Closing Bell: It could have been much worse (CAT, DELL, PER, LEN, POT, YHOO)

Caterpillar Inc (NYSE: CAT) showed that US dealer sales of its heavy equipment fell by a whopping 48% in August, and drops were large elsewhere as well. Shares were 'only' off by 1.4% at $52.65 late in the trading day after recovering from lower levels.

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) traded lower by 4% at $15.99 late in the day on strong trading volume. The PC-maker is making a smart move to buy Perot Systems Corp. (NYSE: PER), but the consensus is that it is just paying too much for the company.

Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) fell after it posted a wider loss on continued write downs of the value of its land and unsold homes. But it ended August with the highest backlog in a year. Shares were down 3.3% at $15.99 late in the trading day.

Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (USA) (NYSE: POT) lowered its third quarter and its full 2009 earnings guidance. Shares were down close to 5%. This is still bad, but above earlier lows. Shares were down 3.8% at $93.42 late in the trading day.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) was noted in Barron's as a 'value stock' that will entice investors, but noted that it is developing a 'buy and hold' shareholder base. Shares were down also after reports it was entering a new brand ad campaign. Shares were down 1.7% at $17.10 late in the session.