Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) has not only just made its largest acquisition in the company's history; it's made several big acquisitions. In this video, Motley Fool analyst Brendan Byrnes tells us something many investors don't need to be reminded of: Acquisitions can be rocky. So far the company says it is ahead of schedule on synergies coming from these recent acquisitions, but it will be important for investors to monitor whether things continue to look as positive as integration continues.
The largest purchase will be a big move into the mining sector for the company. It's a higher-margin space, so we will also be closely watching the margins here, as they will be key to meeting Caterpillar's earnings-per-share goals.
Brendan also highlights Caterpillar's goals in China and tells us the company's strengths and weaknesses in that market.
