Mike Larson | Editor-in-Chief

The AI boom gave a HUGE boost to a big stock yesterday. Some might even call it the latest AI darling. It’s…Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). Yes, Caterpillar.

What does a company that makes “Dirty Jobs”-style equipment like dump trucks, bulldozers, excavators, heavy duty engines, and power generation equipment have to do with AI? Simple. Data center builders and operators need the stuff. A TON of it!

Check out my MoneyShow Chart of the Day, a daily chart of CAT going back 12 months. You can see the stock surged 9.8% on Thursday alone, hit an all-time high, and extended its one-year gains to 187%!

CAT: The Latest “AI Poster Child” 

The driver of the action: Caterpillar reported Q1 profit of $2.5 billion, or $5.47 per share, up from $2 billion, or $4.20 per share, a year earlier. After adjusting for one-time items, EPS of $5.54 trounced analyst estimates of $4.65.

Revenue surged 22% to $17.4 billion, well ahead of the $16.5 billion estimate. Plus, the company raised its full-year targets.

CEO Joe Creed specifically cited AI-related construction for boosting the company’s prospects. Sales in the power-and-energy unit climbed 22%, helped by demand for turbines and related services. Revenue at its construction-industries division soared 38% as dealers stocked up on more of its equipment.

Bottom line? The hyperscalers and other Big Tech names get a lot of AI-related press. Meta Platforms Inc. (META) stock, for one, tanked 8.5% yesterday after the company raised its capital expenditure forecast for 2026 by another 7% – to as much as $145 billion.

But a whole new group of AI darlings is gaining attention now. Even if they’re companies that don’t have anything to do DIRECTLY with AI tech.

Parets & Strazza: Charts, Trends, and Top Trades

Market experts JC Parets (Chief Market Strategist at TrendLabs) and Steve Strazza (Chief Market Strategist at All Star Charts) join this MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast episode to break down why they believe the current bull market is entering a powerful new phase. They provide evidence that the bears are wrong – including rallying transports, small caps, and emerging markets – and explain why traders and investors should remain aggressive despite common negative narratives.

The experts then walk through key technical charts, highlighting the significance of the "scoop and score" move back to all-time highs. They also share practical tactical tips, including how to use short-dated call options and ratio charts to identify market leadership and manage risk. 

Have you seen how some of stocks from our MoneyShow 2026 Top Picks Report are performing? Holy cow! Just under four months into the year, the best pick is up 116.6%. The next best is up 80%. Third place? 63.5%.

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