Industry Overview - The Zacks Manufacturing - Farm Equipment industry is currently facing challenges due to weak commodity prices and high costs, but is expected to benefit from sustained demand for agricultural equipment driven by population growth [1][4] - The industry includes manufacturers of various agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment, with Deere, CNH Industrial, and Kubota being the top three global manufacturers [3] Current Trends - The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a 29.5% year-over-year increase in net farm income to $180.1 billion for 2025, following declines in 2023 and 2024 [4] - Despite lower crop receipts and commodity price volatility, demand for agricultural equipment is expected to rise due to increasing global food demand and mechanization needs [5] - The agricultural machinery market in the U.S. is projected to grow from $42.05 billion in 2025 to $57.08 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 6.3% [5] Technological Advancements - Industry players are investing heavily in technology to automate farming and enhance product offerings, with precision agriculture technology being a key growth driver [2][7] - Companies are focusing on advanced technology and smart farming solutions to meet evolving customer demands [7] Financial Performance - The Zacks Manufacturing - Farm Equipment industry has outperformed the broader market, growing 33.7% over the past 12 months compared to the S&P 500's 13.7% [11] - The industry is currently trading at a forward EV/EBITDA ratio of 53.56X, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 13.48X [14] Company Highlights - **Deere & Company (DE)**: Experiencing solid growth in order levels, focusing on advanced technology, and benefiting from strong demand in construction markets. Shares have gained 15.3% in the past 6 months [18][19] - **AGCO Corporation (AGCO)**: Gaining from improved farm dynamics and increasing replacement demand, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 13.1%. Shares have gained 2.7% in the past 6 months [22][24] - **Lindsay Corporation (LNN)**: Acquired a minority interest in Pessl Instruments to enhance water management innovations, with robust project opportunities in international irrigation markets. Shares have gained 8.2% in the past 6 months [27]

Core Insights - CNH presented its Strategic Business Plan (SBP) at the Investor Day 2025, outlining a clear path for growth and cost efficiency [2][3] - The company aims to consolidate its position as a leading player in agriculture and construction markets while targeting significant margin improvements [4][12] Group 1: Strategic Goals - CNH aims to be the 1 or 2 player in all major markets during the plan period [4][12] - The company targets a 16-17% mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margin in Agriculture by 2030 [10][12] - For the Construction segment, CNH is targeting a 7-8% mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margin by 2030 [14] Group 2: Product Development and Technology - CNH will enhance product leadership through new launches and updates across its agricultural equipment lineup, including a full refresh of tractors and advanced combine harvesters [5][6] - The integration of Precision Tech, including AI capabilities and agronomic sensors, will be a key focus, with expectations that Precision Tech sales will nearly double as a percentage of total Agriculture Net Sales by 2030 [7][12] Group 3: Market Strategy - A new go-to-market strategy will focus on an integrated dealer network and brand strategy to improve customer engagement and service [8][9] - The company plans to invest approximately 100 basis points of annual margin over the next five years in growth-oriented dealers [9] Group 4: Operational Efficiency - CNH is committed to delivering over $550 million in operational and quality cost improvements by 2030 to support margin expansion [13][12] - The company will focus on operational efficiencies through strategic sourcing, plant efficiencies, and enhanced product reliability [13] Group 5: Shareholder Returns - CNH plans to increase through-cycle Industrial cash generation by 25% and return substantially all Industrial Free Cash Flow to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [18][17]

Core Viewpoint - CNH's new Strategic Business Plan (SBP) aims to enhance product leadership and expand margins, targeting a 16-17% Agriculture mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margin by 2030 while consolidating its position as a leading player in major markets [2][9]. Group 1: Strategic Goals - The SBP includes a commitment to strong growth alongside cost efficiency targets, with a focus on delivering steady margin improvements [3]. - CNH aims to solidify its position as the first or second agriculture player in all major markets during the plan period [4]. - The company plans to execute over $550 million in run-rate operational and quality cost improvements by 2030 [9]. Group 2: Product Development and Technology - CNH will enhance product leadership through new launches and updates across its agricultural equipment, including tractors and harvesters [5]. - The new generation of twin and single rotor combines launched in 2024 offers a 15% lower total cost of ownership for farmers [5]. - By 2030, 90% of Precision Tech systems will be developed in-house, with sales expected to nearly double as a percentage of total Agriculture Net Sales [7]. Group 3: Market Strategy - A new go-to-market strategy will focus on an integrated dealer network and brand strategy to improve farmer engagement and customer service [8]. - The company will invest approximately 100 basis points of annual margin over the next five years in growth-oriented dealers [12]. - The strategy includes a dual-brand dealer approach to strengthen brand identities and customer segments [11]. Group 4: Financial Performance - CNH targets a 16-17% mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margin for Agriculture by 2030, driven by commercial growth, operational efficiency, and quality improvements [13][14]. - For the Construction segment, a target of 7-8% mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margin by 2030 is set, focusing on commercial actions and manufacturing improvements [15][16]. - The company plans to increase through-cycle Industrial cash generation by 25%, returning substantial Industrial Free Cash Flow to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [19].

CNH Overview - CNH is the world's second-largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery[29] - CNH aims to return substantially all Industrial Free Cash Flow to shareholders through the cycle[37] - CNH expects to deliver another $550M+ of run-rate operational and quality cost improvements by 2030[38] Agriculture Segment - Agriculture accounts for approximately 80% of Industrial Net Sales and 90% of Industrial Adjusted EBIT[30, 34] - CNH Agriculture is targeting a mid-cycle Adjusted EBIT margin of 160%-170% by 2030[67] - CNH Agriculture is targeting 200-250 bps margin improvement through quality improvements by 2030[58] Precision Tech - CNH aims to achieve approximately 2x revenue growth in Precision Tech by 2030[21, 44] - CNH is targeting a 50-75 bps increase in CNH Agriculture Adjusted EBIT margin through favorable Precision Tech mix by 2030[45, 114, 137] Construction Segment - Construction represents approximately 20% of Industrial Net Sales[32, 35] - CNH aims to expand Construction's margins by 150-250 bps by 2030[168, 170]