Caterpillar, Chevron, Exxon Mobil earnings: What to know in markets Friday
Earnings season is well underway, and industrial giant Caterpillar (CAT) and energy companies Chevron (CVX) and Exxon Mobil (XOM) will round out the week’s reports when they deliver quarterly results ahead of the market open.
Caterpillar probably didn’t have such a great fourth quarter, according to Wall Street. Slowing demand for construction machinery likely pressured revenue across all three of Caterpillar’s business segments. Construction machinery accounted for about 44% of equipment sales in 2018. Meanwhile, weak energy demand is anticipated to have resulted in soft mining equipment sales.
Looking toward Caterpillar’s 2020 outlook, analysts predict it will be conservative, and investors will be paying close attention to any commentary about China.
Analysts polled by Bloomberg expect Caterpillar to report adjusted earnings of $2.37 per share on $13.14 billion in revenue. The options market is implying about a 4.6% move in either direction for the stock following the results. Caterpillar stock rose 6% over the past 12 months and has been underperforming the broader market’s 24% gain in the same time period.