Operations Intern
About the job
- Must currently be enrolled in an engineering program at a university, in the fifth through ninth semester.
About the company
Caterpillar makes construction and mining machines, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives for contractors, mines, energy companies and data center builders. It is the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, and its yellow Cat bulldozers and excavators work in nearly every country. Customers buy or rent machines through independent Cat dealers, while its engines and turbines generate electricity and push natural gas through pipelines. Caterpillar earns money from equipment sales and from the parts and repairs that dealers supply over a machine's working life. It was formed in 1925 when California's Holt and Best tractor companies merged, and it is based in Irving, Texas.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Irving, Texas
Founded
1925
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Data centers drive growth: power generation sales jumped 72% in the June 2026 quarter on demand for generators and turbines.
- Factory hiring is growing: a $1 billion North Carolina plant, announced September 2026, is expected to create 1,950 jobs.
- Recurring service work adds stability: parts and service brought in $24 billion in 2025, over a third of sales.
What critics are saying
- Tariffs keep getting costlier: in August 2026, Caterpillar forecast $2.2 billion of 2026 tariff costs, up from 2025's $1.8 billion.
- Patent fight threatens imports: in December 2025, rival Bobcat asked US trade regulators to ban some Cat loaders and excavators.
- Expect five office days a week: since June 2025, US office staff must come in daily, and attendance affects reviews.
What makes Caterpillar unique
- Power, not bulldozers, is its biggest business: engines and turbines brought in $28.6 billion in 2025, topping construction's $25.1 billion.
- It runs its own lender: Cat Financial's overdue loans fell to 1.31% in June 2026, the lowest since 1998.
- It also makes gas turbines: San Diego-based Solar Turbines builds 1 to 39 megawatt units for pipelines and power.
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Benefits
Annual incentive bonus plan
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)
401k savings plan
Health savings account (HSA)
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
Disability benefits
Life Insurance
Parental leave
Healthy Lifestyle Programs
Employee Assistance Programs
Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
Tuition Reimbursement
Career Development
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
2%1 year growth
2%2 year growth
2%Caterpillar's shares trade at 33.9 times earnings, against 21.9 for the S&P 500. A concern raised on its August 4, 2026 earnings call is that data centres may slow their orders for its power equipment in a few years. Power generation sales to end users rose 72% in the second quarter, driven by demand for large gensets and turbines. Management said no customer is slowing down. Power & Energy, its largest segment, had $32.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025, up 11.6%, and $8.2 billion in the latest quarter, up 17%. Some customers are ordering as far out as 2030. Backlog stood at $72 billion, with 59% due for delivery within twelve months. The stock is down 24.8% from its 52-week high but returned 61% over the past year.
Analysts see more upside in Caterpillar than in Deere, based on Wall Street price targets. The average target for Caterpillar is about $971, 20% above its $811 share price. Deere's average target is about $694, roughly 10% above its $633 price. Both stocks have had a strong 2026. Caterpillar is up 41% year to date and Deere about 36%, against 14% for the S&P 500. Caterpillar's second-quarter revenue rose 24% to $20.5 billion, and adjusted earnings per share jumped 73%. Power and energy sales surged 72% on data centre demand, and its order backlog hit $72 billion, up 92% in a year. Deere's third-quarter revenue rose 5% to $12.6 billion, with earnings per share up 7.3% to $5.10. It expects agricultural equipment demand to recover in 2027.
Investors weighing Caterpillar against Corning are choosing between industrial infrastructure and technological innovation. Caterpillar, a construction and mining equipment manufacturer, generated $67.6 billion in revenue in FY 2025, up 4.3%, though net income fell to $8.9 billion from $10.8 billion the previous year. Corning, a materials science company supplying optical communications and display technologies, posted stronger growth. Its FY 2025 revenue reached $15.6 billion, up 19.1%, whilst net income surged to $1.6 billion from $506 million. The company secured a multi-billion-dollar supply agreement with AT&T extending through 2030. Caterpillar trades at a forward P/E of 30.0x versus Corning's 49.7x, reflecting Corning's faster growth trajectory. Corning's optical communications business grew over 30% year-over-year, driven by AI data centre demand, with ambitious revenue targets of $20 billion by end-2026 and $40 billion by 2030. Despite Caterpillar's record backlog and reliable dividend, Corning's AI infrastructure exposure offers more compelling growth potential for patient investors.
Jim Cramer identified Caterpillar as a potential buying opportunity after the stock fell 24% in the third quarter. He highlighted the company's growing role in supplying power for data centres as a key growth driver. Caterpillar secured a 2-gigawatt natural gas generator order from American Intelligence & Power in January for its Monarch Compute Campus, with deliveries scheduled from September 2026 through August 2027. Second-quarter sales rose 24% year-over-year to approximately $20.5 billion, whilst adjusted profit per share increased to $8.17 from $4.72. The company faces approximately $2.2 billion in full-year tariff costs. Caterpillar trades at roughly 29 times forward earnings, compared with 16 times for competitor Cummins. Hedge fund ownership declined slightly from 87 funds in Q1 to 84 in Q2.
Caterpillar and Waste Management are highlighted as strong dividend-paying industrial stocks for reliable income. Caterpillar reported Q2 revenue of $20.5 billion, up 24% year-over-year, with earnings of $7.77 per share. The company returned $2.2 billion to shareholders, including $700 million in dividends. Its stock is up 43% this year, yielding 0.8% with a $6.52 per share dividend that has increased for 32 consecutive years. Waste Management posted Q2 revenue of $6.68 billion, up from $6.43 billion previously, with net income of $785 million. The company returned $1.04 billion to shareholders, including $379 million in dividends. Despite being down 6% this year, its dividend yield stands at 1.8% with a $3.78 per share payout, marking 23 consecutive years of increases.