450 million of restructuring costs. We expect that prior restructuring actions will result in an incremental benefit to operating costs, primarily Costs of goods sold and SG&A expenses of about $25 million in 2024 compared with 2023.
Additional information related to restructuring costs is included in Note 25 — "Restructuring Costs" of Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplemental Data."
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1.Adjusted Operating Profit Margin – Operating profit excluding restructuring costs, which include the divestiture of the company's Longwall business, and 2022 goodwill impairment charges as a percent of sales and revenues.
2.Adjusted Profit Per Share – Profit per share excluding restructuring costs, which include the divestiture of the company's Longwall business, certain deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments, pension and OPEB mark-to-market gains/losses and 2022 goodwill impairment charges.
3.All Other Segment – Primarily includes activities such as: business strategy; product management and development; manufacturing and sourcing of filters and fluids, undercarriage, ground-engaging tools, fluid transfer products, precision seals, rubber sealing and connecting components primarily for Cat® products; parts distribution; integrated logistics solutions; distribution services responsible for dealer development and administration, including a wholly owned dealer in Japan; dealer portfolio management and ensuring the most efficient and effective distribution of machines, engines and parts; brand management and marketing strategy; and digital investments for new customer and dealer solutions that integrate data analytics with state-of-the-art digital technologies while transforming the buying experience.
4.Consolidating Adjustments – Elimination of transactions between Machinery, Energy & Transportation and Financial Products.
5.Construction Industries – A segment primarily responsible for supporting customers using machinery in infrastructure and building construction applications. Responsibilities include business strategy, product design, product management and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales and product support. The product portfolio includes asphalt pavers; backhoe loaders; cold planers; compactors; compact track loaders; forestry machines; material handlers; motor graders; pipelayers; road reclaimers; skid steer loaders; telehandlers; track-type loaders; track-type tractors (small, medium); track excavators (mini, small, medium, large); wheel excavators; wheel loaders (compact, small, medium); and related parts and work tools.
6.Corporate Items and Eliminations – Includes corporate-level expenses, timing differences (as some expenses are reported in segment profit on a cash basis), methodology differences between segment and consolidated external reporting, certain restructuring costs and inter-segment eliminations.
7.Currency – With respect to sales and revenues, currency represents the translation impact on sales resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar. With respect to operating profit, currency represents the net translation impact on sales and operating costs resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar. Currency only includes the impact on sales and operating profit for the Machinery, Energy & Transportation line of business; currency impacts on Financial Products revenues and operating profit are included in the Financial Products portions of the respective analyses. With respect to other income/expense, currency represents the effects of forward and option contracts entered into by the company to reduce the risk of fluctuations in exchange rates (hedging) and the net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on our foreign currency assets and liabilities for consolidated results (translation).
8.Dealer Inventories – Represents dealer machine and engine inventories, excluding aftermarket parts.
9.EAME – A geographic region including Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Eurasia.
10.Earning Assets – Assets consisting primarily of total finance receivables net of unearned income, plus equipment on operating leases net of accumulated depreciation at Cat Financial.
11.Energy & Transportation – A segment primarily responsible for supporting customers using reciprocating engines, turbines, diesel-electric locomotives and related services across industries serving Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Industrial and Transportation applications, including marine- and rail-related businesses. Responsibilities include business strategy, product design, product management, development and testing manufacturing, marketing and sales and product support. The product and services portfolio includes turbines, centrifugal gas compressors, and turbine-related services; reciprocating engine-powered generator sets; integrated systems and solutions used in the electric power generation industry; reciprocating engines, drivetrain and integrated systems and solutions for the marine and oil and gas industries; reciprocating engines, drivetrain and integrated systems and solutions supplied to the industrial industry as well as Caterpillar machines; electrified powertrain and zero-emission power sources and service solutions development; and diesel-electric locomotives and components and other rail-related products and services, including remanufacturing and leasing. Responsibilities also include the remanufacturing of Caterpillar reciprocating engines and components and remanufacturing services for other companies; and product support of on-highway vocational trucks for North America.
12.Financial Products – The company defines Financial Products as our finance and insurance subsidiaries, primarily Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial) and Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc. (Insurance Services). Financial Products’ information relates to the financing to customers and dealers for the purchase and lease of Caterpillar and other equipment.
13.Financial Products Segment – Provides financing alternatives to customers and dealers around the world for Caterpillar products and services, as well as financing for power generation facilities that, in most cases, incorporate Caterpillar products. Financing plans include operating and finance leases, revolving charge accounts, installment sale contracts, repair/rebuild financing, working capital loans and wholesale financing plans. The segment also provides insurance and risk management products and services that help customers and dealers manage their business risk. Insurance and risk management products offered include physical damage insurance, inventory protection plans, extended service coverage and maintenance plans for machines and engines, and dealer property and casualty insurance. The various forms of financing, insurance and risk management products offered to customers and dealers help support the purchase and lease of Caterpillar equipment. The segment also earns revenues from Machinery, Energy & Transportation, but the related costs are not allocated to operating segments. Financial Products’ segment profit is determined on a pretax basis and includes other income/expense items.
14.Latin America – A geographic region including Central and South American countries and Mexico.
15.Machinery, Energy & Transportation (ME&T) – The company defines ME&T as Caterpillar Inc. and its subsidiaries, excluding Financial Products. ME&T’s information relates to the design, manufacturing and marketing of its products.
16.Machinery, Energy & Transportation Other Operating (Income) Expenses – Comprised primarily of gains/losses on disposal of long-lived assets, gains/losses on divestitures and legal settlements and accruals.
17.Manufacturing Costs – Manufacturing costs exclude the impacts of currency and represent the volume-adjusted change for variable costs and the absolute dollar change for period manufacturing costs. Variable manufacturing costs are defined as having a direct relationship with the volume of production. This includes material costs, direct labor and other costs that vary directly with production volume, such as freight, power to operate machines and supplies that are consumed in the manufacturing process. Period manufacturing costs support production but are defined as generally not having a direct relationship to short-term changes in volume. Examples include machinery and equipment repair, depreciation on manufacturing assets, facility support, procurement, factory scheduling, manufacturing planning and operations management.
18.Mark-to-market gains/losses – Represents the net gain or loss of actual results differing from the company’s assumptions and the effects of changing assumptions for our defined benefit pension and OPEB plans. These gains and losses are immediately recognized through earnings upon the annual remeasurement in the fourth quarter, or on an interim basis as triggering events warrant remeasurement.
19.Pension and Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB) – The company’s defined-benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans.
20.Price Realization – The impact of net price changes excluding currency and new product introductions. Price realization includes geographic mix of sales, which is the impact of changes in the relative weighting of sales prices between geographic regions.
21.Resource Industries – A segment primarily responsible for supporting customers using machinery in mining, heavy construction and quarry and aggregates. Responsibilities include business strategy, product design, product management
and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales and product support. The product portfolio includes large track-type tractors; large mining trucks; hard rock vehicles; electric rope shovels; draglines; hydraulic shovels; rotary drills; large wheel loaders; off-highway trucks; articulated trucks; wheel tractor scrapers; wheel dozers; landfill compactors; soil compactors; select work tools; machinery components; electronics and control systems and related parts. In addition to equipment, Resource Industries also develops and sells technology products and services to provide customers fleet management, equipment management analytics, autonomous machine capabilities, safety services and mining performance solutions. Resource Industries also manages areas that provide services to other parts of the company, including strategic procurement, lean center of excellence, integrated manufacturing, research and development for hydraulic systems, automation, electronics and software for Cat machines and engines.
22.Restructuring Costs – May include costs for employee separation, long-lived asset impairments, contract terminations and divestiture impacts. These costs are included in Other operating (income) expenses except for defined-benefit plan curtailment losses and special termination benefits, which are included in Other income (expense). Restructuring costs also include other exit-related costs, which may consist of accelerated depreciation, inventory write-downs, building demolition, equipment relocation and project management costs and LIFO inventory decrement benefits from inventory liquidations at closed facilities, all of which are primarily included in Cost of goods sold.
23.Sales Volume – With respect to sales and revenues, sales volume represents the impact of changes in the quantities sold for Machinery, Energy & Transportation as well as the incremental sales impact of new product introductions, including emissions-related product updates. With respect to operating profit, sales volume represents the impact of changes in the quantities sold for Machinery, Energy & Transportation combined with product mix as well as the net operating profit impact of new product introductions, including emissions-related product updates. Product mix represents the net operating profit impact of changes in the relative weighting of Machinery, Energy & Transportation sales with respect to total sales. The impact of sales volume on segment profit includes inter-segment sales.
24.Services – Enterprise services include, but are not limited to, aftermarket parts, Financial Products revenues and other service-related revenues. Machinery, Energy & Transportation segments exclude most Financial Products revenues.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Sources of funds
We generate significant capital resources from operating activities, which are the primary source of funding for our ME&T operations. Funding for these businesses is also available from commercial paper and long-term debt issuances. Financial Products’ operations are funded primarily from commercial paper, term debt issuances and collections from its existing portfolio. During 2023, we had positive operating cash flow within both our ME&T and Financial Products' operations. On a consolidated basis, we ended 2023 with $6.98 billion of cash, a decrease of $26 million from year-end 2022. In addition, ME&T has invested in available-for-sale debt securities and bank time deposits that are considered highly liquid and are available for current operations. These ME&T securities were $3.85 billion as of December 31, 2023 and are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. We intend to maintain a strong cash and liquidity position.
Consolidated operating cash flow for 2023 was $12.89 billion, up $5.12 billion compared to 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher profit before taxes adjusted for non-cash items and lower working capital requirements. Within working capital, changes in inventories and accrued expenses favorably impacted cash flow partially offset by changes in accounts payable and customer advances.
Total debt as of December 31, 2023 was $37.88 billion, an increase of $885 million from year-end 2022. Debt related to ME&T increased $18 million in 2023. Debt related to Financial Products increased by $883 million due to portfolio funding requirements.
We have three global credit facilities with a syndicate of banks totaling $10.50 billion (Credit Facility) available in the aggregate to both Caterpillar and Cat Financial for general liquidity purposes. Based on management’s allocation decision, which can be revised from time to time, the portion of the Credit Facility available to ME&T as of December 31, 2023 was $2.75 billion. Information on our Credit Facility is as follows:
•In August 2023, we entered into a new 364-day facility. The 364-day facility of $3.15 billion (of which $825 million is available to ME&T) expires in August 2024.
•In August 2023, we amended and extended the three-year facility (as amended and restated, the "three-year facility"). The three-year facility of $2.73 billion (of which $715 million is available to ME&T) expires in August 2026.
•In August 2023, we amended and extended the five-year facility (as amended and restated, the "five-year facility"). The five-year facility of $4.62 billion (of which $1.21 billion is available to ME&T) expires in August 2028.
At December 31, 2023, Caterpillar’s consolidated net worth was $19.55 billion, which was above the $9.00 billion required under the Credit Facility. The consolidated net worth is defined as the consolidated shareholders' equity including preferred stock but excluding the pension and other postretirement benefits balance within AOCI.
At December 31, 2023, Cat Financial’s covenant interest coverage ratio was 1.73 to 1. This was above the 1.15 to 1 minimum ratio, calculated as (1) profit excluding income taxes, interest expense and net gain/(loss) from interest rate derivatives to (2) interest expense calculated at the end of each fiscal quarter for the prior four consecutive fiscal quarter period, required by the Credit Facility.
In addition, at December 31, 2023, Cat Financial’s six-month covenant leverage ratio was 6.88 to 1 and year-end covenant leverage ratio was 6.95 to 1. This was below the maximum ratio of debt to net worth of 10 to 1, calculated (1) on a monthly basis as the average of the leverage ratios determined on the last day of each of the six preceding calendar months and (2) at each December 31, required by the Credit Facility.
In the event Caterpillar or Cat Financial does not meet one or more of their respective financial covenants under the Credit Facility in the future (and are unable to obtain a consent or waiver), the syndicate of banks may terminate the commitments allocated to the party that does not meet its covenants. Additionally, in such event, certain of Cat Financial's other lenders under other loan agreements where similar financial covenants or cross default provisions are applicable may, at their election, choose to pursue remedies under those loan agreements, including accelerating the repayment of outstanding borrowings. At December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings under the Credit Facility.
Our total credit commitments and available credit as of December 31, 2023 were:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | December 31, 2023 |
| (Millions of dollars) | | Consolidated | | Machinery,
Energy &
Transportation | | Financial
Products |
| Credit lines available: | | | | | | |
| Global credit facilities | | $ | 10,500 | | | $ | 2,750 | | | $ | 7,750 | |
| Other external | | 4,164 | | | 625 | | | 3,539 | |
| Total credit lines available | | 14,664 | | | 3,375 | | | 11,289 | |
| Less: Commercial paper outstanding | | (4,069) | | | — | | | (4,069) | |
| Less: Utilized credit | | (853) | | | — | | | (853) | |
| Available credit | | $ | 9,742 | | | $ | 3,375 | | | $ | 6,367 | |
| | | | | | |
The other consolidated credit lines with banks as of December 31, 2023 totaled $4.16 billion. These committed and uncommitted credit lines, which may be eligible for renewal at various future dates or have no specified expiration date, are used primarily by our subsidiaries for local funding requirements. Caterpillar or Cat Financial may guarantee subsidiary borrowings under these lines.
We receive debt ratings from the major credit rating agencies. Fitch maintains a "high-A" debt rating, while Moody’s and S&P maintain a “mid-A” debt rating. A downgrade of our credit ratings by any of the major credit rating agencies could result in increased borrowing costs and could make access to certain credit markets more difficult. In the event economic conditions deteriorate such that access to debt markets becomes unavailable, ME&T’s operations would rely on cash flow from operations, use of existing cash balances, borrowings from Cat Financial and access to our committed credit facilities. Our Financial Products’ operations would rely on cash flow from its existing portfolio, existing cash balances, access to our committed credit facilities and other credit line facilities of Cat Financial, and potential borrowings from Caterpillar. In addition, we maintain a support agreement with Cat Financial, which requires Caterpillar to remain the sole owner of Cat Financial and may, under certain circumstances, require Caterpillar to make payments to Cat Financial should Cat Financial fail to maintain certain financial ratios.
We facilitate voluntary supplier finance programs (the “Programs”) through participating financial institutions. We account for the payments made under the Programs, the same as our other accounts payable, as a reduction to our cash flows from operations. We do not believe that changes in the availability of the Programs will have a significant impact on our liquidity. Additional information related to the Programs is included in Note 1J — "New accounting guidance" of Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".
Material cash requirements for contractual obligations
We believe our balances of cash and cash equivalents of $6.98 billion and available-for-sale debt securities and bank time deposits of $3.85 billion as of December 31, 2023, along with cash generated by ongoing operations and continued access to debt markets, will be sufficient to satisfy our cash requirements over the next 12 months and beyond.
We have committed cash outflows related to postretirement benefit obligations, long-term debt and operating lease agreements. See Notes 12, 14 and 20, respectively, of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information.
We have short-term obligations related to the purchase of goods and services made in the ordinary course of business. These consist of invoices received and recorded as liabilities as of December 31, 2023, but scheduled for payment in 2024 of $7.91 billion. In addition, we have contractual obligations for material and services on order at December 31, 2023, but not yet invoiced or delivered, of $7.22 billion.
We also have long-term contractual obligations primarily for logistics services agreements; systems support, software licenses and development contracts; information technology consulting contracts and outsourcing contracts for benefit plan administration. These obligations total $1.49 billion, with $704 million due in the next 12 months.
Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Net cash provided by operating activities was $11.69 billion in 2023, compared with $6.36 billion in 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher profit before taxes adjusted for non-cash items and lower working capital requirements. Within working capital, changes in inventories and accrued expenses favorably impacted cash flow partially offset by changes in accounts payable and customer advances.
Net cash used for investing activities in 2023 was $3.92 billion, compared with net cash used of $1.81 billion in 2022. The change was primarily due to increased investments in securities, net of proceeds from maturities and sale of securities, and an increase in capital spend.
Net cash used for financing activities during 2023 was $7.65 billion, compared with net cash used of $6.80 billion in 2022. The change was primarily due to higher share repurchases and dividends paid in 2023.
While our short-term priorities for the use of cash may vary from time to time as business needs and conditions dictate, our long-term cash deployment strategy is focused on the following priorities. Our top priority is to maintain a strong financial position in support of a mid-A rating. Next, we intend to fund operational requirements and commitments. Then, we intend to fund priorities that profitably grow the company and return capital to shareholders through dividend growth and share repurchases. Additional information on cash deployment is as follows:
Strong financial position — Our top priority is to maintain a strong financial position in support of a mid-A rating. We track a diverse group of financial metrics that focus on liquidity, leverage, cash flow and margins which align with our cash deployment actions and the various methodologies used by the major credit rating agencies.
Operational excellence and commitments — Capital expenditures were $1.66 billion during 2023, compared to $1.30 billion in 2022. We expect ME&T’s capital expenditures in 2024 to be around $2.0 billion to $2.5 billion. We made $361 million of contributions to our pension and OPEB plans during 2023. In comparison, we made $346 million of contributions to our pension and OPEB plans in 2022. We expect to make approximately $273 million of contributions to our pension and OPEB plans in 2024.
Fund strategic growth initiatives and return capital to shareholders — We intend to utilize our liquidity and debt capacity to fund targeted investments that drive long-term profitable growth focused in the areas of expanded offerings, services and sustainability, including acquisitions.
As part of our capital allocation strategy, ME&T free cash flow is a liquidity measure we use to determine the cash generated and available for financing activities including debt repayments, dividends and share repurchases. We define ME&T free cash flow as cash from ME&T operations less capital expenditures, excluding discretionary pension and other postretirement benefit plan contributions and cash payments related to settlements with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. A goal of our capital allocation strategy is to return substantially all ME&T free cash flow to shareholders over time in the form of dividends and share repurchases, while maintaining our mid-A rating.
Our share repurchase plans are subject to the company’s cash deployment priorities and are evaluated on an ongoing basis considering the financial condition of the company, corporate cash flow, the company's liquidity needs, the economic outlook, and the health and stability of global credit markets. The timing and amount of future repurchases may vary depending on market conditions and investing priorities. In May 2022, the Board approved a new share repurchase authorization (the 2022 Authorization) of up to $15.0 billion of Caterpillar common stock effective August 1, 2022 with no expiration. In 2023, we repurchased $4.98 billion of Caterpillar common stock, with $7.8 billion remaining under the 2022 Authorization as of December 31, 2023. Caterpillar's basic shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023 were approximately 499 million.
Each quarter, our Board of Directors reviews the company's dividend for the applicable quarter. The Board evaluates the financial condition of the company and considers corporate cash flow, the company's liquidity needs, the economic outlook, and the health and stability of global credit markets to determine whether to maintain or change the quarterly dividend. In December 2023, the Board of Directors approved maintaining our quarterly dividend representing $1.30 per share, and we continue to expect our strong financial position to support the dividend. Dividends paid totaled $2.56 billion in 2023.
Financial Products
Financial Products operating cash flow was $1.11 billion in 2023, compared with $1.52 billion in 2022. Net cash used for investing activities was $1.42 billion in 2023, compared with $356 million used in 2022. The change was primarily due to portfolio related activity. Net cash provided by financing activities was $278 million in 2023, compared with net cash used of $964 million in 2022. The change was primarily due to higher portfolio funding requirements.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
We are a party to certain off-balance sheet arrangements, primarily in the form of guarantees. Information related to guarantees appears in Note 21 — “Guarantees and product warranty” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 1J — “New accounting guidance” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. The more significant estimates include: residual values for leased assets, fair values for goodwill impairment tests, warranty liability, reserves for product liability and insurance losses, postretirement benefits, post-sale discounts, credit losses and income taxes. We have incorporated many years of data into the determination of each of these estimates and we have not historically experienced significant adjustments. We review these assumptions at least annually with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Following are the methods and assumptions used in determining our estimates and an indication of the risks inherent in each.
Residual values for leased assets — We determine the residual value of Cat Financial’s leased equipment based on its estimated end-of-term market value. We estimate the residual value of leased equipment at the inception of the lease based on a number of factors, including historical wholesale market sales prices, past remarketing experience and any known significant market/product trends. We also consider the following critical factors in our residual value estimates: lease term, market size and demand, total expected hours of usage, machine configuration, application, location, model changes, quantities, third-party residual guarantees and contractual customer purchase options.
Upon termination of the lease, the equipment is either purchased by the lessee or sold to a third-party, in which case we may record a gain or a loss for the difference between the estimated residual value and the sale proceeds.
During the term of our leases, we monitor residual values. For operating leases, we record adjustments to depreciation expense reflecting changes in residual value estimates prospectively on a straight-line basis. For finance leases, we recognize residual value adjustments through a reduction of finance revenue over the remaining lease term.
We evaluate the carrying value of equipment on operating leases for potential impairment when we determine a triggering event has occurred. When a triggering event occurs, we perform a test for recoverability by comparing projected undiscounted future cash flows to the carrying value of the equipment on operating leases. If the test for recoverability identifies a possible impairment, we measure the fair value of the equipment on operating leases in accordance with the fair value measurement framework. We recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value of the equipment on operating leases exceeds its estimated fair value.
At December 31, 2023, the aggregate residual value of equipment on operating leases was $1.70 billion. Without consideration of other factors such as third-party residual guarantees or contractual customer purchase options, a 10 percent non-temporary decrease in the market value of our equipment subject to operating leases would reduce residual value estimates and result in the recognition of approximately $75 million of additional annual depreciation expense.
Fair values for goodwill impairment tests — We test goodwill for impairment annually, at the reporting unit level, and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred, such as a significant adverse change in the business climate or a decision to sell all or a portion of a reporting unit. We perform our annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 and monitor for interim triggering events on an ongoing basis.
We review goodwill for impairment utilizing either a qualitative assessment or a quantitative goodwill impairment test. If we choose to perform a qualitative assessment and determine the fair value more likely than not exceeds the carrying value, no further evaluation is necessary. For reporting units where we perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit, which we primarily determine using an income approach based on the present value of discounted cash flows, to the respective carrying value, which includes goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, we do not consider the goodwill impaired. If the carrying value is higher than the fair value, we recognize the difference as an impairment loss.
For reporting units where we perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test, the process requires valuation of the respective reporting unit, which we primarily determine using an income approach based on a discounted five year forecasted cash flow with a year-five residual value. We compute the residual value using the constant growth method, which values the forecasted cash flows in perpetuity. The assumptions about future cash flows and growth rates are based on each reporting unit's long-term forecast and are subject to review and approval by senior management. A reporting unit’s discount rate is a risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital, which we believe approximates the rate from a market participant’s perspective. The estimated fair value could be impacted by changes in market conditions, interest rates, growth rates, tax rates, costs, pricing and capital expenditures. We categorize the fair value determination as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy due to its use of internal projections and unobservable measurement inputs.
We completed our annual assessment of goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2023 and determined that there was no impairment of goodwill. Caterpillar's market capitalization has remained significantly above the net book value of the Company.
An unfavorable change in our expectations for the financial performance of our reporting units, particularly long-term growth and profitability, would reduce the fair value of our reporting units. The demand for our equipment and related parts is highly cyclical and significantly impacted by commodity prices, although the impact may vary by reporting unit. The energy and mining industries are major users of our products, including the mineral extraction, oil and natural gas industries. Decisions to purchase our products are dependent upon the performance of those industries, which in turn are dependent in part on commodity prices. Lower commodity prices or industry specific circumstances that have a negative impact to the valuation assumptions may reduce the fair value of our reporting units. Should such events occur and it becomes more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value has fallen below its carrying value, we will perform an interim goodwill impairment test(s), in addition to the annual impairment test. Future impairment tests may result in a goodwill impairment, depending on the outcome of the quantitative impairment test. We would report a goodwill impairment as a non-cash charge to earnings.
Product warranty liability — At the time we recognize a sale, we record estimated future warranty costs. We determine the product warranty liability by applying historical claim rate experience to the current field population and dealer inventory. Generally, we base historical claim rates on actual warranty experience for each product by machine model/engine
size by customer or dealer location (inside or outside North America). We develop specific rates for each product shipment month and update them monthly based on actual warranty claim experience. Warranty costs may differ from those estimated if actual claim rates are higher or lower than our historical rates.
Product liability and insurance loss reserve — We determine these reserves based upon reported claims in process of settlement and actuarial estimates for losses incurred but not reported. Loss reserves, including incurred but not reported reserves, are based on estimates and ultimate settlements may vary significantly from such estimates due to increased claims frequency or severity over historical levels. The amount of these reserves totaled $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The majority of the balance in both 2023 and 2022 consisted of unearned insurance premiums.
Postretirement benefits — We sponsor defined benefit pension plans and/or other postretirement benefit plans (retirement healthcare and life insurance) to employees in many of our locations throughout the world. There are assumptions used in the accounting for these defined benefit plans that include discount rate, expected return on plan assets, expected rate of compensation increase, the future health care trend rate, mortality and other economic and demographic assumptions. The actuarial assumptions we use may change or differ significantly from actual results, which may result in a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
The effects of actual results differing from our assumptions and the effects of changing assumptions are considered actuarial gains or losses. We utilize a mark-to-market approach in recognizing actuarial gains or losses immediately through earnings upon the annual remeasurement in the fourth quarter, or on an interim basis as triggering events warrant remeasurement.
Primary actuarial assumptions were determined as follows:
•We use the assumed discount rate to discount future benefit obligations back to today’s dollars. The U.S. discount rate is based on a benefit cash flow-matching approach and represents the rate at which our benefit obligations could effectively be settled as of our measurement date, December 31. The benefit cash flow-matching approach involves analyzing Caterpillar’s projected cash flows against a high quality bond yield curve, calculated using a wide population of corporate Aa bonds available on the measurement date. We use a similar approach to determine the assumed discount rate for our most significant non-U.S. plans. In estimating the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit cost, we utilize a full yield curve approach in determining a discount rate. This approach applies the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. Discount rates are sensitive to changes in interest rates.
•The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on our estimate of long-term returns for equities and fixed income securities weighted by the allocation of our plan assets. This rate is impacted by changes in general market conditions, but because it represents a long-term rate, it is not significantly impacted by short-term market swings. Changes in our allocation of plan assets would also impact this rate. For example, a shift to more fixed income securities would lower the rate. The expected return on plan assets is based on the fair value of plan asset allocations as of our measurement date, December 31.
•We use the expected rate of compensation increase to develop benefit obligations using projected pay at retirement. It represents average long-term salary increases. This rate is influenced by our long-term compensation policies.
•The assumed health care trend rate represents the rate at which health care costs are assumed to increase and is based on historical and expected experience. Changes in our projections of future health care costs due to general economic conditions and those specific to health care (e.g., technology driven cost changes) will impact this trend rate.
•We use the mortality assumption to estimate the life expectancy of plan participants.
Postretirement Benefit Plan Actuarial Assumptions Sensitivity
The effects of a one percentage-point change in certain actuarial assumptions on 2023 pension and OPEB costs and obligations are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2023 Benefit Cost Increase (Decrease) | | Year-end Benefit Obligation Increase (Decrease) |
| (Millions of dollars) | | One percentage-
point increase | | One percentage-
point decrease | | One percentage-
point increase | | One percentage-
point decrease |
U.S. Pension Benefits: 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Assumed discount rate | | $ | 52 | | | $ | (66) | | | $ | (1,162) | | | $ | 1,375 | |
| | | |
| Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets | | (120) | | | 120 | | | — | | | — | |
| Non-U.S. Pension Benefits: | | | | | | | | |
| Assumed discount rate | | 7 | | | (9) | | | (353) | | | 435 | |
| Expected rate of compensation increase | | 4 | | | (3) | | | 31 | | | (25) | |
| Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets | | (32) | | | 32 | | | — | | | — | |
| Other Postretirement Benefits: | | | | | | | | |
| Assumed discount rate | | 6 | | | (7) | | | (215) | | | 252 | |
| Expected rate of compensation increase | | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | (1) | |
| Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets | | (2) | | | 2 | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
1 Effective December 31, 2019, all U.S. pension benefits were frozen, and accordingly the expected rate of compensation increase assumption is no longer applicable. |
| | | | | | | | |
Actuarial Assumptions
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | U.S. Pension Benefits | | Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | | Other Postretirement Benefits |
| | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation, end of year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Discount rate | | 5.0 | % | | 5.4 | % | | 2.8 | % | | 3.9 | % | | 4.3 | % | | 1.8 | % | | 5.1 | % | | 5.4 | % | | 2.7 | % |
Rate of compensation increase 1 | | — | % | | — | % | | — | % | | 2.3 | % | | 2.3 | % | | 2.0 | % | | 4.0 | % | | 4.0 | % | | 4.0 | % |
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| Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Discount rate used to measure service cost 1 | | — | % | | — | % | | — | % | | 3.8 | % | | 1.7 | % | | 1.4 | % | | 5.4 | % | | 2.8 | % | | 2.5 | % |
| Discount rate used to measure interest cost | | 5.2 | % | | 2.3 | % | | 1.8 | % | | 4.2 | % | | 1.7 | % | | 1.2 | % | | 5.3 | % | | 2.2 | % | | 1.6 | % |
| Expected rate of return on plan assets | | 5.8 | % | | 4.0 | % | | 4.2 | % | | 5.2 | % | | 3.1 | % | | 2.9 | % | | 7.4 | % | | 6.9 | % | | 6.5 | % |
Rate of compensation increase 1 | | — | % | | — | % | | — | % | | 2.3 | % | | 2.0 | % | | 2.0 | % | | 4.0 | % | | 4.0 | % | | 4.0 | % |
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| Health care cost trend rates at year-end: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Health care trend rate assumed for next year | | 6.2 | % | | 6.5 | % | | 5.6 | % |
| Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to | | 4.7 | % | | 4.7 | % | | 5.0 | % |
| Year that the cost trend rate reaches ultimate rate | | 2030 | | 2030 | | 2025 |
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1 Effective December 31, 2019, all U.S. pension benefits were frozen, and accordingly this assumption is no longer applicable. |
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See Note 12 — “Postemployment benefit plans” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statement and Supplemental Data” for further information regarding the accounting for postretirement benefits.
Post-sale discount reserve — We provide discounts to dealers through merchandising programs. We have numerous programs that are designed to promote the sale of our products. The most common dealer programs provide a discount when the dealer sells a product to a targeted end user. The amount of accrued post-sale discounts was $2.1 billion and $1.6 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The reserve represents discounts that we expect to pay on previously sold units and is reviewed at least quarterly. We adjust the reserve if discounts paid differ from those estimated. Historically, those adjustments have not been material.
Allowance for credit losses — The allowance for credit losses is management’s estimate of expected losses over the life of our finance receivable portfolio calculated using loss forecast models that take into consideration historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions and forecasts and scenarios that capture country and industry-specific economic factors. In addition, we consider qualitative factors not able to be fully captured in our loss forecast models, including borrower-specific and company-specific factors. These qualitative factors are subjective and require a degree of management judgment.
We measure the allowance for credit losses on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist and on an individual basis when we determine that similar risk characteristics do not exist. We identify finance receivables for individual evaluation based on past due status and information available about the customer, such as financial statements, news reports and published credit ratings, as well as general information regarding industry trends and the economic environment in which our customers operate. The allowance for credit losses attributable to finance receivables that are individually evaluated is based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the receivables' effective interest rate, the fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent receivables or the observable market price of the receivable. In determining collateral value, we estimate the current fair market value of the collateral less selling costs. We also consider credit enhancements such as additional collateral and contractual third-party guarantees.
While management believes it has exercised prudent judgment and applied reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that in the future, changes in economic conditions or other factors would not cause changes in the financial health of our customers. If the financial health of our customers deteriorates, the timing and level of payments received could be impacted and therefore, could result in a change to our estimated losses.
Income taxes — We are subject to the income tax laws of the many jurisdictions in which we operate. These tax laws are complex, and the manner in which they apply to our facts is sometimes open to interpretation. In establishing the provision for income taxes, we must make judgments about the application of these inherently complex tax laws. Our income tax positions and analysis are based on currently enacted tax law. Future changes in tax law or related interpretations could significantly impact the provision for income taxes, the amount of taxes payable, and the deferred tax asset and liability balances. Changes in tax law are reflected in the period of enactment with related interpretations considered in the period received.
Despite our belief that our tax return positions are consistent with applicable tax laws, we believe that taxing authorities could challenge certain positions. Settlement of any challenge can result in no change, a complete disallowance, or some partial adjustment reached through negotiations or litigation. We record tax benefits for uncertain tax positions based upon management’s evaluation of the information available at the reporting date. To be recognized in the financial statements, a tax benefit must be at least more likely than not of being sustained based on technical merits. The benefit for positions meeting the recognition threshold is measured as the largest benefit more likely than not of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Significant judgment is required in making these determinations and adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits may be necessary to reflect actual taxes payable upon settlement. Adjustments related to positions impacting the effective tax rate affect the provision for income taxes. Adjustments related to positions impacting the timing of deductions impact deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Deferred tax assets generally represent tax benefits for tax deductions or credits available in future tax returns. Certain estimates and assumptions are required to determine whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the benefit of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In making this assessment, management analyzes the trend of U.S. GAAP earnings and estimates the impact of future taxable income, reversing temporary differences and available prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. We give less weight in this analysis to mark-to-market adjustments to remeasure our pension and OPEB plans as we do not consider these adjustments indicative of ongoing earnings trends. Should a change in facts or circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the ultimate realizability of a deferred tax asset, we record or adjust the related valuation allowance in the period that the change in facts and circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or decrease in the provision for income taxes.
Additional information related to income taxes is included in Note 6 — “Income taxes” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial statements and Supplementary Data.”
OTHER MATTERS
Information related to legal proceedings appears in Note 22 — Environmental and Legal Matters of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
We recognize mark-to-market gains and losses immediately through earnings upon the remeasurement of our pension and OPEB plans. Mark-to-market gains and losses represent the effects of actual results differing from our assumptions and the effects of changing assumptions. Changes in discount rates and differences between the actual return on plan assets and the expected return on plan assets generally have the largest impact on mark-to-market gains and losses.
The table below summarizes the amounts of net periodic benefit cost recognized for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and includes expected cost for 2024.
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| (Millions of dollars) | | 2024 Expected | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| U.S. Pension Benefits | | $ | (74) | | | $ | (33) | | | $ | (268) | | | $ | (388) | |
| Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | | (3) | | | 2 | | | (10) | | | (19) | |
| Other Postretirement Benefits | | 178 | | | 188 | | | 161 | | | 118 | |
| Mark-to-market loss (gain) | | — | | 1 | (97) | | | (606) | | | (833) | |
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| Total net periodic benefit cost (benefit) | | $ | 101 | | | $ | 60 | | | $ | (723) | | | $ | (1,122) | |
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1 Expected net periodic benefit cost (benefit) does not include an estimate for mark-to-market gains or losses.
•Expected decrease in expense in 2024 compared to 2023 — Excluding the impact of mark-to-market gains and losses, our net periodic benefit cost is expected to decrease $56 million in 2024. This expected decrease is primarily due to lower interest cost in 2024 as a result of lower discount rates at year-end 2023 (U.S. pension plans discount rate for 2024 interest cost is 5.0 percent compared to 5.2 percent for 2023) and a higher expected return on assets due to a higher world-wide asset base at year-end 2023 ($16.3 billion) compared to year-end 2022 ($15.8 billion).
•Increase in expense in 2023 compared to 2022 — Primarily due to lower mark-to-market gains in 2023 compared to 2022 and higher interest cost in 2023 as a result of higher discount rates at year-end 2022.
•Increase in expense in 2022 compared to 2021 — Primarily due to lower mark-to-market gains in 2022 compared to 2021 and higher interest cost in 2022 as a result of higher discount rates at year-end 2021.
The primary factors that resulted in mark-to-market losses (gains) for 2023, 2022 and 2021 are described below. We include the net mark-to-market losses (gains) in Other income (expense) in the Results of Operations.
•2023 net mark-to-market gain of $97 million — Primarily due to higher actual return on plan assets compared to the expected return on plan assets (U.S. pension plans had an actual rate of return of 10.4 percent compared to an expected rate of return of 5.8 percent) and favorable claims experience related to our other postretirement benefit plans. This was partially offset by lower discount rates at the end of 2023 compared to the end of 2022.
•2022 net mark-to-market gain of $606 million — Primarily due to higher discount rates at the end of 2022 compared to the end of 2021. This was partially offset by a lower actual return on plan assets compared to the expected return on plan assets (U.S. pension plans had an actual loss rate of (22.6) percent compared to an expected rate of return of 4.0 percent).
•2021 net mark-to-market gain of $833 million — Primarily due to higher discount rates at the end of 2021 compared to the end of 2020. This was partially offset by various assumption changes and a lower actual return on plan assets compared to the expected return on plan assets (U.S. pension plans had an actual rate of return of 3.6 percent compared to an expected rate of return of 4.2 percent).
SENSITIVITY
Foreign Exchange Rate Sensitivity
ME&T operations use foreign currency forward and option contracts to manage unmatched foreign currency cash inflow and outflow. Our objective is to minimize the risk of exchange rate movements that would reduce the U.S. dollar value of our foreign currency cash flow. Our policy allows for managing anticipated foreign currency cash flow for up to approximately five years. Based on the anticipated and firmly committed cash inflow and outflow for our ME&T operations for the next 12 months and the foreign currency derivative instruments in place at year-end, a hypothetical 10 percent weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to all other currencies would adversely affect our expected 2024 cash flow for our ME&T operations by approximately $200 million. Last year similar assumptions and calculations yielded a potential $98 million adverse impact on 2023 cash flow. We determine our net exposures by calculating the difference in cash inflow and outflow by currency and adding or subtracting outstanding foreign currency derivative instruments. We multiply these net amounts by 10 percent to determine the sensitivity.
In managing foreign currency risk for our Financial Products operations, our objective is to minimize earnings volatility resulting from conversion and the remeasurement of net foreign currency balance sheet positions and future transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Since our policy allows the use of foreign currency forward, option and cross currency contracts to offset the risk of currency mismatch between our assets and liabilities and exchange rate risk associated with future transactions denominated in foreign currencies, a 10 percent change in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to all other currencies would not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow. Neither our policy nor the effect of a 10 percent change in the value of the U.S. dollar has changed from that reported at the end of last year.
The effect of the hypothetical change in exchange rates ignores the effect this movement may have on other variables, including competitive risk. If it were possible to quantify this competitive impact, the results would probably be different from the sensitivity effects shown above. In addition, it is unlikely that all currencies would uniformly strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. In reality, some currencies may weaken while others may strengthen. Our primary exposure (excluding competitive risk) is to exchange rate movements in the Chinese yuan, Australian dollar, Euro, British pound and Mexican peso.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
For our ME&T operations, we have the option to use interest rate contracts to lower the cost of borrowed funds by attaching fixed-to-floating interest rate contracts to fixed-rate debt, and by entering into forward rate agreements on future debt issuances. A hypothetical 100 basis point adverse move in interest rates along the entire interest rate yield curve would have a minimal impact to the 2024 pre-tax earnings of ME&T. Last year, similar assumptions and calculations yielded a minimal impact to 2023 pre-tax earnings.
For our Financial Products operations, we use interest rate derivative instruments primarily to meet our match-funding objectives and strategies. We have a match-funding policy that addresses the interest rate risk by aligning the interest rate profile (fixed or floating rate and duration) of our debt portfolio with the interest rate profile of our finance receivable portfolio within a predetermined range on an ongoing basis. In connection with that policy, we use interest rate derivative instruments to modify the debt structure to match assets within the finance receivable portfolio. Match funding reduces the volatility of margins between interest-bearing assets and interest-bearing liabilities, regardless of which direction interest rates move.
In order to properly manage sensitivity to changes in interest rates, Financial Products measures the potential impact of different interest rate assumptions on pre-tax earnings. All on-balance sheet positions, including derivative financial instruments, are included in the analysis. The primary assumptions included in the analysis are that there are no new fixed rate assets or liabilities, the proportion of fixed rate debt to fixed rate assets remains unchanged and the level of floating rate assets and debt remain constant. An analysis of the December 31, 2023 balance sheet, using these assumptions, estimates the impact of a 100 basis point immediate and sustained adverse change in interest rates to have a minimal impact on 2024 pre-tax earnings. Last year, similar assumptions and calculations yielded a minimal impact to 2023 pre-tax earnings.
This analysis does not necessarily represent our current outlook of future market interest rate movement, nor does it consider any actions management could undertake in response to changes in interest rates. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that actual results would be consistent with the results of our estimate.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We provide the following definitions for the non-GAAP financial measures used in this report. These non-GAAP financial measures have no standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures for other companies. Management does not intend these items to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures.
We believe it is important to separately quantify the profit impact of five significant items in order for our results to be meaningful to our readers. These items consist of (i) restructuring costs related to the divestiture of the company's Longwall business, (ii) other restructuring costs, (iii) pension and OPEB mark-to-market gains/losses resulting from plan remeasurements, (iv) certain deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments and (v) goodwill impairment in 2022. We do not consider these items indicative of earnings from ongoing business activities and believe the non-GAAP measures will provide investors with useful perspective on underlying business results and trends and aid with assessing our period-over-period results. In addition, we provide a calculation of ME&T free cash flow as we believe it is an important measure for investors to determine the cash generation available for financing activities including debt repayments, dividends and share repurchases.
Reconciliations of adjusted results to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are as follows:
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| (Dollars in millions except per share data) | | Operating Profit | | Operating Profit Margin | | Profit Before Taxes | | Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes | | Effective Tax Rate | | Profit | | Profit per Share |
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| Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 - U.S. GAAP | | $ | 12,966 | | | 19.3 | % | | $ | 13,050 | | | $ | 2,781 | | | 21.3 | % | | $ | 10,335 | | | $ | 20.12 | |
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| Restructuring costs - Longwall divestiture | | 586 | | | 0.9 | % | | 586 | | | — | | | — | % | | 586 | | | 1.14 | |
| Other restructuring costs | | 194 | | | 0.3 | % | | 194 | | | 48 | | | 25.0 | % | | 146 | | | 0.30 | |
| Pension/OPEB mark-to-market (gains) losses | | — | | | — | % | | (97) | | | (26) | | | 26.8 | % | | (71) | | | (0.14) | |
| Deferred tax valuation allowance adjustments | | — | | | — | % | | — | | | 106 | | | — | % | | (106) | | | (0.21) | |
| Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 - Adjusted | | $ | 13,746 | | | 20.5 | % | | $ | 13,733 | | | $ | 2,909 | | | 21.2 | % | | $ | 10,890 | | | $ | 21.21 | |
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| Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022 - U.S. GAAP | | $ | 7,904 | | | 13.3 | % | | $ | 8,752 | | | $ | 2,067 | | | 23.6 | % | | $ | 6,705 | | | $ | 12.64 | |
| Goodwill impairment | | 925 | | | 1.6 | % | | 925 | | | 36 | | | 3.9 | % | | 889 | | | 1.68 | |
| Restructuring costs | | 299 | | | 0.5 | % | | 299 | | | 72 | | | 24.0 | % | | 227 | | | 0.43 | |
| Pension/OPEB mark-to-market (gains) losses | | — | | | — | % | | (606) | | | (124) | | | 20.5 | % | | (482) | | | (0.91) | |
| Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022 - Adjusted | | $ | 9,128 | | | 15.4 | % | | $ | 9,370 | | | $ | 2,051 | | | 21.9 | % | | $ | 7,339 | | | $ | 13.84 | |
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| 11,688 | | | $ | 6,358 | |
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1 See reconciliation of ME&T net cash provided by operating activities to consolidated net cash provided by operating activities on page 51. |
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Supplemental Consolidating Data
We are providing supplemental consolidating data for the purpose of additional analysis. We have grouped the data as follows:
Consolidated – Caterpillar Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Machinery, Energy & Transportation – We define ME&T as it is presented in the supplemental data as Caterpillar Inc. and its subsidiaries, excluding Financial Products. ME&T's information relates to the design, manufacturing and marketing of our products.
Financial Products – We define Financial Products as it is presented in the supplemental data as our finance and insurance subsidiaries, primarily Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial) and Cat Insurance Holdings Inc. (Insurance Services). Financial Products’ information relates to the financing to customers and dealers for the purchase and lease of Caterpillar and other equipment.
Consolidating Adjustments – Eliminations of transactions between ME&T and Financial Products.
The nature of the ME&T and Financial Products businesses is different, especially with regard to the financial position and cash flow items. Caterpillar management utilizes this presentation internally to highlight these differences. We believe this presentation will assist readers in understanding our business.
Pages 49 to 51 reconcile ME&T and Financial Products to Caterpillar Inc. consolidated financial information. Certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
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| Supplemental Data for Results of Operations |
| For The Years Ended December 31, | |
| | | | | Supplemental consolidating data | |
| | | Consolidated | | Machinery,
Energy & Transportation | | Financial
Products | | Consolidating
Adjustments | |
| (Millions of dollars) | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | |
| Sales and revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | | $ | 63,869 | | | $ | 56,574 | | | $ | 48,188 | | | $ | 63,869 | | | $ | 56,574 | | | $ | 48,188 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
| Revenues of Financial Products | | 3,191 | | | 2,853 | | | 2,783 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 3,927 | | | 3,376 | | | 3,172 | | | (736) | | 1 | (523) | | 1 | (389) | | 1 |
| Total sales and revenues | | 67,060 | | | 59,427 | | | 50,971 | | | 63,869 | | | 56,574 | | | 48,188 | | | 3,927 | | | 3,376 | | | 3,172 | | | (736) | | | (523) | | | (389) | | |
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| Operating costs: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of goods sold | | 42,767 | | | 41,350 | | | 35,513 | | | 42,776 | | | 41,356 | | | 35,521 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (9) | | 2 | (6) | | 2 | (8) | | 2 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | | 6,371 | | | 5,651 | | | 5,365 | | | 5,696 | | | 4,999 | | | 4,724 | | | 704 | | | 672 | | | 654 | | | (29) | | 2 | (20) | | 2 | (13) | | 2 |
| Research and development expenses | | 2,108 | | | 1,814 | | | 1,686 | | | 2,108 | | | 1,814 | | | 1,686 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Interest expense of Financial Products | | 1,030 | | | 565 | | | 455 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,032 | | | 565 | | | 455 | | | (2) | | 2 | — | | | — | | |
| Goodwill impairment charge | | — | | | 925 | | | — | | | — | | | 925 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other operating (income) expenses | | 1,818 | | | 1,218 | | | 1,074 | | | 630 | | | 47 | | | (106) | | | 1,268 | | | 1,249 | | | 1,247 | | | (80) | | 2 | (78) | | 2 | (67) | | 2 |
| Total operating costs | | 54,094 | | | 51,523 | | | 44,093 | | | 51,210 | | | 49,141 | | | 41,825 | | | 3,004 | | | 2,486 | | | 2,356 | | | (120) | | | (104) | | | (88) | | |
| Operating profit | | 12,966 | | | 7,904 | | | 6,878 | | | 12,659 | | | 7,433 | | | 6,363 | | | 923 | | | 890 | | | 816 | | | (616) | | | (419) | | | (301) | | |
| Interest expense excluding Financial Products | | 511 | | | 443 | | | 488 | | | 511 | | | 444 | | | 488 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1) | | 3 | — | | |
| Other income (expense) | | 595 | | | 1,291 | | | 1,814 | | | 340 | | | 1,374 | | | 2,276 | | | (16) | | | (26) | | | 87 | | | 271 | | 4 | (57) | | 4 | (549) | | 4 |
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| Consolidated profit before taxes | | 13,050 | | | 8,752 | | | 8,204 | | | 12,488 | | | 8,363 | | | 8,151 | | | 907 | | | 864 | | | 903 | | | (345) | | | (475) | | | (850) | | |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | | 2,781 | | | 2,067 | | | 1,742 | | | 2,560 | | | 1,858 | | | 1,517 | | | 221 | | | 209 | | | 225 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Profit of consolidated companies | | 10,269 | | | 6,685 | | | 6,462 | | | 9,928 | | | 6,505 | | | 6,634 | | | 686 | | | 655 | | | 678 | | | (345) | | | (475) | | | (850) | | |
| Equity in profit (loss) of unconsolidated affiliated companies | | 63 | | | 19 | | | 31 | | | 67 | | | 26 | | | 42 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (4) | | 5 | (7) | | 5 | (11) | | 5 |
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| Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies | | 10,332 | | | 6,704 | | | 6,493 | | | 9,995 | | | 6,531 | | | 6,676 | | | 686 | | | 655 | | | 678 | | | (349) | | | (482) | | | (861) | | |
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| Less: Profit (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | | (3) | | | (1) | | | 4 | | | (4) | | | (1) | | | 3 | | | 5 | | | 7 | | | 12 | | | (4) | | 6 | (7) | | 6 | (11) | | 6 |
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Profit 7 | | $ | 10,335 | | | $ | 6,705 | | | $ | 6,489 | | | $ | 9,999 | | | $ | 6,532 | | | $ | 6,673 | | | $ | 681 | | | $ | 648 | | | $ | 666 | | | $ | (345) | | | $ | (475) | | | $ | (850) | | |
1Elimination of Financial Products' revenues earned from ME&T.
2Elimination of net expenses recorded between ME&T and Financial Products.
3Elimination of interest expense recorded between Financial Products and ME&T.
4Elimination of discount recorded by ME&T on receivables sold to Financial Products and of interest earned between ME&T and Financial Products as well as dividends paid by Financial Products to ME&T.
5Elimination of equity profit (loss) earned from Financial Products’ subsidiaries partially owned by ME&T subsidiaries.
6Elimination of noncontrolling interest profit (loss) recorded by Financial Products for subsidiaries partially owned by ME&T subsidiaries.
7Profit attributable to common shareholders.
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| Supplemental Data for Financial Position | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| At December 31, | | | | | | Supplemental consolidating data | |
| | | Consolidated | | Machinery,
Energy & Transportation | | Financial
Products | | Consolidating
Adjustments | |
| (Millions of dollars) | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | |
| Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 6,978 | | | $ | 7,004 | | | $ | 6,106 | | | $ | 6,042 | | | $ | 872 | | | $ | 962 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
| Receivables - trade and other | | 9,310 | | | 8,856 | | | 3,971 | | | 3,710 | | | 570 | | | 519 | | | 4,769 | | 1,2 | 4,627 | | 1,2 |
| Receivables - finance | | 9,510 | | | 9,013 | | | — | | | — | | | 14,499 | | | 13,902 | | | (4,989) | | 2 | (4,889) | | 2 |
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| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | 4,586 | | | 2,642 | | | 4,327 | | | 2,488 | | | 341 | | | 290 | | | (82) | | 3 | (136) | | 3 |
| Inventories | | 16,565 | | | 16,270 | | | 16,565 | | | 16,270 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total current assets | | 46,949 | | | 43,785 | | | 30,969 | | | 28,510 | | | 16,282 | | | 15,673 | | | (302) | | | (398) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Property, plant and equipment - net | | 12,680 | | | 12,028 | | | 8,694 | | | 8,186 | | | 3,986 | | | 3,842 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Long-term receivables - trade and other | | 1,238 | | | 1,265 | | | 565 | | | 418 | | | 85 | | | 339 | | | 588 | | 1,2 | 508 | | 1,2 |
| Long-term receivables - finance | | 12,664 | | | 12,013 | | | — | | | — | | | 13,299 | | | 12,552 | | | (635) | | 2 | (539) | | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Noncurrent deferred and refundable income taxes | | 2,816 | | | 2,213 | | | 3,360 | | | 2,755 | | | 148 | | | 115 | | | (692) | | 4 | (657) | | 4 |
| Intangible assets | | 564 | | | 758 | | | 564 | | | 758 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Goodwill | | 5,308 | | | 5,288 | | | 5,308 | | | 5,288 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other assets | | 5,257 | | | 4,593 | | | 4,218 | | | 3,882 | | | 2,082 | | | 1,892 | | | (1,043) | | 5 | (1,181) | | 5 |
| Total assets | | $ | 87,476 | | | $ | 81,943 | | | $ | 53,678 | | | $ | 49,797 | | | $ | 35,882 | | | $ | 34,413 | | | $ | (2,084) | | | $ | (2,267) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Short-term borrowings | | $ | 4,643 | | | $ | 5,957 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 4,643 | | | $ | 5,954 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
| Accounts payable | | 7,906 | | | 8,689 | | | 7,827 | | | 8,657 | | | 314 | | | 294 | | | (235) | | 6,7 | (262) | | 6 |
| Accrued expenses | | 4,958 | | | 4,080 | | | 4,361 | | | 3,687 | | | 597 | | | 393 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Accrued wages, salaries and employee benefits | | 2,757 | | | 2,313 | | | 2,696 | | | 2,264 | | | 61 | | | 49 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Customer advances | | 1,929 | | | 1,860 | | | 1,912 | | | 1,860 | | | 2 | | | — | | | 15 | | 7 | — | | |
| Dividends payable | | 649 | | | 620 | | | 649 | | | 620 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other current liabilities | | 3,123 | | | 2,690 | | | 2,583 | | | 2,215 | | | 647 | | | 635 | | | (107) | | 4,8 | (160) | | 4,8 |
| Long-term debt due within one year | | 8,763 | | | 5,322 | | | 1,044 | | | 120 | | | 7,719 | | | 5,202 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total current liabilities | | 34,728 | | | 31,531 | | | 21,072 | | | 19,426 | | | 13,983 | | | 12,527 | | | (327) | | | (422) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Long-term debt due after one year | | 24,472 | | | 25,714 | | | 8,626 | | | 9,529 | | | 15,893 | | | 16,216 | | | (47) | | 9 | (31) | | 9 |
| Liability for postemployment benefits | | 4,098 | | | 4,203 | | | 4,098 | | | 4,203 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other liabilities | | 4,675 | | | 4,604 | | | 3,806 | | | 3,677 | | | 1,607 | | | 1,638 | | | (738) | | 4 | (711) | | 4 |
| Total liabilities | | 67,973 | | | 66,052 | | | 37,602 | | | 36,835 | | | 31,483 | | | 30,381 | | | (1,112) | | | (1,164) | | |
| Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common stock | | 6,403 | | | 6,560 | | | 6,403 | | | 6,560 | | | 905 | | | 905 | | | (905) | | 10 | (905) | | 10 |
| Treasury stock | | (36,339) | | | (31,748) | | | (36,339) | | | (31,748) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Profit employed in the business | | 51,250 | | | 43,514 | | | 46,783 | | | 39,435 | | | 4,457 | | | 4,068 | | | 10 | | 10 | 11 | | 10 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | (1,820) | | | (2,457) | | | (783) | | | (1,310) | | | (1,037) | | | (1,147) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Noncontrolling interests | | 9 | | | 22 | | | 12 | | | 25 | | | 74 | | | 206 | | | (77) | | 10 | (209) | | 10 |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | 19,503 | | | 15,891 | | | 16,076 | | | 12,962 | | | 4,399 | | | 4,032 | | | (972) | | | (1,103) | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 87,476 | | | $ | 81,943 | | | $ | 53,678 | | | $ | 49,797 | | | $ | 35,882 | | | $ | 34,413 | | | $ | (2,084) | | | $ | (2,267) | | |
1Elimination of receivables between ME&T and Financial Products.
2Reclassification of ME&T’s trade receivables purchased by Financial Products and Financial Products’ wholesale inventory receivables.
3Elimination of ME&T's insurance premiums that are prepaid to Financial Products.
4Reclassification reflecting required netting of deferred tax assets/liabilities by taxing jurisdiction.
5Elimination of other intercompany assets between ME&T and Financial Products.
6Elimination of payables between ME&T and Financial Products.
7Reclassification of Financial Products' payables to accrued expenses or customer advances.
8Elimination of prepaid insurance in Financial Products’ other liabilities.
9Elimination of debt between ME&T and Financial Products.
10Eliminations associated with ME&T’s investments in Financial Products’ subsidiaries.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Supplemental Data for Statement of Cash Flow | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Years Ended December 31, | | | | Supplemental consolidating data | |
| | | Consolidated | | Machinery,
Energy & Transportation | | Financial
Products | | Consolidating
Adjustments | |
| (Millions of dollars) | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies | | $ | 10,332 | | | $ | 6,704 | | | $ | 9,995 | | | $ | 6,531 | | | $ | 686 | | | $ | 655 | | | $ | (349) | | 1,5 | $ | (482) | | 1,5 |
| Adjustments for non-cash items: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 2,144 | | | 2,219 | | | 1,361 | | | 1,439 | | | 783 | | | 780 | | | — | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Actuarial (gain) loss on pension and postretirement benefits | | (97) | | | (606) | | | (97) | | | (606) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes | | (592) | | | (377) | | | (576) | | | (368) | | | (16) | | | (9) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Loss on divestiture | | 572 | | | — | | | 572 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Goodwill impairment charge | | — | | | 925 | | | — | | | 925 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other | | 375 | | | 701 | | | 444 | | | 452 | | | (577) | | | (205) | | | 508 | | 2 | 454 | | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Receivables - trade and other | | (437) | | | (220) | | | (367) | | | (390) | | | 61 | | | 143 | | | (131) | | 2,3 | 27 | | 2,3 |
| Inventories | | (364) | | | (2,589) | | | (360) | | | (2,572) | | | — | | | — | | | (4) | | 2 | (17) | | 2 |
| Accounts payable | | (754) | | | 798 | | | (836) | | | 811 | | | 41 | | | 82 | | | 41 | | 2 | (95) | | 2 |
| Accrued expenses | | 796 | | | 317 | | | 690 | | | 274 | | | 106 | | | 43 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Accrued wages, salaries and employee benefits | | 486 | | | 90 | | | 474 | | | 97 | | | 12 | | | (7) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Customer advances | | 80 | | | 768 | | | 78 | | | 769 | | | 2 | | | (1) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other assets—net | | (95) | | | (210) | | | 94 | | | (183) | | | (110) | | | (35) | | | (79) | | 2 | 8 | | 2 |
| Other liabilities—net | | 439 | | | (754) | | | 216 | | | (821) | | | 118 | | | 71 | | | 105 | | 2 | (4) | | 2 |
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | | 12,885 | | | 7,766 | | | 11,688 | | | 6,358 | | | 1,106 | | | 1,517 | | | 91 | | | (109) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flow from investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Capital expenditures—excluding equipment leased to others | | (1,597) | | | (1,296) | | | (1,624) | | | (1,279) | | | (22) | | | (20) | | | 49 | | 2 | 3 | | 2 |
| Expenditures for equipment leased to others | | (1,495) | | | (1,303) | | | (39) | | | (19) | | | (1,466) | | | (1,310) | | | 10 | | 2 | 26 | | 2 |
| Proceeds from disposals of leased assets and property, plant and equipment | | 781 | | | 830 | | | 55 | | | 78 | | | 781 | | | 764 | | | (55) | | 2 | (12) | | 2 |
| Additions to finance receivables | | (15,161) | | | (13,239) | | | — | | | — | | | (17,321) | | | (14,223) | | | 2,160 | | 3 | 984 | | 3 |
| Collections of finance receivables | | 14,034 | | | 13,177 | | | — | | | — | | | 15,634 | | | 14,052 | | | (1,600) | | 3 | (875) | | 3 |
| Net intercompany purchased receivables | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,080 | | | 492 | | | (1,080) | | 3 | (492) | | 3 |
| Proceeds from sale of finance receivables | | 63 | | | 57 | | | — | | | — | | | 63 | | | 57 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Net intercompany borrowings | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 10 | | | 9 | | | (10) | | 4 | (9) | | 4 |
| Investments and acquisitions (net of cash acquired) | | (75) | | | (88) | | | (75) | | | (88) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Proceeds from sale of businesses and investments (net of cash sold) | | (4) | | | 1 | | | (4) | | | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Proceeds from maturities and sale of securities | | 1,891 | | | 2,383 | | | 1,642 | | | 1,948 | | | 249 | | | 435 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Investments in securities | | (4,405) | | | (3,077) | | | (3,982) | | | (2,549) | | | (423) | | | (528) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other—net | | 97 | | | 14 | | | 106 | | | 98 | | | (9) | | | (84) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities | | (5,871) | | | (2,541) | | | (3,921) | | | (1,810) | | | (1,424) | | | (356) | | | (526) | | | (375) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flow from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dividends paid | | (2,563) | | | (2,440) | | | (2,563) | | | (2,440) | | | (425) | | | (475) | | | 425 | | 5 | 475 | | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common stock issued, including treasury shares reissued | | 12 | | | 51 | | | 12 | | | 51 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Common shares repurchased | | (4,975) | | | (4,230) | | | (4,975) | | | (4,230) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Net intercompany borrowings | | — | | | — | | | (10) | | | (9) | | | — | | | — | | | 10 | | 4 | 9 | | 4 |
| Proceeds from debt issued (original maturities greater than three months) | | 8,257 | | | 6,674 | | | — | | | — | | | 8,257 | | | 6,674 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Payments on debt (original maturities greater than three months) | | (6,318) | | | (7,728) | | | (106) | | | (25) | | | (6,212) | | | (7,703) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Short-term borrowings - net (original maturities three months or less) | | (1,345) | | | 402 | | | (3) | | | (138) | | | (1,342) | | | 540 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other—net | | — | | | (10) | | | — | | | (10) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | | (6,932) | | | (7,281) | | | (7,645) | | | (6,801) | | | 278 | | | (964) | | | 435 | | | 484 | | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | | (110) | | | (194) | | | (60) | | | (131) | | | (50) | | | (63) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | (28) | | | (2,250) | | | 62 | | | (2,384) | | | (90) | | | 134 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | | 7,013 | | | 9,263 | | | 6,049 | | | 8,433 | | | 964 | | | 830 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | | $ | 6,985 | | | $ | 7,013 | | | $ | 6,111 | | | $ | 6,049 | | | $ | 874 | | | $ | 964 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
1Elimination of equity profit earned from Financial Products’ subsidiaries partially owned by ME&T subsidiaries.
2Elimination of non-cash adjustments and changes in assets and liabilities related to consolidated reporting.
3Reclassification of Financial Products’ cash flow activity from investing to operating for receivables that arose from the sale of inventory.
4Elimination of net proceeds and payments to/from ME&T and Financial Products.
5Elimination of dividend activity between Financial Products and ME&T.
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Information required by Item 7A appears in Note 1 — “Operations and summary of significant accounting policies,” Note 4 — “Derivative financial instruments and risk management,” Note 18 — “Fair value disclosures” and Note 19 — “Concentration of credit risk” of Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” Other information required by Item 7A is included in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The management of Caterpillar Inc. (company) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment we concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.
The effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Their report appears on pages 54-55.
| | | | | | | | |
| | /s/ D. James Umpleby III | |
| | D. James Umpleby III | |
| | Chief Executive Officer | |
| | | |
| | |
| | | |
| | /s/ Andrew R.J. Bonfield | |
| | Andrew R.J. Bonfield | |
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | February 16, 2024 | |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Caterpillar Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Caterpillar Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of results of operations, of comprehensive income (loss), of changes in shareholders' equity and of cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Product Warranty Liability
As described in Notes 2 and 21 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s product warranty liability as of December 31, 2023 was $1,894 million. At the time the Company recognizes a sale, management records estimated future warranty costs. Management determines the product warranty liability by applying historical claim rate experience to the current field population and dealer inventory. Generally, management bases historical claim rates on actual warranty experience for each product by machine model/engine size by customer or dealer location (inside or outside North America). Management develops specific rates for each product shipment month and updates them monthly based on actual warranty claim experience.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the product warranty liability is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the estimate of the product warranty liability, (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumption related to historical claim rates, and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s estimate of the product warranty liability. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data provided by management and (ii) the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in evaluating the reasonableness of management’s estimate by performing one or a combination of procedures, including (a) developing an independent actuarial estimate of the product warranty liability, and comparing the independent estimate to management’s actuarial determined liability; and (b) evaluating the appropriateness of management’s actuarial methodologies and the reasonableness of management’s significant assumption related to historical claim rates.
/s/
February 16, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1925.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STATEMENT 1 | Caterpillar Inc. |
| Consolidated Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, | | | | | |
| (Dollars in millions except per share data) | | | | | |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| Sales and revenues: | | | | | |
| Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| Revenues of Financial Products | | | | | | | | |
| Total sales and revenues | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Operating costs: | | | | | |
| Cost of goods sold | | | | | | | | |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | | | | | | |
| Research and development expenses | | | | | | | | |
| Interest expense of Financial Products | | | | | | | | |
| Goodwill impairment charge | | | | | | | | |
| Other operating (income) expenses | | | | | | | | |
| Total operating costs | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Operating profit | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Interest expense excluding Financial Products | | | | | | | | |
| Other income (expense) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Consolidated profit before taxes | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | | | | | | | | |
| Profit of consolidated companies | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Equity in profit (loss) of unconsolidated affiliated companies | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Less: Profit (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | () | | | () | | | | |
| | | | | |
Profit 1 | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Profit per common share | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
Profit per common share — diluted 2 | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | |
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding (millions) | | | | | |
| - Basic | | | | | | | | |
- Diluted 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
|
1
2
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STATEMENT 2 | | | Caterpillar Inc. |
| Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, |
| (Millions of dollars) | | | | | |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| | | | | |
| Profit (loss) of consolidated and affiliated companies | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (Note 17): | | | | | |
| Foreign currency translation: | | | | () | | | () | |
| Pension and other postretirement benefits: | () | | | | | | () | |
| Derivative financial instruments: | | | | | | | () | |
| Available-for-sale securities: | | | | () | | | () | |
| | | | | |
| Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | | | | () | | | () | |
| Comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | |
| Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests | () | | | () | | | | |
| Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to shareholders | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STATEMENT 3 | Caterpillar Inc. | |
| Consolidated Financial Position at December 31, | | | | |
| (Dollars in millions) | | | | |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | |
| Assets | | | | |
| Current assets: | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | | | $ | | | |
| Receivables – trade and other | | | | | | |
| Receivables – finance | | | | | | |
|
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | | | | |
| Inventories | | | | | | |
| Total current assets | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| Property, plant and equipment – net | | | | | | |
| Long-term receivables – trade and other | | | | | | |
| Long-term receivables – finance | | | | | | |
| Noncurrent deferred and refundable income taxes | | | | | | |
| Intangible assets | | | | | | |
| Goodwill | | | | | | |
| Other assets | | | | | | |
| Total assets | $ | | | | $ | | | |
| | | | |
| Liabilities | | | | |
| Current liabilities: | | | | |
| Short-term borrowings: | | | | |
| Machinery, Energy & Transportation | $ | | | | $ | | | |
| Financial Products | | | | | | |
| Accounts payable | | | | | | |
| Accrued expenses | | | | | | |
| Accrued wages, salaries and employee benefits | | | | | | |
| Customer advances | | | | | | |
| Dividends payable | | | | | | |
| Other current liabilities | | | | | | |
| Long-term debt due within one year: | | | | |
| Machinery, Energy & Transportation | | | | | | |
| Financial Products | | | | | | |
| Total current liabilities | | | | | | |
| Long-term debt due after one year: | | | | |
| Machinery, Energy & Transportation | | | | | | |
| Financial Products | | | | | | |
| Liability for postemployment benefits | | | | | | |
| Other liabilities | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | | | | |
| Commitments and contingencies (Notes 21 and 22) | | | | |
| Shareholders’ equity | | | | |
Common stock of $ par value: | | | | |
Authorized shares: Issued shares: (2023 and 2022 – shares) at paid-in amount | | | | | | |
Treasury stock: (2023 - shares; and 2022 - shares) at cost | () | | | () | | |
| Profit employed in the business | | | | | | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | () | | | () | | |
| Noncontrolling interests | | | | | | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | | | | $ | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STATEMENT 4 | | Caterpillar Inc. |
| Changes in Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31 |
| (Dollars in millions) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Common
stock | | Treasury
stock | | Profit
employed
in the
business | | Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss) | | Noncontrolling
interests | | Total |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| Profit (loss) of consolidated and affiliated companies | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency translation, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Available-for-sale securities, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Change in ownership from noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | () | |
| Dividends declared | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | | | | () | |
Distribution to noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | () | |
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: | () | | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| Stock-based compensation expense | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Common shares repurchased: | — | | | () | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | |
| Other | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Profit (loss) of consolidated and affiliated companies | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | () | | | | |
| Foreign currency translation, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | |
| Available-for-sale securities, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Change in ownership from noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| Dividends declared | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | — | | | () | |
| Distribution to noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | () | |
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: | () | | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| Stock-based compensation expense | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Common shares repurchased: | — | | | () | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | |
| Other | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
(Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STATEMENT 4 | | Caterpillar Inc. |
| Changes in Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31 |
| (Dollars in millions) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Common
stock | | Treasury
stock | | Profit
employed
in the
business | | Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss) | | Noncontrolling
interests | | Total |
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Profit (loss) of consolidated and affiliated companies | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | () | | | | |
| Foreign currency translation, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | |
| Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | () | |
| Derivative financial instruments, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | |
| Available-for-sale securities, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | |
| Change in ownership from noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | () | |
Dividends declared 1 | — | | | — | | | () | | | — | | | — | | | () | |
| | | | | | |
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: | () | | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| Stock-based compensation expense | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Common shares repurchased: 2 | — | | | () | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | |
| Outstanding authorized accelerated share repurchase | () | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | () | |
| Other | | | | () | | | — | | | — | | | () | | | | |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | () | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
1, $ and $ were declared in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
2
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| STATEMENT 5 | | Caterpillar Inc. |
| Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Years Ended December 31, | | | | | |
| (Millions of dollars) | | | | | |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| Cash flow from operating activities: | | | | | |
| Profit of consolidated and affiliated companies | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| Adjustments for non-cash items: | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | | | | | | |
| Actuarial (gain) loss on pension and postretirement benefits | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Loss on divestiture | | | | | | | | |
| Goodwill impairment charge | | | | | | | | |
| Other | | | | | | | | |
| Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures: | | | | | |
Receivables – trade and other | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Inventories | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Accounts payable | () | | | | | | | |
| Accrued expenses | | | | | | | | |
| Accrued wages, salaries and employee benefits | | | | | | | | |
| Customer advances | | | | | | | | |
Other assets – net | () | | | () | | | () | |
Other liabilities – net | | | | () | | | () | |
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Cash flow from investing activities: | | | | | |
Capital expenditures – excluding equipment leased to others | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Expenditures for equipment leased to others | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Proceeds from disposals of leased assets and property, plant and equipment | | | | | | | | |
| Additions to finance receivables | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Collections of finance receivables | | | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from sale of finance receivables | | | | | | | | |
| Investments and acquisitions (net of cash acquired) | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Proceeds from sale of businesses and investments (net of cash sold) | () | | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from maturities and sale of securities | | | | | | | | |
| Investments in securities | () | | | () | | | () | |
Other – net | | | | | | | | |
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities | () | | | () | | | () | |
| | | | | |
| Cash flow from financing activities: | | | | | |
| Dividends paid | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Common stock issued, including treasury shares reissued | | | | | | | | |
| Common shares repurchased | () | | | () | | | () | |
|
|
|
| Proceeds from debt issued (original maturities greater than three months): | | | | | |
| - Machinery, Energy & Transportation | | | | | | | | |
| - Financial Products | | | | | | | | |
| Payments on debt (original maturities greater than three months): | | | | | |
| - Machinery, Energy & Transportation | () | | | () | | | () | |
| - Financial Products | () | | | () | | | () | |
Short-term borrowings – net (original maturities three months or less) | () | | | | | | | |
Other – net | | | | () | | | () | |
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | () | | | () | | | () | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | | | | | | | | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
Cash equivalents primarily represent short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of generally three months or less.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
located in the United States and located outside the United States, serving countries. We sell reciprocating engines principally through the dealer network and to other manufacturers for use in products. We also sell some of the reciprocating engines manufactured by our subsidiary Perkins Engines Company Limited through its worldwide network of distributors covering countries. We sell the FG Wilson branded electric power generation systems through its worldwide network of distributors covering countries. Our dealers do not deal exclusively with our products; however, in most cases sales and servicing of our products are the dealers’ principal business. We sell some products, primarily turbines and locomotives, to end customers through sales forces employed by the company. At times, these employees are assisted by independent sales representatives.
The Financial Products line of business also conducts operations under highly competitive conditions. Financing for users of Caterpillar products is available through a variety of competitive sources, principally commercial banks and finance and leasing companies. We offer various financing, insurance and risk management products designed to support sales of our products and generate financing income for our company. We conduct a significant portion of Financial Products activity in North America, with additional offices in Latin America, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa.
percent of total inventories at both December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
If the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method had been in use, inventories would have been $ million and $ million higher than reported at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
million, $ million and $ million, respectively, which we include in Other operating (income) expenses in Statement 1. In 2023, 2022 and 2021, consolidated depreciation expense was $ million, $ million and $ million, respectively. We compute amortization of purchased finite-lived intangibles principally using the straight-line method, generally not to exceed a period of years.
See Note 4 for more information.
See Note 6 for further discussion.
See Note 10 for further details.
- days, we negotiate with our suppliers is consistent, irrespective of whether a supplier participates in the Programs. The amount of obligations outstanding that are confirmed as valid to the participating financial institutions for suppliers who voluntarily participate in the Programs, included in Accounts payable in Statement 3, were $ million and $ million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. We adopted the following ASUs effective January 1, 2023, none of which had a material impact on our financial statements:
| | | | | |
| ASU | Description |
| 2021-08 | Business combinations |
| 2022-02 | Financial instruments - Credit losses |
| 2022-06 | Reference rate reform |
2.
million, $ million and $ million as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Long-term trade receivables from dealers and end users were $ million, $ million and $ million as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our standard dealer invoice terms are established by marketing region. Our invoice terms for end user sales are established by the responsible business unit. Payments from dealers are due shortly after the time of sale. When we make a sale to a dealer, the dealer is responsible for payment even if the product is not sold to an end user. Dealers and end users must make payment within the established invoice terms to avoid potential interest costs. Interest at or above prevailing market rates may be charged on any past due balance, and generally our practice is to not forgive this interest. Our allowance for credit losses is not significant for ME&T receivables.
For certain contracts, we invoice for payment when contractual milestones are achieved. We recognize a contract asset when a sale is recognized before achieving the contractual milestone for invoicing. We reduce the contract asset when we invoice for payment and recognize a corresponding trade receivable. Contract assets are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in Statement 3. Contract assets were $ million, $ million and $ million as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
We invoice in advance of recognizing the sale of certain products. We recognize advanced customer payments as a contract liability in Customer advances and Other liabilities in Statement 3. Contract liabilities were $ million, $ million and $ million as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We reduce the contract liability when we recognize revenue. During 2023, we recognized $ million of revenue that was recorded as a contract liability at the beginning of 2023. During 2022, we recognized $ million of revenue that was recorded as a contract liability at the beginning of 2022.
We have elected the practical expedient to not adjust the amount of revenue to be recognized under a contract with a dealer or end user for the effects of time value of money when the timing difference between receipt of payment and recognition of revenue is less than one year.
As of December 31, 2023, we have entered into contracts with dealers and end users for which sales have not been recognized as we have not satisfied our performance obligations and transferred control of the products. The dollar amount of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original duration greater than one year is $ billion, with about one-half of the amount expected to be completed and revenue recognized in the following December 31, 2023. We have elected the practical expedient to not disclose unsatisfied performance obligations with an original contract duration of one year or less. Contracts with an original duration of one year or less are primarily sales to dealers for machinery, engines and replacement parts.
We exclude sales and other related taxes from the transaction price. We account for shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control over a product has transferred as a fulfillment cost which is included in Cost of goods sold.
We provide a standard manufacturer’s warranty of our products at no additional cost. At the time we recognize a sale, we record estimated future warranty costs. See Note 21 for further discussion of our product warranty liabilities.
See Note 23 for further disaggregated sales and revenues information.
B. Revenues of Financial Products
Revenues of Financial Products are generated primarily from finance revenue on finance receivables and rental payments on operating leases. We record finance revenue over the life of the related finance receivables using the interest method, including the accretion of certain direct origination costs that are deferred. Operating lease revenue is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
days past due). We resume recognition of revenue, and recognize previously suspended income, when we consider collection of remaining amounts to be probable. Payments received while the finance receivable is on non-accrual status are applied to interest and principal in accordance with the contractual terms. We write off interest earned but uncollected prior to the receivables being placed on non-accrual status through Provision for credit losses when, in the judgment of management, we consider it to be uncollectible. See Note 7 for more information.
3.
Common stock issued from Treasury stock under the plans totaled for 2023, for 2022 and for 2021. The total number of shares authorized for equity awards under the 2023 Plan is . As of December 31, 2023, shares remained available for issuance, which includes shares returned to the 2023 Plan upon cancellation or shares withheld for taxes incurred in connection with issuance or vesting of grants made under the 2014 Plan.
Stock option and RSU awards generally vest according to a graded vesting schedule. One-third of the award will become vested on the first anniversary of the grant date, one-third of the award will become vested on the second anniversary of the grant date and one-third of the award will become vested on the third anniversary of the grant date. PRSU awards generally have a performance period and cliff vest at the end of the period based upon achievement of performance targets established at the time of grant.
Upon separation from service, if the participant is years of age or older with more than of service, the participant meets the criteria for a “Long Service Separation.” Award terms for stock option and RSU grants allow for continued vesting as of each vesting date specified in the award document for employees who meet the criteria for a “Long Service Separation” and fulfill a requisite service period of . We recognize compensation expense for eligible employees for the grants over the period from the grant date to the end date of the requisite service period. For employees who become eligible for a “Long Service Separation” subsequent to the end date of the requisite service period and prior to the completion of the vesting period, we recognized compensation expense over the period from the grant date to the date eligibility is achieved.
Award terms for PRSU grants allow for continued vesting upon achievement of the performance target specified in the award document for employees who meet the criteria for a “Long Service Separation” and fulfill a requisite service period of . We recognize compensation expense for the PRSU grants with respect to employees who have met the criteria for a “Long Service Separation” over the period from the grant date to the end of the requisite service period. For employees who become eligible for a “Long Service Separation” subsequent to the end date of the requisite service period and prior to the completion of the vesting period, we recognize compensation expense over the period from the grant date to the date eligibility is achieved.
At grant, option awards have a term life of . For awards granted prior to 2016, if the “Long Service Separation” criteria are met, the vested options have a life that is the lesser of from the original grant date or from the separation date. For awards granted beginning in 2016, the vested options have a life equal to from the original grant date.
% | | | % | | | % |
million, million and million shares of Caterpillar common stock, respectively, at an aggregate cost of $ billion, $ billion and $ billion, respectively. We made these purchases through a combination of accelerated stock repurchase agreements with third-party financial institutions and open market transactions.
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