Who Owns John Deere?
John Deere is the flagship brand of Deere & Company (NYSE: DE), a publicly traded manufacturer headquartered in Moline, Illinois. Founded in 1837 when blacksmith John Deere built a steel plow in Grand Detour, Illinois, the brand covers tractors, combines, precision agriculture, and turf and construction equipment. Deere & Company reported net sales of $45.7 billion for fiscal year 2025 and is the world's largest agricultural equipment maker by revenue.
Who Owns John Deere?
- Parent Company: John Deere
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: DE
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| John Deere | John Deere | Brand division |
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History of John Deere
- Founded: 1837
- Founders: John Deere
John Deere the man was a blacksmith who moved from Vermont to Grand Detour, Illinois in 1836 and confronted the central problem of prairie farming: cast-iron plows could not shed sticky midwestern soil. In 1837 he built a plow from a broken steel saw blade that scoured clean, and demand grew from a handful of units into a manufacturing business. The company incorporated in 1868, moved operations to Moline, and adopted the leaping-deer trademark in 1876.
The company's growth ran through product expansion and disciplined dealer networks rather than broad diversification. The 1918 acquisition of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company brought the tractor business that would define the brand, and the Waterloo-built Model D became a cornerstone. Through the 20th century Deere built the modern farm-equipment range: tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, and hay tools, with the two-cylinder and later New Generation tractors establishing the green-and-yellow identity.
International expansion and industrial diversification followed: construction equipment from the 1950s, lawn and garden products from 1963, and the 2017 acquisition of Wirtgen Group for roughly $5.2 billion to enter road-building machinery. Precision agriculture became the strategy's center in the 2010s and 2020s, with Deere building a technology stack around GPS guidance, See & Spray targeted spraying, and autonomy. The autonomous 9RX tractor drew global attention at CES 2025, and a second-generation autonomy kit for additional machine types was unveiled at CES 2026.
Fiscal 2025 reflected an agricultural downturn: net sales fell 12 percent to $45.7 billion and net income dropped to $5.0 billion, with production-system sales down sharply as farmers cut capital spending amid low crop prices. Deere reduced its workforce and announced continued precision-ag investment plus a U.S. manufacturing expansion commitment of nearly $20 billion over a decade announced in 2025.
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About John Deere
What does John Deere own?
John Deere owns a portfolio of agricultural equipment, construction machinery, forestry equipment, and turf care products. Its primary brands include John Deere Agriculture (tractors, combines, sprayers), John Deere Construction (excavators, loaders), John Deere Forestry (harvesters, forwarders), John Deere Turf Care (lawn equipment), and John Deere Power Systems (diesel engines). The company operates as an integrated equipment manufacturer rather than a holding company.
Is John Deere publicly traded?
Yes, Deere & Company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DE. The company is a component of the S&P 500 index, making it one of the most widely held industrial stocks in the United States.
Who founded John Deere?
John Deere was founded in 1837 by John Deere, a blacksmith who developed the first commercially successful steel plow for Midwest farmers. The company was incorporated as Deere & Company in 1868 and has grown from a single blacksmith shop to the world's largest agricultural equipment manufacturer.
What is John Deere's revenue?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended November 2, 2025), John Deere reported worldwide net sales and revenues of $45.684 billion, a 12% decrease from the prior year. Net income was $5.027 billion, down 29% from $7.100 billion in FY2024. For Q2 FY2026, net sales and revenues increased 5% to $13.369 billion.
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Who is the CEO of John Deere?
John May serves as Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company. He has led the company's focus on autonomous farming technology, precision agriculture, and sustainability initiatives, including the See & Spray technology and battery-powered electric equipment development.
What is John Deere's FY2026 outlook?
John Deere forecasts net income attributable to Deere & Company for FY2026 in the range of $4.5 billion to $5.0 billion. First-half FY2026 results showed revenue growth, with Q1 net sales up 13% and Q2 net sales up 5%, suggesting a potential cyclical recovery in agricultural equipment demand.
Is John Deere investing in electric equipment?
Yes, John Deere is investing in battery-powered electric agricultural equipment and aims to demonstrate viable low/no carbon alternative power solutions. The company is developing electric and hybrid-powered equipment across its product lines and has committed to science-based emissions reduction targets.
- Founded: 1837
- Headquarters: Moline, Illinois, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: DE
- Revenue: $45.684 billion (FY2025, year ended November 2, 2025)
- Employees: Approximately 83,000
Where Is John Deere Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Moline, Illinois, USA
John Deere Categories & Tags
John Deere Recalls & Controversies
Deere has been at the center of the right-to-repair fight for years. Advocacy groups and farmers pushed state and federal rules requiring access to repair software and parts; Deere reached agreements and expanded its own repair offerings while facing FTC scrutiny and litigation over repair restrictions. The company has defended its software-integration approach on safety and intellectual-property grounds.
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The company faced a multiweek United Auto Workers strike in 2021, settled with a contract delivering significant wage increases, and carried out layoffs across 2024 and 2025 as the agricultural downturn cut production. Tariff costs added an estimated $600 million to FY2026 expenses and drew criticism over the brand's reliance on imported components while marketing American manufacturing.
Brands Owned by John Deere
Conglomerates IndustrialJohn Deere Construction & Forestry
Owned by John Deere
Yellow-and-black earthmoving equipment division of Deere & Company, covering excavators, loaders, dozers, and roadbuilding machinery including Wirtgen Group.
construction-equipmentheavy-machineryearthmoving
Conglomerates IndustrialJohn Deere Forestry
Owned by John Deere
Logging equipment line of Deere & Company covering skidders, feller bunchers, harvesters, and forwarders for timber operations worldwide.
forestryloggingheavy-machinery
Conglomerates IndustrialJohn Deere Power Systems
Owned by John Deere
Engine and drivetrain division of Deere & Company, building diesel engines and components for Deere machines plus OEM, marine, and generator customers.
enginespowertraindiesel
Conglomerates IndustrialJohn Deere Turf
Owned by John Deere
Lawn, grounds, and golf course equipment line of Deere & Company, covering residential mowers, commercial mowing, and sports turf machinery.
lawn-careturfmowers
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John Deere Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Public ownership funds the precision-ag and autonomy investments that define the brand's premium.
- +The leaping-deer mark and dealer network are among the strongest brand assets in industrial equipment.
- +Vertical control over product, finance, and technology keeps the customer relationship unified.
- +A century-plus operating history underwrites trust with multi-generational farm customers.
Considerations
- -Commodity-price cycles drive demand; the FY2025 downturn cut revenue 12 percent.
- -Right-to-repair regulation could reduce the software and service moat the brand relies on.
- -Tariff exposure on imported components directly hits manufacturing margins.
- -Premium pricing limits resilience if farm economics stay weak long enough for buyers to trade down.
Frequently Asked Questions About John Deere
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to John Deere
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agco | USA | 1990 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Agco | USA | 1986 | Premium | United states | All Genders | |
| Agco | Germany | 1930 | Premium | Europe | All Genders | |
| Agco | USA | 1958 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Agco | Finland | 1951 | Mass market | Europe | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Conglomerates IndustrialAGCO
Owned by AGCO Corporation
The corporate master brand of AGCO Corporation, covering its agricultural machinery business and serving as the entry-level product line in select markets.
agriculturefarm-equipmenttractors
Conglomerates IndustrialChallenger
Owned by AGCO Corporation
AGCO's licensed high-horsepower tractor brand, originally created by Caterpillar in 1986 and manufactured by AGCO under license since 2002.
tractorshigh-horsepowertracked
Conglomerates IndustrialFendt
Owned by AGCO Corporation
AGCO's premium German tractor brand, founded in 1930 and known for high-horsepower engineering, with AGCO ownership since 1997.
tractorsagriculturepremium
Conglomerates IndustrialMassey Ferguson
Owned by AGCO Corporation
AGCO's global mid-range tractor brand, tracing to 1847 Massey-Harris heritage and serving farmers in more than 140 countries.
tractorsagricultureglobal
Conglomerates IndustrialValtra
Owned by AGCO Corporation
AGCO's Nordic tractor brand, founded in 1951 in Finland and acquired in 2004, known for customized solutions in harsh climates.
tractorsagriculturenordic
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: John Deere competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to John Deere
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by John Deere, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Conglomerates IndustrialAGCO
Owned by AGCO Corporation
The corporate master brand of AGCO Corporation, covering its agricultural machinery business and serving as the entry-level product line in select markets.
agriculturefarm-equipmenttractors
Publicly Traded
AGCO operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Conglomerates IndustrialCaterpillar
Owned by Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar, sold under the Cat brand, is the flagship equipment brand of Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest maker of construction and mining machinery.
heavy-equipmentconstruction-machinerymining-equipment
Publicly Traded
Caterpillar operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Conglomerates IndustrialVertiv
Owned by Vertiv
Vertiv is the flagship brand of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT), covering power management, thermal management, and IT infrastructure products for data centers and mission-critical facilities.
data-center-infrastructurepower-managementthermal-management
Publicly Traded
Vertiv operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Conglomerates IndustrialBrevini
Owned by Dana
Dana's motion systems brand for industrial gearboxes and hydraulics, acquired in 2017.
gearboxeshydraulicsmotion-systems
Privately Owned
Brevini is privately owned, unlike John Deere which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Conglomerates IndustrialGWB
Owned by Dana
Dana's German heavy driveshaft brand serving steel, rail, and industrial applications.
driveshaftsindustrialsteel
Privately Owned
GWB is privately owned, unlike John Deere which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Conglomerates IndustrialU.S. Steel
Owned by United States Steel Corporation
Flagship brand of United States Steel Corporation, the iconic Pittsburgh steelmaker now a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Steel under a US government golden share arrangement.
steelmanufacturingmetals
Privately Owned
U.S. Steel is privately owned, unlike John Deere which is under a publicly traded parent company.
John Deere Stock Information
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