Deere's (DE) Weaker 2026 Forecast May Transform Its Investment Story
Deere's Financial Performance: Deere & Company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $12.39 billion and net income of $1.07 billion, while providing a cautious fiscal 2026 guidance of net income between $4.00 billion and $4.75 billion due to challenges in the large agriculture sector.
Investment Considerations: Investors need to assess Deere's ability to navigate industry cycles and leverage precision agriculture technologies, as ongoing margin pressures and soft demand for large ag equipment pose short-term risks.
Long-term Outlook: Deere anticipates $45.1 billion in revenue and $8.6 billion in earnings by 2028, indicating a slight annual revenue decline but an increase in earnings, suggesting potential growth in small agriculture, turf, and construction segments.
Valuation Insights: Fair value estimates for Deere's stock range from $430 to $624.87 per share, with a current fair value of $525.78 indicating a 13% upside, highlighting the importance of understanding market dynamics and cost pressures in shaping investment decisions.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on DE
About DE
About the author

- Market Confidence Boost: As of February 24, Deere's stock traded at $644.54, having risen approximately 75% since the end of 2020, indicating strong market confidence in its structural advantages despite cyclical agricultural pressures.
- Robust Financial Metrics: According to Yahoo Finance, Deere's trailing and forward P/E ratios stand at 24.12 and 22.57, respectively, reflecting the company's stability in profitability and potential for earnings recovery as agricultural conditions stabilize.
- Sales Trend Improvement: Although agricultural sales declined by 14% in FY2025, recent quarterly data suggests a slowing contraction rate, indicating that a bottom may be forming, which sets the stage for future growth.
- Significant Competitive Advantage: Deere's scale in Equipment Operations is approximately double that of key competitors, and while it trails Caterpillar and Komatsu in Construction & Forestry, its competitive positioning remains solid across end markets.
- Market Panic Intensifies: On February 23, the market experienced a significant sell-off, particularly in tech stocks, due to growing concerns about AI's potential impact on the economy and industries, leading to a 1% drop in the S&P 500 index, reflecting investor anxiety about the future.
- IBM Shares Plummet: The announcement by AI startup Anthropic that its Claude Code tool could modernize the COBOL programming language resulted in IBM's shares falling 13% on the day, marking its worst single-day loss since 2000, highlighting the direct threat AI poses to traditional tech companies.
- Focus on HALO Stocks: As concerns about AI's impact grow, investors are increasingly seeking out
- Market Panic Intensifies: On February 23, 2023, a major sell-off occurred due to fears about AI's potential impact on companies and the economy, particularly hitting tech stocks hard, with IBM shares plummeting 13%, marking its worst single-day loss since 2000.
- Unemployment Rate Warning: Citrini Research issued a report predicting that in two years, AI-induced job displacement could push the unemployment rate above 10%, which spooked the markets and led to a 1% drop in the S&P 500 index on the same day.
- Investors Shift to HALO Stocks: In light of growing concerns about AI's impact, investors are increasingly seeking HALO stocks, which are deemed less vulnerable to AI disruption and may even benefit from the efficiencies AI can provide.
- Examples of HALO Stocks: HALO stocks mentioned by Josh Brown include ExxonMobil, McDonald's, FedEx, Coca-Cola, Caterpillar, and Deere, all of which are considered less susceptible to AI replacement due to their heavy asset bases and have outperformed IBM and other tech stocks in 2023.
- Nvidia Stock Decline: Despite Nvidia reporting a strong quarter and even stronger forward guidance, its shares fell 7.3% in February, primarily due to concerns about whether its major clients can sustain their capital expenditure plans, which negatively impacted investor confidence.
- Tech Sector Downturn: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropped 0.4% and nearly 1% respectively, with monthly declines of nearly 1% for the S&P 500 and 3.4% for the Nasdaq marking the worst performance since March 2025, highlighting the disruptive impact of AI on the market.
- Geopolitical Market Influence: The future direction of the markets may hinge on geopolitical developments, particularly regarding Iran, as President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the nuclear deal negotiations, potentially increasing market uncertainty, even as oil prices have risen about 17% year to date.
- Upcoming Earnings Reports: Next week will see Berkshire Hathaway's first earnings report under new CEO Greg Abel, alongside earnings from Norwegian Cruise Line and Target, with market expectations high for these companies' performances in a competitive retail landscape.

Brand Loyalty Across Industries: Luxury Swiss watch makers and major companies like Apple, Walmart, and Coca-Cola share a strong brand loyalty that connects them emotionally with consumers.
Impact of AI on Consumer Stocks: This emotional connection may help protect leading consumer stocks from the negative impacts of the artificial intelligence revolution.
Current State of AI Trade: The AI trade is experiencing fluctuations, with some sectors showing growth while others face challenges, leading to debates about its viability.
Market Dynamics: Factors such as technological advancements, regulatory changes, and competition are influencing the AI market, impacting investment and development strategies.
Future Prospects: Experts are divided on the future of AI trade, with some predicting a resurgence driven by innovation, while others caution about potential market saturation.
Investment Trends: There is a noticeable shift in investment patterns, with a focus on sustainable and ethical AI solutions, reflecting changing consumer and regulatory expectations.










