Caterpillar’s 2020 Outlook Adds More Gloom to Virus-Shaken Markets

  • Caterpillar has been trying to cut costs and trim inventories
  • The outlook may signal further headwinds for machine sales
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Caterpillar Inc., a worldwide barometer for manufacturing, is warning of more pain to come for the global economy in 2020.

The heavy-equipment maker is projecting that its profits for the year will trail analysts’ estimates by as much as $2 a share. The weak outlook comes just as markets are reeling from the worsening outbreak of the coronavirus, a slump in manufacturing activity and major cutbacks in spending.