Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) announced that its board of directors have approved a 1.3% increase in quarterly dividend to 78 cents per share after a hiatus of two years. The move reflects the company’s balance sheet strength and improved cost structure which has once again enabled it to deliver incremental returns to shareholders.
The increased dividend will be paid on Aug 19, 2017, to shareholders of record as of Jul 20, 2017. The last dividend hike had come in Jun 2015, when it was hiked by 10% from 70 cents to 77 cents. Starting from 1990, Caterpillar had been hiking its dividend every summer, starting with quarterly payout due in July. During the recession Caterpillar had refrained from hiking dividends and resumed its trend of increasing dividend in Jun 2010. Caterpillar once again was forced to maintain its dividend in the last two years as it bore the brunt of a weak mining sector.
Nevertheless, the company has consistently paid a cash dividend every year since it was formed and paid a quarterly dividend since 1933. Over the span of 10 years, its cash dividend has grown from the payout of 30 cents per share to the current payout of 78 cents.
Caterpillar, Inc. Price
Another factor working in favor of Caterpillar is its endeavours to reduce costs in the wake of weak demand. In Sep 2015, Caterpillar set upon significant restructuring and cost reduction initiative, with actions expected through 2018. Once fully implemented, the plan would aid lower its annual operating costs by about $1.5 billion. Going forward, Caterpillar is expected to benefit from President Trump’s plans of big spending in infrastructure as it is anticipated to play a major role in the national infrastructure plan.
Caterpillar currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Other top-ranked companies in the industrial product space include AGCO Corporation (AGCO - Free Report) and Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK - Free Report) . AGCO flaunts the same rank as Caterpillar while Rockwell Automation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
AGCO has expected long-term growth of 12.11%.
Rockwell Automation has an expected long-term growth of 10.63%.
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Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) announced that its board of directors have approved a 1.3% increase in quarterly dividend to 78 cents per share after a hiatus of two years. The move reflects the company’s balance sheet strength and improved cost structure which has once again enabled it to deliver incremental returns to shareholders.
The increased dividend will be paid on Aug 19, 2017, to shareholders of record as of Jul 20, 2017. The last dividend hike had come in Jun 2015, when it was hiked by 10% from 70 cents to 77 cents. Starting from 1990, Caterpillar had been hiking its dividend every summer, starting with quarterly payout due in July. During the recession Caterpillar had refrained from hiking dividends and resumed its trend of increasing dividend in Jun 2010. Caterpillar once again was forced to maintain its dividend in the last two years as it bore the brunt of a weak mining sector.
Nevertheless, the company has consistently paid a cash dividend every year since it was formed and paid a quarterly dividend since 1933. Over the span of 10 years, its cash dividend has grown from the payout of 30 cents per share to the current payout of 78 cents.
Caterpillar, Inc. Price
Another factor working in favor of Caterpillar is its endeavours to reduce costs in the wake of weak demand. In Sep 2015, Caterpillar set upon significant restructuring and cost reduction initiative, with actions expected through 2018. Once fully implemented, the plan would aid lower its annual operating costs by about $1.5 billion. Going forward, Caterpillar is expected to benefit from President Trump’s plans of big spending in infrastructure as it is anticipated to play a major role in the national infrastructure plan.
Caterpillar currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Other top-ranked companies in the industrial product space include AGCO Corporation (AGCO - Free Report) and Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK - Free Report) . AGCO flaunts the same rank as Caterpillar while Rockwell Automation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
AGCO has expected long-term growth of 12.11%.
Rockwell Automation has an expected long-term growth of 10.63%.
3 Stocks to Ride a 588% Revenue Explosion
At Zacks, we're mostly focused on short-term profit cycles, but the hottest of all technology mega-trends is starting to take hold... By last year, it was already generating $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for those who make the right trades early. See Zacks' Top 3 Stocks to Ride This Space >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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