Caterpillar Q1 2026 sales rise 22% to $17.4B; profit per share hits $5.47 amid strong market demand

Caterpillar reported a 22% increase in sales and revenues for Q1 2026, reaching $17.4 billion driven by higher sales volume and favorable pricing. Profit per share rose to $5.47 from $4.20 in the prior year, supported by strong order activity and a record backlog. The company deployed $5.7 billion in cash for share repurchases and dividends, signaling confidence in ongoing growth. Despite some margin pressure from higher manufacturing costs and tariffs, Caterpillar's solid start sets a positive outlook for the year ahead.