Caterpillar Inc on Tuesday reported record profits of $1.36 billion for 1996, spurred by a 27 per cent rise in fourth-quarter earnings, but said it expected near flat results this year.
The worlds largest heavy equipment maker said earnings for all of 1996 rose from 1995s $1.14 billion while revenues grew 2.8 per cent to $16.52 billion from $16.07 billion.
For the fourth quarter, profits rose to $381 million, or $1.99 a share, from $300 million, or $1.53 a share, in the 1995 period.
More From This Section
Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpil-lars fourth-quarter results exceeded Wall Street analysts average estimate of $1.88 a share, according to First Call Corp., which tracks earnings estimates.
Despite the strong results, investors pushed Caterpillars stock down $2.125 to $76.375 on the New York Stock Exchange, apparently on concerns about the outlook for 1997.
The company said it expected 1997 profits to be nearly flat with 1996 levels, with revenues from ongoing operations growing only slightly.
Caterpillar said higher demand in developing regions should offset a slightly weaker market for its machines in the US and Japan this year.
Its basically 97, Lisa Shalett, analyst at Sanford C Bernstein, said of the stocks fall. But she added one-time currency factors also helped boost the earnings above estimates.
It comes across as a surprise, but its not necessarily a surprise from operations, Shalett said of fourth-quarter earnings.
But other analysts suggested Caterpillar was being too conservative in its view for 1997.
Caterpillar always looks at the glass being half empty, said Thomas Burns Jr., analyst at NatWest Securities Corp. We think its half full. We expect a better US economy, he said. We dont expect housing starts to be off. He noted Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan made positive comments about the economy on Tuesday.
Caterpillar said it stood by its forecast, but was prepared to meet higher demand than expected, as it did in 1996.
Were trying to call it as we see it, chief financial officer Douglas Oberhelman said in a telephone interview. I will tell you that a year ago, we called for a softer economy in the US and it didnt happen. We were pleasantly surprised.
Caterpillar said profit margins as a per cent of sales rose to 25.2 per cent in 1996 from 22.3 per cent in 1995 due to higher prices and the effect of the stronger dollar against the yen and European currencies. Lower material costs and improvements in the manufacturing process also helped.
Total capital expenditures in 1996 were $642 million and are expected to increase 10 to 15 per cent in 1997, Caterpillar said.
In 1997, we plan to increase spending for capital assets, research and product development to enhance our prospects for long-term growth and profitability, chairman Donald Fites said in a statement accompanying the results. In addition, we intend to increase our investments for new business opportunities around the globe.
Research and development spending is expected to rise 20 per cent from $410 million in 1996, the company said. Major initiatives include electric power generation, agricultural products, mining systems, compact machines and strengthening the companys product support system, Caterpillar said.