Caterpillar Rolls Out Its Hybrid D7E Tractor

Despite the economic turmoil, Caterpillar introduces a diesel-electric tractor, which it hopes will help drive the company's recovery

BusinessWeek, July 20, 2009 — Caterpillar's (CAT) earnings report today was cloudy—second quarter profits dropped 66% as sales cratered—but there was a silver lining: the company reported earnings of 60 cents per share, when analysts, on average, had expected earnings of 22 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters. And the Peoria (Ill.) heavy equipment maker increased its 2009 profit forecast from $1.25 per share to between $1.15 and $2.25 per share, a tentative projection that reflects the uncertainty of the economic landscape.