Deere Q2 Earnings Top Estimates, Dip Y/Y on Lower Shipment Volumes

Core Insights - Deere & Company reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings of $6.64 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.68, but reflecting a 22% decrease from the prior-year quarter due to lower shipment volumes [1] - Net sales for equipment operations were $11.17 billion, down 17.9% year over year, yet above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.65 billion. Total net sales, including financial services, were $12.76 billion, down 16% year over year [2] Financial Performance - The cost of sales decreased 16.9% year over year to $7.61 billion, while total gross profit fell 20.1% to $3.55 billion. Selling, administrative, and general expenses decreased by 5.4% to $1.19 billion [3] - Total operating profit, including financial services, declined 26% year over year to $2.31 billion in the second quarter [3] Segment Performance - Production & Precision Agriculture segment sales fell 21% year over year to $5.23 billion, with operating profit decreasing 30% to $1.15 billion, surpassing the estimated revenue of $4.61 billion [4] - Small Agriculture & Turf sales decreased 6% to $2.99 billion, with operating profit rising 1% to $574 million, exceeding the estimate of $485 million [5] - Construction & Forestry sales were $2.95 billion, down 23% year over year, with operating profit decreasing 43% to $379 million, missing the estimate of $588 million [6] - Financial Services division revenues were $1.38 billion, down 1% year over year, with net income slightly declining to $161 million [7] Cash and Debt Position - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the second quarter were $7.99 billion, up from $7.32 billion at the end of fiscal 2024. Cash flow from operating activities was $568 million in the first half of fiscal 2025, down from $944 million in the prior-year period [8] - Long-term borrowing increased to nearly $43 billion from $41 billion at the end of the previous year [8] 2025 Guidance - The company expects net income for fiscal 2025 to be between $4.75 billion and $5.50 billion. Net sales for Production & Precision Agriculture are projected to decrease by 15-20%, while Small Agriculture & Turf and Construction & Forestry sales are expected to decline by 10-15% [9] Share Price Performance - Deere's shares have increased by 28% over the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 23.8% [10]