Caterpillar(US:CAT) Shanxi Securities·2026-02-09 10:24Investment Rating - The report maintains an investment rating of "Leading the Market - A" for the general machinery sector [1]. Core Insights - The demand for power in North American data centers is increasing, leading to opportunities for domestic gas generator replacements and overseas expansion [1]. - The global power consumption of data centers is projected to double from approximately 415 TWh in 2024 to 945 TWh by 2030, indicating a significant growth trajectory [5]. - Caterpillar reported a record high revenue of $67.6 billion for 2025, with a 71% year-on-year increase in backlog orders, highlighting strong market demand [6]. Summary by Sections Market Performance - The general machinery sector has shown robust performance over the past year, driven by increased demand for data center power solutions [1]. Demand Drivers - The explosion of AI computing infrastructure is driving demand for backup power solutions, with sales of data center backup power and gas engines increasing by 37% [2]. - The need for off-grid power solutions is becoming critical due to mismatches in construction timelines between data centers and power grid expansions [5]. Technological Developments - Wärtsilä has secured a 507 MW order for gas engines to supply power to new data centers in the U.S., indicating a shift towards gas engines as primary power sources [3]. - The market share for gas engines in data center applications is expected to rise significantly, from 28.6% in 2020 to 53.7% in 2024, with projections to reach 70.8% by 2030 [8]. Investment Opportunities - The report suggests focusing on companies like Weichai Heavy Machinery and Weichai Power, which have advantages in the North American market and capabilities in gas engine technology [11]. - The demand for gas engines is expected to create significant export opportunities for domestic manufacturers due to supply-demand imbalances in overseas markets [10].