Article: Caterpillar's quarterly profit below expectations Analyst says company overestimated demand in North America

Caterpillar Inc., the biggest maker of construction equipment, said its fourth-quarter profit will be less than expected because of slumping North American sales of mining and farming machinery.

Caterpillar said fourth-quarter profit will be "slightly above" the third quarter's net income of $219 million, or 61 cents a share, on sales of $4.72 billion. Caterpillar was expected to earn 97 cents in the fourth quarter, the average estimate of analysts polled by First Call Corp.

Caterpillar already said in July that this year's profit would be as much as 25% less than 1998's, as low commodity prices have led mining and farming customers to pare orders. It had hoped to raise prices by 3% ...

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