The board of directors of Caterpillar Inc. this week voted today to maintain the quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per share of common stock, payable Dec. 31, to stockholders of record at the close of business Dec. 24.
“After reporting a record third quarter for sales and profit, I am pleased to announce we are maintaining Caterpillar's quarterly dividend,” said Caterpillar chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman. “While we remain watchful and attentive to the current political and economic landscape, we continue to track toward our long-term goals and expectations outlined in our enterprise strategy.
“In addition to maintaining the quarterly dividend, we're accelerating payment of the first-quarter 2013 dividend to Dec. 31, 2012. Because of the uncertainty about U.S. tax policy, we're acting in the interest of our stockholders. We estimate this action could save our stockholders around $30 million.”
Caterpillar has paid higher dividends to its stockholders for 19 consecutive years, and since 1998, the company’s cash dividend has more than tripled. Including the latest announcement, Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since the company was formed in 1925 and has paid a quarterly dividend since 1933.
Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.
