New York, Jan 5, 2026, 12:46 EST — Regular session
- Caterpillar shares climb as the company details an Industrial AI and autonomy showcase at CES 2026
- CEO Joe Creed to headline a Jan. 7 CES keynote, with Nvidia’s Deepu Talla set to join Caterpillar executives onstage
- Investors also brace for Friday’s U.S. payrolls report and a late-January earnings window
Caterpillar (CAT.N) shares rose about 2.7% on Monday after the heavy-equipment maker said it will showcase new Industrial AI and autonomy initiatives at CES 2026 and deepen its collaboration with Nvidia (NVDA.O).
The CES spotlight matters because Caterpillar has become a high-conviction industrial bellwether for investors who want exposure to automation, digital services and AI-enabled equipment — themes that can carry more weight when the macro picture turns choppy. Monday’s move came as traders weighed fresh U.S. factory data and the outlook for rates, both key swing factors for capital spending.
Caterpillar said Creed will deliver a keynote in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 9:00 a.m. PST, and Nvidia’s vice president of robotics and edge AI, Deepu Talla, will join Caterpillar leaders to announce an expanded collaboration. Caterpillar also plans live demonstrations, including AI-driven features on a Cat 306 mini excavator.
Industrial AI, in plain terms, is using software to turn machine and jobsite data into real-time guidance and safety features. Autonomy means equipment can perform more tasks with less direct human control — a pitch aimed at productivity and labor constraints on worksites.
At 12:46 p.m. EST, Caterpillar was up $16.31 at $614.72, after trading as high as $621.65 earlier in the session. The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) was up about 1.5%, while the Dow ETF (DIA) gained about 1.6%. Deere (DE.N), a key peer, slipped about 0.6%.
“Technology is accelerating and expanding our ability to meet customer needs,” Creed said in the CES announcement. Caterpillar Investors
The company’s CES push landed on a day when a closely watched gauge of U.S. manufacturing weakened. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing PMI fell to 47.9 in December; readings below 50 signal contraction.
Still, investors have been willing to look past softer factory indicators when they see durable demand tied to data infrastructure and electrification, themes that have helped reframe Caterpillar’s growth profile in recent market commentary.
But the risk case has not gone away: Caterpillar remains exposed to swings in construction and mining activity, and a prolonged downturn in orders can hit dealer inventory moves and pricing power. Trade policy is another uncertainty, with tariffs lifting costs and complicating demand signals, according to recent U.S. manufacturing data and commentary.
Technically, Caterpillar is trading below its 52-week high of $627.50 but well above its 50-day moving average (about $573), leaving the $600 area in focus if momentum cools. The stock’s 52-week range is $267.30 to $627.50.
Next up, traders will watch Creed’s CES keynote on Jan. 7 and Friday’s U.S. jobs report, which the Labor Department has scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET on Jan. 9. The most immediate company catalyst is the CES keynote itself.
