Activity ratios measure how efficiently a company performs day-to-day tasks, such us the collection of receivables and management of inventory.

Ratios (Summary)
Inventory Turnover
Receivables Turnover
Payables Turnover
Working Capital Turnover
Average Inventory Processing Period
Average Receivable Collection Period
Operating Cycle
Average Payables Payment Period
Cash Conversion Cycle

Caterpillar Inc., short-term (operating) activity ratios (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Turnover Ratios
	Inventory turnover
	Receivables turnover
	Payables turnover
	Working capital turnover
	Average No. of Days
	Average inventory processing period
	Add: Average receivable collection period
	Operating cycle
	Less: Average payables payment period
	Cash conversion cycle

Ratio	Description	The company
Inventory turnover	An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by inventory.	Caterpillar Inc.’s inventory turnover deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.
Receivables turnover	An activity ratio equal to revenue divided by receivables.	Caterpillar Inc.’s receivables turnover improved from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then deteriorated significantly from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.
Payables turnover	An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by payables.	Caterpillar Inc.’s payables turnover increased from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then slightly declined from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.
Working capital turnover	An activity ratio calculated as revenue divided by working capital.	Caterpillar Inc.’s working capital turnover deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.

Ratio	Description	The company
Average inventory processing period	An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by inventory turnover over the period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s average inventory processing period deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.
Average receivable collection period	An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by receivables turnover.	Caterpillar Inc.’s average receivable collection period improved from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then deteriorated significantly from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.
Operating cycle	Equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s operating cycle improved from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 and from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.
Average payables payment period	An estimate of the average number of days it takes a company to pay its suppliers; equal to the number of days in the period divided by payables turnover ratio for the period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s average payables payment period declined from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then slightly increased from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.
Cash conversion cycle	A financial metric that measures the length of time required for a company to convert cash invested in its operations to cash received as a result of its operations; equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period minus average payables payment period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s cash conversion cycle deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.

Caterpillar Inc., inventory turnover calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in millions)
	Cost of goods sold
	Inventories
	Ratio
	Inventory turnover¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Inventory turnover = (Cost of goods sold_{Q4 2018} + Cost of goods sold_{Q3 2018} + Cost of goods sold_{Q2 2018} + Cost of goods sold_{Q1 2018}) ÷ Inventories
= ( hidden + hidden + hidden + hidden ) ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Inventory turnover	An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by inventory.	Caterpillar Inc.’s inventory turnover deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.

Caterpillar Inc., receivables turnover calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in millions)
	Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
	Receivables, trade and other
	Ratio
	Receivables turnover¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Receivables turnover = (Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q4 2018} + Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q3 2018} + Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q2 2018} + Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q1 2018}) ÷ Receivables, trade and other
= ( hidden + hidden + hidden + hidden ) ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Receivables turnover	An activity ratio equal to revenue divided by receivables.	Caterpillar Inc.’s receivables turnover improved from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then deteriorated significantly from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.

Caterpillar Inc., payables turnover calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in millions)
	Cost of goods sold
	Accounts payable
	Ratio
	Payables turnover¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Payables turnover = (Cost of goods sold_{Q4 2018} + Cost of goods sold_{Q3 2018} + Cost of goods sold_{Q2 2018} + Cost of goods sold_{Q1 2018}) ÷ Accounts payable
= ( hidden + hidden + hidden + hidden ) ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Payables turnover	An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by payables.	Caterpillar Inc.’s payables turnover increased from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then slightly declined from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.

Caterpillar Inc., working capital turnover calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in millions)
	Current assets
	Less: Current liabilities
	Working capital
	Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
	Ratio
	Working capital turnover¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Working capital turnover = (Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q4 2018} + Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q3 2018} + Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q2 2018} + Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation_{Q1 2018}) ÷ Working capital
= ( hidden + hidden + hidden + hidden ) ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Working capital turnover	An activity ratio calculated as revenue divided by working capital.	Caterpillar Inc.’s working capital turnover deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.

Caterpillar Inc., average inventory processing period calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data
	Inventory turnover
	Ratio (no. of days)
	Average inventory processing period¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Average inventory processing period = 365 ÷ Inventory turnover
= 365 ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Average inventory processing period	An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by inventory turnover over the period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s average inventory processing period deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.

Caterpillar Inc., average receivable collection period calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data
	Receivables turnover
	Ratio (no. of days)
	Average receivable collection period¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Average receivable collection period = 365 ÷ Receivables turnover
= 365 ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Average receivable collection period	An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by receivables turnover.	Caterpillar Inc.’s average receivable collection period improved from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then deteriorated significantly from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.

Caterpillar Inc., operating cycle calculation (quarterly data)

No. of days

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data
	Average inventory processing period
	Average receivable collection period
	Ratio
	Operating cycle¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Operating cycle = Average inventory processing period + Average receivable collection period
= hidden + hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Operating cycle	Equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s operating cycle improved from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 and from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.

Caterpillar Inc., average payables payment period calculation (quarterly data)

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data
	Payables turnover
	Ratio (no. of days)
	Average payables payment period¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Average payables payment period = 365 ÷ Payables turnover
= 365 ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Average payables payment period	An estimate of the average number of days it takes a company to pay its suppliers; equal to the number of days in the period divided by payables turnover ratio for the period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s average payables payment period declined from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then slightly increased from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018.

Caterpillar Inc., cash conversion cycle calculation (quarterly data)

No. of days

		Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data
	Average inventory processing period
	Average receivable collection period
	Average payables payment period
	Ratio
	Cash conversion cycle¹

Q4 2018 Calculations

¹ Cash conversion cycle = Average inventory processing period + Average receivable collection period – Average payables payment period
= hidden + hidden – hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Cash conversion cycle	A financial metric that measures the length of time required for a company to convert cash invested in its operations to cash received as a result of its operations; equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period minus average payables payment period.	Caterpillar Inc.’s cash conversion cycle deteriorated from Q2 2018 to Q3 2018 but then improved from Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 exceeding Q2 2018 level.

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Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)

Short-term (Operating) Activity Analysis
Quarterly Data

Ratios (Summary)

Inventory Turnover

Receivables Turnover

Payables Turnover

Working Capital Turnover

Average Inventory Processing Period

Average Receivable Collection Period

Operating Cycle

Average Payables Payment Period

Cash Conversion Cycle

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)

Short-term (Operating) Activity AnalysisQuarterly Data

Ratios (Summary)

Inventory Turnover

Receivables Turnover

Payables Turnover

Working Capital Turnover

Average Inventory Processing Period

Average Receivable Collection Period

Operating Cycle

Average Payables Payment Period

Cash Conversion Cycle

Short-term (Operating) Activity Analysis
Quarterly Data