New York, Jan 18, 2026, 11:58 AM EST — Market closed.
- CAT closed Friday just off, slipping 0.04% to $646.89
- U.S. markets will be closed Monday, narrowing the week’s trading schedule
- Investors are positioning themselves ahead of the dividend cutoff and the January 29 earnings release
Caterpillar shares enter a holiday-shortened week eyeing two key events: the dividend cutoff on Jan. 20 and earnings due Jan. 29. The stock closed Friday just off, down 0.04% at $646.89. 1
Wall Street will be shut Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, shifting the week’s opening trading session to Tuesday and squeezing activity into a shorter timeframe. 2
That’s important since rates and Fed chatter have been driving daily moves in U.S. stocks. On Friday, the 10-year Treasury yield nudged up to roughly 4.23%, while investors wrestled with fresh uncertainty over who will lead the Federal Reserve next, Reuters reported as earnings season kicked off. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, noted that “flat-lining” markets could swing either way once earnings start rolling in. 3
Trade policy remains a flashpoint. On Sunday, President Donald Trump threatened fresh tariffs on a set of European countries unless the U.S. can buy Greenland, Reuters reported. That move raises the chances of a risk-off tone as markets open this week. Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist and founder of Fordham Global Foresight, said bluntly, “The U.S.-EU trade war is back on.” 4
Caterpillar plans to unveil its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 a.m. CST (6:30 a.m. EST). The company will file the details with the SEC on Form 8-K. 5
Caterpillar’s shares go ex-dividend on Jan. 20, with a quarterly payout of $1.51 per share set for Feb. 19, based on the company’s dividend history. The ex-dividend date marks the cutoff—buying the stock on or after Jan. 20 means missing out on this dividend. 6
Investors will focus on one key thing in the earnings report: clear demand signals from construction, mining, and energy sectors. They’ll also watch closely for any shifts in pricing and costs. Remarks about dealer inventories or how orders are pacing could prove more significant than minor beats or misses on quarterly numbers.
Peers will factor into the read-through as well. Deere and Japan’s Komatsu often move in tandem, influenced by construction demand, commodity-related spending, and overall sentiment on global trade—even when their company-specific news diverges.
There’s a clear risk, though. Should bond yields continue rising, financing for costly equipment purchases will tighten. Add in tariffs turning from headlines into real obstacles, and the stock’s recent strength could evaporate fast—especially with earnings coming up.
The market’s immediate focus turns to Tuesday’s reopening, when CAT will trade past its ex-dividend date. Then, eyes shift to Caterpillar’s earnings report on Jan. 29 for any changes in guidance.
