Caterpillar (CAT) Shrugs Off Tariff Hit as Demand ‘Heats Up’

Soumya Eswaran

Wed, July 29, 2026 at 6:01 AM PDT 3 min read

Platinum Asset Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Platinum International Brands Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund returned over 4% in the quarter but lost 14% over the past year, primarily due to the dominance of tech stocks amid an AI investment boom. Consumer-focused sectors underperformed due to weak sentiment and challenges such as high interest rates and rising oil prices, which have contributed to record-low consumer confidence. However, the fund's holdings remain fundamentally strong, with top holdings averaging 13% sales growth and 19% profit growth. The letter noted that positive developments include resumed job growth, reduced oil prices, and easing fiscal policy, which potentially enhance consumer sentiment. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.

In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Platinum International Brands Fund highlighted Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as a notable contributor. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. On July 28, 2026, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closed at $840.85 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $387.29 billion. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) posted a one-month return of -15.19%, and its shares gained 93.69% over the past 52 weeks.

Platinum International Brands Fund stated the following regarding Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) in its Q2 2026 investor update:

"Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) (+36%) was another strong performer, shrugging off a 14% fall in profit. Steel is a key input and tariffs hurt; management is working on remedies, but they will take time. Beneath the surface, demand is heating up. Cat's engines and turbines power locomotives, ships, oil rigs, gas pipelines and now datacentres, a source of demand as ferocious as it is price-insensitive. Add a mining and energy complex emerging from a decade of underinvestment and a depressed construction sector turning the corner and the prospects look bright."

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 87 hedge fund portfolios held Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) at the end of the first quarter, up from 86 in the previous quarter.  While we acknowledge the potential of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.