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.

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.

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 polished steel surface could cut through the sticky prairie soil without sticking, solving a critical problem for Midwest farmers.

The company moved to Moline, Illinois, in 1848 to access better transportation along the Mississippi River. By the 1850s, the company was producing thousands of plows annually. 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 for $2,100,000, giving it access to tractor technology. The Waterloo Boy tractor became the foundation for John Deere's future tractor development.

During World War II, John Deere produced military equipment for the Allied forces. The post-war period saw rapid expansion as global agriculture mechanized. The 1960s and 1970s brought expansion into construction and forestry equipment, along with international manufacturing facilities in Europe and South America.

The 1990s and 2000s brought a major transformation with the introduction of precision agriculture technology. John Deere invested heavily in GPS guidance systems, automated steering, and data management tools. The 2010s saw acceleration of technology investments with acquisitions of software companies and development of autonomous farming equipment.

Under CEO John May, the company has focused on autonomous farming solutions, battery-powered electric equipment, and sustainability initiatives. The See & Spray technology, which uses computer vision to target individual weeds with herbicide, represents a significant advancement in precision agriculture. John Deere has also expanded its autonomous tillage capabilities.

John Deere is a signatory to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% by 2030, compared to a 2021 baseline. The company's Scope 3 emissions, which represent nearly all of its carbon footprint, are also being tracked and addressed through supply chain initiatives.

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 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. This connectivity supports precision agriculture applications that optimize input usage and reduce environmental impact. The See & Spray technology, which reduces herbicide usage by targeting individual weeds, represents a significant environmental benefit.

The company publishes an annual Sustainability Report with independently assured performance data. John Deere maintains comprehensive remanufacturing programs that extend equipment life, reduce waste, and promote resource efficiency.

• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies (2025 and 2026): John Deere was included in Fortune's ranking in the farm and construction equipment category, reflecting peer and analyst respect for the company's operational capabilities and market leadership
• CES Innovation Awards: The John Deere Operations Center was named a CES 2024 Innovation Awards honoree in Sustainability, Eco-Design, and Smart Energy categories
• Forbes World's Best Employers: John Deere received recognition from Forbes for employee satisfaction and workplace practices across its global workforce
• Sustainability Recognition: The company has been recognized for its science-based emissions targets and sustainable agriculture initiatives by environmental organizations and sustainability rating agencies

The most significant controversy involving John Deere has been the right-to-repair debate. Farmers and advocacy groups have criticized the company 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 or passed right-to-repair legislation. In response, John Deere has made some concessions, including providing access to diagnostic tools and repair manuals for independent repair shops, though critics argue these measures do not go far enough.

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. In 2021, approximately 10,000 UAW workers went on strike at John Deere facilities before reaching a new contract agreement. The company generally maintains positive labor relations and has been recognized as a good employer in multiple industry rankings.