Caterpillar Inc. also known as "CAT", is a American corporation which designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network.Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.With more than US$70 billion in assets, Caterpillar was ranked number one in its industry and number 44 overall in the 2009 Fortune 500.Caterpillar stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.Caterpillar Inc. traces its origins to the 1925 merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C. L. Best Tractor Company, creating a new entity, the California based Caterpillar Tractor Company.In 1986, the company re-organized itself as a Delaware corporation under the current name, Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar's headquarters are located in Peoria, Illinois,United States.Caterpillar machinery is recognizable by its trademark "Caterpillar Yellow" livery and the "CAT" logo.In addition to devoting engineering resources to ensure that Caterpillar machinery meets or exceeds environmental laws and regulations in markets worldwide, Caterpillar also actively participates in programs that promote environmental sustainability. Despite Caterpillar's efforts to further pro-environmental sustainability goals, Caterpillar has also been found to be in violation of environmental protection laws.
Net income $ 4.928 billion (2011)
Total assets $ 81.446 billion (2011)