On December 22 Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to mark the 85th anniversary of the company’s listing on the NYSE. Of the approximately 3,200 companies listed on the NYSE, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) is among only 2% that have been listed for 85 years or more.

“Not only are we celebrating 85 years on the NYSE this year, but next year we will also celebrate the 90th anniversary of Caterpillar as a company,” Oberhelman said. “Both milestones are a testament to the strength of our global brand, our dedication to customers and strong reputation with stockholders for financial strength and performance through the years. In 2014, the strength of our balance sheet and strong cash flow positioned Caterpillar to repurchase $4.2 billion in stock and to pay $1.6 billion in dividends. Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since the company was formed in 1925 and has paid a quarterly dividend since 1933. We are proud of delivering that consistency and value over the decades.”

Caterpillar – 85 years on the NYSE:

• The company listed on December 2, 1929, under the name Caterpillar Tractor Co. In 1986, the name was changed to Caterpillar Inc
• In May 1991, Caterpillar became one of 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average
• Caterpillar sales for 1929 were $52 million and profit was $12 million
• An investor buying one share of Caterpillar Tractor Co at $56.25 in 1929 would have an investment worth about $40,000* today, accounting for share price growth, stock splits and dividends over the past 85 years. (*As calculated at close December 2, 2014)
• Caterpillar’s total shareholder return has sustained an annual compounded growth rate of 8% since the company listed in 1929
• On December 2, 1929, the first listing day, 1,882,240 shares were outstanding and 400 shares of Caterpillar stock were traded. On December 2, 2014, there were more than 605,000,000 shares outstanding and about 4 million shares traded.