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, John Deere is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DE. The company has been publicly traded since 1958 and 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.

Where is John Deere headquartered?
John Deere is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, USA. The company has operated from Moline since 1848 and maintains its global corporate headquarters, major manufacturing facilities, and significant operations in the Quad Cities metropolitan area along the Mississippi River.

How many brands does John Deere own?
John Deere operates primarily under the John Deere master brand across five major equipment segments: Agriculture, Construction, Forestry, Turf Care, and Power Systems. The company owns approximately 83,000 employees worldwide and operates manufacturing facilities in multiple countries, with all products branded under the John Deere name.

Who owns John Deere?
John Deere is publicly owned with no controlling shareholder. Institutional investors collectively hold the majority of outstanding shares, with Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors among the largest holders. No individual, family, or private equity firm holds a controlling interest in the company.

What is John Deere's revenue?
John Deere reported net income of $2.673 billion for the first six months of fiscal 2025 on net sales and revenues of $21.272 billion. The company forecasts full-year net income in the range of $4.75 to $5.50 billion, with annual revenue of approximately $48 billion for fiscal year 2025.

Is John Deere investing in electric equipment?
Yes, John Deere is investing significantly in battery-powered electric agricultural equipment and aims to demonstrate viable low/no carbon alternative power solutions by 2026. The company has announced plans to introduce a fully autonomous battery-powered electric agricultural tractor and is developing electric and hybrid-powered equipment across its product lines.

John Deere was founded in 1837 in Grand Detour, Illinois, by John Deere, a blacksmith who developed the first commercially successful steel plow. The plow's design addressed a critical problem for Midwest farmers: the sticky, heavy soil that clogged traditional cast-iron plows. Deere's steel plow with a polished surface could cut through the tough prairie soil without sticking, revolutionizing agriculture in the American Midwest.

The company moved to Moline, Illinois, in 1848 to access better transportation routes along the Mississippi River. This location allowed John Deere to expand production and distribution more efficiently. By the 1850s, the company was producing thousands of plows annually and had established a reputation for quality and innovation in agricultural equipment.

The late 19th century saw John Deere expand beyond plows into other agricultural equipment. The company began manufacturing cultivators, planters, and harvesting equipment, establishing itself as a comprehensive agricultural equipment provider. In 1868, the company was formally incorporated as Deere & Company.

The early 20th century marked John Deere's entry into tractor manufacturing. The company acquired the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in 1918, giving it access to tractor technology and establishing John Deere as a major player in the growing tractor market. The Waterloo Boy tractor, acquired through this purchase, became the foundation for John Deere's future tractor development.

During World War II, John Deere supported the war effort by producing military equipment and machinery for the Allied forces. The post-war period saw significant expansion as global agriculture mechanized and demand for advanced farm equipment grew rapidly. John Deere introduced numerous innovations including power steering, hydraulic systems, and advanced transmission technologies.

The 1960s and 1970s brought further expansion into construction and forestry equipment. John Deere established construction equipment divisions and began manufacturing excavators, loaders, and forestry machinery. The company also expanded internationally, establishing manufacturing facilities and distribution networks in Europe, South America, and other regions.

A major transformation came in the 1990s and 2000s with the introduction of precision agriculture technology. John Deere invested heavily in GPS guidance systems, automated steering, and data management tools that allowed farmers to optimize planting, fertilizing, and harvesting operations. This technology focus positioned John Deere at the forefront of the digital agriculture revolution.

The 2010s saw John Deere accelerate its technology investments with acquisitions of software companies and development of autonomous farming equipment. The company introduced autonomous tractors and advanced machine learning algorithms for crop management, establishing itself as a technology leader in addition to its traditional manufacturing strengths.

Recent history under CEO John May has focused on sustainability initiatives, electric equipment development, and autonomous farming solutions. In 2025, John Deere announced significant investments in battery-powered electric agricultural equipment and committed to science-based targets for carbon emissions reduction. The company also expanded its precision agriculture platform with new AI-powered farming tools and autonomous tillage systems.

John Deere has established comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on reducing environmental impact, promoting sustainable agriculture, and achieving science-based emissions targets. The company's sustainability program spans environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and sustainable product development.

John Deere is a signatory to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 20% by the end of fiscal year 2025, compared to a 2021 baseline. The company's Scope 3 emissions, which represent nearly all of its carbon footprint, have decreased by approximately 20% since 2021, demonstrating progress in supply chain emissions tracking.

The company's sustainability program includes developing electric and hybrid-powered equipment to reduce carbon emissions from agricultural machinery. John Deere aims to demonstrate viable low/no carbon alternative power solutions by 2026, including fully autonomous battery-powered electric agricultural tractors.

John Deere is working toward ensuring 100% of new small agricultural equipment is connectivity-enabled by 2026 and growing connected machines to 1.5 million units by 2026. This connectivity supports precision agriculture applications that optimize input usage and reduce environmental impact.

On product sustainability, John Deere has committed to developing equipment that helps farmers reduce environmental impact through precision application of inputs, reduced soil compaction, and improved fuel efficiency. The company publishes an annual Sustainability Report with independently assured performance data.

John Deere has received consistent recognition for innovation, product quality, and corporate responsibility from independent rating organizations and industry publications.

• Fortune Most Admired Companies (2025): John Deere was included in Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies ranking in the farm and construction equipment category, reflecting peer and analyst respect for the company's operational capabilities and market leadership.
• Forbes World's Best Employers (2025): John Deere received recognition from Forbes for employee satisfaction and workplace practices across its global workforce of approximately 83,000 people.
• Innovation Awards: John Deere has received numerous awards for autonomous farming technology, precision agriculture systems, and electric equipment development from agricultural industry publications and technology organizations.
• Sustainability Recognition: The company has been recognized for its science-based emissions targets and sustainable agriculture initiatives by environmental organizations and sustainability rating agencies.

John Deere has faced some regulatory and public scrutiny related to equipment repair restrictions and environmental compliance, though the company has generally maintained a positive reputation for corporate responsibility.

The most significant controversy has involved right-to-repair legislation and restrictions on independent equipment repair. Farmers and advocacy groups have criticized John Deere for limiting access to diagnostic software and repair parts, arguing that this creates dependency on authorized dealers and increases repair costs. Several U.S. states have considered right-to-repair legislation that would require equipment manufacturers to provide access to repair information and tools.

On environmental matters, John Deere has faced scrutiny regarding emissions from diesel engines and compliance with environmental regulations. The company has worked to address these concerns through investment in cleaner engine technology and electric equipment development.

Labor-related issues have included occasional disputes with unionized workers at manufacturing facilities, though these have been relatively minor compared to other industrial companies. John Deere generally maintains positive labor relations and has been recognized as a good employer in multiple industry rankings.