Caterpillar stock jumps toward $600 as 2026 begins — what to watch next for CAT sharesNEW YORK, January 4, 2026, 18:56 ET — Market closed
Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) shares rose 4.4% on Friday, closing at $598.41 and finishing just shy of $600 after touching $599.60 in the session. The heavy-equipment maker opened at $577.59. The gain puts Caterpillar in focus before the next U.S. session, with investors shifting from year-end positioning to a data-heavy January. The employment report due Jan. 9 and the consumer price index on Jan. 13 are among the releases that can swing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts; futures markets show little chance of a move at the late-January meeting and nearly a 50% chance of a quarter-point cut in March,