Caterpillar maintains dividend rate

PEORIA, Ill. – The Board of Directors of Caterpillar voted today to maintain the quarterly cash dividend of forty-six ($0.46) cents per share of common stock, payable February 18, 2012, to stockholders of record at the close of business, January 20, 2012.

“As we come to the close of 2011, I am pleased with Caterpillar’s strong and steady performance during a year that has had many ups and downs in the global economy,” said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman. “In this environment, we have continued to increase wealth for our stockholders, while strengthening our financial position and improving cash flow. At the same time, we have announced a series of key investments to position Caterpillar for long-term growth,” Oberhelman added.

For 18 years in a row, Caterpillar has paid higher dividends to its stockholders, and since 1998, the company's cash dividend has more than tripled. Including the announcement today, Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since the company was formed in 1925 and has paid a dividend every quarter since November 1933.