Caterpillar returned to profitability in the fourth quarter, but sales have begun to slow in China and earnings failed to measure up to expectations on Wall Street.

Shares tumbled 6 percent before the opening bell, weighing heavily on the Dow Jones industrial average.

It's a meager start to what will be a very active week of corporate earnings, including other industrial companies that have put a lot of stake in China, where the economic growth rate has slowed to levels not seen in almost two decades.

Slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy is being felt across almost every sector. Apple Inc. said recently that iPhone slipping in China, a rare warning of from the tech giant that posts quarterly earnings Tuesday.

China's struggles are being made worse by trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Caterpillar earned $1.05 billion, or $1.78 per share. Stripping out restructuring costs and other items, earnings were $2.55 per share, which was 43 cents short of analyst expectations.

Last year, the construction equipment company lost $1.3 billion in the quarter, or $2.18 per share, but at that time it was dragged down by an enormous charge related to tax reform.

Shares tumbled 6 percent in premarket trading Monday.

Revenue climbed to $14.34 billion, $12.9 billion, led by increased sales in its resource industries segment.

Revenue for all of 2018 was $54.7 billion, up 20 percent from $45.5 billion in 2017. Profit for the year was $10.26 per share, compared $1.26 in 2017. Adjusted profit per share was $11.22, up 63 percent compared with 2017.

Caterpillar Inc., based in Deerfield, Illinois, anticipates 2019 earnings in a range of $11.75 to $12.75, roughly in line with expectations.

By: DocMemory
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