CAT Reports Solid Q4 Earnings, Exceeding Analyst Expectations

* Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) announced net income of $2.79 billion in Q4, translating to $5.78 per share.
* Adjusted earnings reached $5.14 per share, surpassing the market consensus of $4.97 per share.
* Revenue for the quarter was $16.22 billion, slightly below analyst projections of $16.64 billion.
* Caterpillar's stock performance outpaced the S&P 500 index during the year, with an increase of 8%.
* Over the past 12 months, CAT shares have surged by 30%.