Caterpillar Inc. is the world's largest construction and mining equipment maker, so its results are watched closely as a sign of where the broader economy is headed.
Profit in the third-quarter was almost $1.7 billion, or $2.54 per share. That was up from $1.14 billion, or $1.71per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 4.6 percent to $16.45 billion.
The results included a $273 million gain from selling a majority interest in a logistics business.
The company now expects 2012 revenue of $66 billion, with profit of $9 to $9.25 per share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected revenue of $67.2 billion, with profit of $9.41 per share.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)