Cat maintains dividend rate

Caterpillar Inc. announced today it will maintain its quarterly cash dividend of 70 cents a share, payable Nov. 20 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 20.

"I am pleased to announce that we are maintaining Caterpillar's dividend," said Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman. "Caterpillar's strong dividend history is the result of our continued financial strength and strong operational performance. This dividend action, along with the 17 percent increase in our quarterly dividend announced in June and the $6.2 billion stock repurchase in 2013 and 2014, demonstrates our commitment to deliver superior returns to stockholders through the cycles."

Caterpillar has paid higher dividends to its stockholders for 21 consecutive years, 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 and has paid a quarterly dividend since 1933.

Caterpillar will announce its third quarter financial results on Thursday, Oct. 23.

About the Author

Paul Gordon is the editor of The Peorian after spending 29 years of indentured servitude at the Peoria Journal Star. He’s an award-winning writer, raconteur and song-and-dance man. He also went to a high school whose team name is the Alices (that’s Vincennes Lincoln High School in Indiana; you can look it up).