Core Viewpoint - Deere & Company has maintained a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns despite significant challenges in the agricultural sector [2][4]. Dividend Growth Trajectory - The company has shown a remarkable dividend growth record, with annual payouts increasing from $3.04 in 2020 to $6.48 in 2025, representing a 113% increase over five years [3]. - The quarterly dividend of $1.62 has been consistent throughout 2025, marking a 5% increase from the previous year's total of $6.18 [3]. Earnings Reality Check - Deere's net income fell by 29% year-over-year in fiscal 2025, dropping to $5.027 billion from $7.1 billion in fiscal 2024, and a 50.5% decline from the fiscal 2023 peak of $10.166 billion [5][8]. - Revenue also decreased to $44.665 billion in fiscal 2025 from $50.518 billion the prior year, with the operating margin compressing from 22.6% to 18.8% due to weakened pricing power and elevated costs [5]. Dividend Payout Ratio - The dividend payout ratio increased to 34.2% in fiscal 2025, up from 22.6% in fiscal 2024 and 14% in fiscal 2023, with $1.72 billion paid in dividends against $5.027 billion in net income [6][8]. - Free cash flow coverage has decreased from 2.88x to 1.88x, indicating a tighter financial position [8]. Market Performance - Despite the earnings pressure, Deere shares have gained 33.5% year-to-date, as investors remain optimistic about a potential recovery in the agricultural sector [8]. - The current share price is $621.36, with a target price of $528.26, indicating a potential downside of 15% [10]. Financial Metrics - Dividend yield stands at 1.09%, with a payout ratio of 34.2% and a five-year growth rate of 113% [9]. - The company has a solid balance sheet, reflected in a B- overall grade, indicating sustainable yet stretched dividends [12].

Core Insights - Deere & Company has maintained a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share, marking the fourth consecutive quarter at this level, despite facing significant earnings pressure due to an agricultural downturn [1][2] - The company's net income fell 50.5% from its fiscal 2023 peak, with revenue declining to $44.7 billion in fiscal 2025 [1] - Despite these challenges, Deere's stock has appreciated by 33.5% year-to-date, indicating investor optimism regarding a potential recovery in agricultural markets [1] Dividend Growth Trajectory - Deere's annual dividend payouts increased from $3.04 in 2020 to $6.48 in 2025, representing a 113% growth over five years [1] - The company has consistently paid dividends for over two decades, with the current quarterly rate being 7.4 times higher than the $0.22 payment in 2003 [1] Earnings Reality Check - In fiscal 2025, Deere's net income dropped to $5.027 billion from $7.1 billion in fiscal 2024, a year-over-year decline of 29% [1] - Revenue also decreased from $50.518 billion in fiscal 2024 to $44.665 billion in fiscal 2025, with operating margins compressing from 22.6% to 18.8% [1] Cash Flow Metrics - Operating cash flow for fiscal 2025 was $7.459 billion, down 19% from the previous year, leading to a free cash flow of $3.231 billion, which is only 1.88 times the dividend payment [1] - The first quarter of fiscal 2025 saw negative operating cash flow of $1.132 billion, while dividends of $403 million were still paid [1] Balance Sheet Strength - Total shareholder equity rose by 13.6% to $25.95 billion in fiscal 2025, with retained earnings increasing to $59.676 billion [1] - The debt-to-equity ratio improved from 2.87x to 2.47x, with total debt decreasing to $63.936 billion, although interest expenses rose to 7.1% of revenue [1] Historical Context - Deere has previously navigated challenging dividend situations, maintaining dividends even when free cash flow coverage dropped to 0.69x in fiscal 2022 [1] - The current free cash flow coverage of 1.88x is significantly better than past crisis levels [1] Valuation Perspective - Deere's stock trades at a trailing P/E of 33x and a forward P/E of 37x, reflecting investor expectations of future agricultural recovery [1] - The current dividend yield of 1.09% is below the industrial sector average, indicating that the stock may be more suitable for total-return investors rather than those seeking immediate income [1]

Core Insights - Deere & Company has announced the five startups selected for its 2026 Startup Collaborator Program, aimed at enhancing interactions with startups that can provide valuable technology for agriculture, construction, and roadbuilding sectors [1][2] Group 1: Program Overview - The Startup Collaborator Program was initiated in 2019 to foster collaboration with startups addressing critical challenges in various industries [2] - The program focuses on technologies that improve precision, productivity, and sustainability for customers through innovations such as real-time equipment insights, AI-driven robotics, and digital crop intelligence [2][3] Group 2: Participating Startups - The 2026 cohort includes five startups: AIRS ML, IoTag, resonAg, TorqueAGI, and Aerobotics, each bringing complementary technologies in monitoring, sensing, AI, robotics, and data-driven insights [3][4] - AIRS ML specializes in on-device intelligence for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance [4] - IoTag offers a telematics solution that optimizes performance across mixed fleets for agricultural and construction customers [4] - resonAg focuses on advanced soil sensing systems for precision agriculture, adapting technologies from other sectors [4] - TorqueAGI is developing an AI foundation model for enterprise robots capable of real-world reasoning and autonomy [4] - Aerobotics aids the fruit industry in making sustainable farming decisions using drone imagery and AI for yield estimation and operational optimization [4]

Company Overview - Deere & Company, headquartered in Moline, Illinois, manufactures and distributes agricultural, construction, forestry, and commercial and consumer equipment, with a market cap of $160.9 billion [1]. Stock Performance - Shares of Deere have outperformed the broader market over the past year, gaining 29.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index's 14.4% increase [2]. - Year-to-date, DE stock is up 31.6%, significantly surpassing the S&P 500's 1.4% rise [2]. - Compared to the First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF, which gained 26.6% over the past year, DE's returns also outshine the ETF's 17.3% gains year-to-date [3]. Financial Results - On November 26, 2025, DE shares closed down by 5.7% after reporting Q4 results, with an EPS of $3.93, which fell short of Wall Street expectations of $3.96 [5]. - The company's net sales were reported at $10.6 billion, exceeding Wall Street forecasts of $10 billion [5]. Earnings Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in October, analysts expect DE's EPS to decline by 9.1% to $16.82 on a diluted basis [6]. - The earnings surprise history for the company is mixed, having beaten consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing on one occasion [6]. Analyst Ratings - Among the 24 analysts covering DE stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 11 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and 11 "Holds" [6]. - The analyst configuration has become more bullish compared to three months ago, with 12 analysts now recommending a "Strong Buy" [7]. - Adam Seiden from Barclays PLC maintained a "Buy" rating on DE with a price target of $530, while the Street-high price target of $724 suggests an upside potential of 18.2% [7].

Core Insights - India's infrastructure boom is creating significant opportunities for U.S. industrial companies, particularly in sectors like agriculture, power, aviation, and renewable energy [1][2] - Six companies are highlighted as key beneficiaries of this growth: Caterpillar, Eaton, GE Aerospace, GE Vernova, Honeywell, and Deere [1][2] Company Summaries - **Caterpillar**: Achieved record Q4 2025 revenue of $19.13 billion, up 18% year-over-year, with a backlog of $51 billion. The stock has increased 29.9% year-to-date and 107.24% over the past year, benefiting from India's infrastructure spending [1] - **Eaton**: Reported record segment margins of 24.9% in Q4 2025, with Electrical Americas sales rising 21% to $3.5 billion. The stock has gained 18.51% year-to-date, driven by demand for data centers and renewable energy [1] - **GE Aerospace**: Generated Q4 2025 revenue of $12.72 billion, with orders surging 74% to $27 billion. The stock has increased 54.14% over the past year, capitalizing on India's aviation expansion [1] - **GE Vernova**: Recorded Q4 2025 revenue of $11.00 billion, a 4% year-over-year increase. The Electrification segment surged 28% to $9.6 billion, with a stock gain of 21.08% year-to-date, supported by grid modernization efforts [1] - **Honeywell**: Q4 2025 revenue was $9.76 billion, with orders up 23% and a backlog exceeding $37 billion. The stock has surged 24.73% year-to-date, driven by India's smart city initiatives [1] - **Deere**: Reported Q4 2025 revenue of $12.39 billion, up 14% year-over-year, with a 27% increase in its Construction & Forestry segment. The stock has gained 27.46% year-to-date, benefiting from agricultural mechanization trends in India [1]

Quick Read Caterpillar (CAT) leads with record Q4 revenue of $19.13B and $51B backlog. Caterpillar stock surged 107% over the past year. GE Aerospace orders jumped 74% to $27B. Eaton electrical backlog grew 29% with record margins of 24.9%. Deere reported Q4 revenue up 14% to $12.39B. Honeywell orders rose 23% with backlog exceeding $37B. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. India's infr ...

February 5, 2026 2 SAFE HARBOR Forward-looking statements in this presentation, including statements about our strategic plans and initiatives as well as their financial impacts, demand, product development, and capital expenditure plans and timing of those plans, and our expectations with respect to the costs and benefits of those plans and timing of those benefits, future revenue, crop production and farm income, production levels, price levels, margins, earnings, operating income, cash flow, engineering ...

Goldman Sachs does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision. For Reg AC certification and other important disclosures, see the Disclosure Appendix, or go to www.gs.com/research/hedge.html. Analysts employed by non-US affiliates are not registered/ ...

Core Viewpoint - Deere & Company is positioned as a leader in the agricultural sector, leveraging AI and automation to enhance farming efficiency, while FMC faces significant challenges due to declining demand for agricultural chemicals [1][10][11]. Group 1: Deere & Company Overview - Deere & Company, commonly known as John Deere, has been a significant player in agriculture since its founding in 1837, providing a wide range of farming equipment [3]. - The company is innovating with digital tools, AI, and autonomous driving technology to improve farming practices [4][8]. - In 2023, Deere's smart sprayers demonstrated a 50% reduction in water and chemical use, an 87% reduction in airborne drift, and a 93% reduction in chemical runoff during testing on 1 million acres [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Performance of Deere - Despite a challenging year in 2025, where net sales and revenue decreased by 12% and net income fell by 29%, Deere maintains a net income margin of 11% and has increased its dividend by 113% since 2020 [8][9]. - For Q4 2025, Deere reported an 11% increase in net sales and revenue, indicating a recovery trend as it continues to invest in technology [9]. Group 3: FMC Overview - FMC specializes in developing and producing pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, but is currently facing severe financial difficulties [11]. - In Q3 2025, FMC reported a 49% decline in revenue, dropping from over $1 billion to $542 million, and a net income loss of $569 million compared to a profit of $66 million in Q3 2024 [13][14]. Group 4: Financial Performance of FMC - FMC's earnings per share plummeted from $0.52 in Q3 2024 to a loss of $4.52 per share in Q3 2025, reflecting the company's struggles [13]. - The company's free cash flow is projected to decline from $614 million in 2024 to a loss of $100 million in 2025, coinciding with the rise of technologies that reduce pesticide use [14].

Core Viewpoint - AG Growth International Inc. is focused on providing equipment and solutions for the agriculture industry, competing through innovation and customer service [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - On January 12, 2026, AGGZF's stock price was $19.57, reflecting a decrease of 6.05% with a change of $1.26 [2][5] - The stock experienced a 1.3% decline, trading as low as $16.95, with trading volume surging to approximately 11,700 shares, an 80% increase from the average daily volume of 6,515 shares [3][6] - Over the past year, AGGZF has fluctuated between a high of $31.65 and a low of $13.10, with a current market capitalization of approximately $367.9 million [5] Group 2: Analyst Ratings - CIBC maintained a Neutral rating for AGGZF and raised its price target to C$34 from C$33, indicating cautious optimism about the company's future performance [2][6] - Raymond James Financial downgraded AG Growth from "outperform" to "market perform," while CIBC adjusted its rating from "outperform" to "neutral" [4] - National Bankshares maintained an "outperform" rating, with two analysts issuing Buy ratings and two others giving Hold ratings [4][6]