New York, Feb 2, 2026, 19:07 (EST) — After-hours trading
- CAT stock climbed roughly 5% during Monday’s trading and maintained those gains in after-hours action
- A key U.S. factory survey showed unexpected growth, boosting cyclicals
- Traders are now focused on Tuesday’s House vote aimed at ending the shutdown and reshaping the data calendar
Caterpillar shares climbed 5.1% to $690.91 in late after-hours trading Monday, building on a strong rally during regular hours that drove the industrial giant to new highs.
This move matters since Caterpillar, a major player in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, often serves as a barometer for investor sentiment on construction, mining, and demand for heavy machinery.
The timing is tricky for macro traders. As parts of the U.S. government remain shut, the market is relying more heavily on surveys and less on the usual slate of top-tier data releases.
Monday brought a surprise from one survey. The Institute for Supply Management reported its manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 52.6 in January, snapping a lengthy streak below 50 and returning to expansion territory. (A PMI above 50 indicates growth.) (PR Newswire)
U.S. stocks climbed broadly, with the S&P 500 closing just below a record high and the Dow gaining over 1%. Investors cited strong earnings and “a lot of good fundamentals,” said Tim Ghriskey of Ingalls & Snyder. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the January jobs report won’t be released Friday because of the shutdown. A final vote in the U.S. House on a bill to end the shutdown is expected Tuesday. (Reuters)
Other machinery and farm-equipment stocks rose, though less sharply. Deere & Co gained 0.8%, while CNH Industrial NV climbed roughly 1.9% during the session.
On Monday, Caterpillar unveiled an update for its Cat 6015 hydraulic mining shovel. “We’ve given the new 6015 class-leading tool carrying capacity,” Ryan Mitchell said in the announcement. (Cat)
The stock drew attention after last week’s earnings report, where the company connected part of its growth to power equipment demand driven by data centers. It also flagged a potential $2.6 billion tariff impact coming in 2026. (Reuters)
After the market closed, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Form 144 filing revealed Denise C Johnson’s plan to sell 39,138 shares via Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Form 144 serves as a heads-up from affiliates or major shareholders about intended stock sales but doesn’t ensure the transaction will happen on the specified date. (Streetinsider)
But the upside case carries a warning. Survey data rallies can disappear quickly, and dips in construction, mining activity, or dealer demand would surface in orders well before quarterly results. Tariff costs remain unpredictable, too.
Tuesday brings a House vote in Washington, along with potential news on the rescheduling of the delayed jobs report. Both will be critical for cyclicals such as Caterpillar as they head into the next trading day.
