Group 1 - Caterpillar Inc. reported Q1 sales and revenue of approximately $14.2 billion, a year-over-year decline of about 10%, falling short of analyst expectations of $14.66 billion [1] - Adjusted earnings per share decreased to $4.25, below the analyst average estimate of $4.35 [1] - The decline in sales was primarily attributed to changes in dealer inventory levels [1] Group 2 - Caterpillar provided a performance outlook consistent with previous expectations, indicating that if tariffs persist and the economy enters a recession in the second half of the year, annual sales are expected to decline slightly but remain in line with prior forecasts [1][4] - The company anticipates an additional cost pressure of $250 million to $350 million related to tariffs in Q2 [4] - Despite a decline in quarterly sales across all business segments, the segment serving oil, gas, and marine customers saw a slight revenue increase due to pricing strategies, becoming the largest business segment for the company [4] Group 3 - The company highlighted the challenges posed by the uncertainty of U.S. trade restrictions under President Trump's tariff policies, complicating market demand predictions for the remainder of the year [3] - Caterpillar's performance is seen as a barometer of global economic health, with its equipment widely used across construction, mining, energy, and transportation sectors [1] - The slowdown in project initiation and cautious private sector investment due to high interest rates and inflation has begun to dampen the growth momentum previously supported by the $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan introduced by President Biden in 2021 [4]