Caterpillar lifts 2026 sales growth forecast as AI buildout powers on

Aug 4 : Caterpillar raised its annual revenue growth forecast after beating second-quarter profit estimates on Tuesday, benefiting from a buildout of AI data centers that has spurred demand for its power-generation and construction equipment.Shares of the company jumped 11 per cent in premarket trading, sending Dow futures up 0.6 per cent, after it cut its full-year tariff costs forecast to around $2.2 billion from the previously expected $2.2 billion to $2.6 billion.Over the last few quarters, the equipment giant has seen a surge in orders for construction equipment amid a nationwide buildout of data centers as well as the backup power equipment needed for such buildings."Construction leading growth in the quarter was a standout," Oppenheimer analyst Kristen Owen said. The stock's reactio