The board of directors of Caterpillar Inc. last week declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share of common stock, payable May 20, to stockholders of record at the close of business April 20.
“There are significant economic challenges in today’s global economy, and Caterpillar is assertively addressing the requirement to significantly reduce production levels,” said Caterpillar chairman and CEO Jim Owens. “Given this challenging environment, and the uncertainty it creates, I am pleased we have maintained our dividend rate for our stockholders.”
The $0.42 dividend maintains the dividend rate from the previous quarter and is 17-percent higher than the dividend paid one year ago. Including the announcement today, Caterpillar’s cash dividend has nearly tripled since 1998.
The company also announced it will release 2009 first-quarter financial results at 6:30 a.m. Central Time on April 21. A real-time, listen-only teleconference of the quarterly results call that Caterpillar conducts with security analysts and institutional investors will begin at 10 a.m. Central Time that day.
To access the conference call dial (877) 216-8554 (domestic) or (973) 528-0009 (international) and enter listen only entry code: 5621. To access a telephone replay of the call shortly after the live event, dial (800) 332-6854 (for domestic callers) and (973) 528-0005 (for international callers) and enter "5621" as the conference ID. The telephone replay will be available for 90 days.
The call can also be accessed through www.CAT.com/IRwebcast. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes before the live event to download and install any necessary audio software.
Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services.
