What do the latest results from Caterpillar Inc ( NYSE:CAT ) tell us about the state of the global mining sector? Third quarter revenues missed consensus estimates by a cool US$800mln, coming in at US$12.6bn. That was down 6% on the previous quarter, at which time Caterpillar chief executive Jim Umpleby stated that he expected profits per share in 2019 to hit another record. In the third quarter to 30 September, however, profits per share dipped to US$2.66, from US$2.88 in the second quarter. Talk of hitting new records has suddenly evaporated.