Deere (NYSE: DE) Q1 net income falls 25% as sales and guidance hold
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Deere & Company reported weaker profitability but solid sales growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Net income attributable to Deere was $656 million, or $2.42 per diluted share, down from $869 million, or $3.19 per share, a year earlier, a 25% decline in profit.
Worldwide net sales and revenues rose 13% to $9.611 billion, with equipment net sales up to $8.001 billion from $6.809 billion. Large Production & Precision Agriculture stayed roughly flat in sales but saw operating profit fall 59% as tariffs, mix, and warranty costs pressured margins. In contrast, Small Agriculture & Turf net sales grew 24% and operating profit 58%, while Construction & Forestry net sales rose 34% with operating profit more than doubling.
Financial Services net income increased to $244 million from $230 million, helped by favorable financing spreads and lower credit losses. For fiscal 2026, Deere forecasts net income attributable to the company between $4.5 billion and $5.0 billion and expects weakness in large agriculture markets but growth in construction and smaller agriculture segments.
Positive
- Strong growth in non-large-ag segments: Small Agriculture & Turf net sales rose 24% with operating profit up 58%, and Construction & Forestry net sales grew 34% with operating profit up 111%, supporting a 13% increase in total net sales and revenues to $9.611 billion.
- Supportive full-year 2026 outlook: Deere forecasts fiscal 2026 net income attributable to the company between $4.5 billion and $5.0 billion, and expects net sales in Small Agriculture & Turf and Construction & Forestry to be up about 15%.
Negative
- Material profit decline and margin pressure: Net income attributable to Deere fell 25% year over year to $656 million, with Production & Precision Agriculture operating profit down 59% and its margin dropping to 4.4% due to higher tariffs, unfavorable mix, and warranty costs.
- Challenging large agriculture market outlook: The company projects U.S. and Canada Large Agriculture industry demand down 15–20% for fiscal 2026, and expects Production & Precision Agriculture net sales to decline 5–10%.
Insights
Profit falls despite strong sales; outlook leans on non-large-ag strength.
Deere delivered a mixed quarter: demand was healthy, but profitability declined. Total net sales and revenues rose $9.611 billion vs. $8.508 billion, yet net income dropped 25% to $656 million. This reflects cost and mix headwinds rather than a collapse in top-line demand.
Performance diverged sharply by segment. Production & Precision Agriculture net sales grew only 3% and operating profit fell 59%, with the margin sliding to 4.4% as higher tariffs, unfavorable mix, and warranty costs weighed on results. Meanwhile, Small Agriculture & Turf and Construction & Forestry posted net sales gains of 24% and 34%, with operating profit up 58% and 111%, respectively, showing strength outside large agriculture.
Management guides fiscal 2026 net income to $4.5–$5.0 billion and frames the year as the bottom of the current cycle. The industry outlook points to a 15–20% decline in U.S. and Canada Large Ag, but roughly flat-to-modest growth in Small Ag & Turf and mid-single-digit growth across several construction categories. Actual results will depend on execution in the higher-growth segments and how quickly large-ag demand stabilizes.
























