Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

A.  Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of (a) the consolidated results of operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, (b) the consolidated comprehensive income for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, (c) the consolidated financial position at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, (d) the consolidated changes in stockholders’ equity for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and (e) the consolidated cash flow for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.  The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation.

Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2013 Form 10-K).

The December 31, 2013 financial position data included herein is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Form 10-K but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.

B.  Nature of Operations

Information in our financial statements and related commentary are presented in the following categories:

Machinery, Energy & Transportation – Represents the aggregate total of Construction Industries, Resource Industries, Energy & Transportation, and All Other operating segments and related corporate items and eliminations.

Financial Products – Primarily includes the company’s Financial Products Segment.  This category includes Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial), Caterpillar Financial Insurance Services (Insurance Services) and their respective subsidiaries.