Deere Q3 2024 $DE (+8,79 %)
Q4 2024:
Sales: USD 11.143 billion (-28% year-on-year)
Net profit: USD 1.245 billion (-47% year-on-year)
Earnings per share (diluted): USD 4.55 (-45% year-on-year)
Operating cash flow (financial year 2024): USD 9.231 billion
Full year 2024:
Sales: USD 51.716 billion (-16% year-on-year)
Net profit: USD 7.1 billion (-30% year-on-year)
Earnings per share (diluted): USD 25.62 (-26% year-on-year)
Non-recurring factors
Legal settlements: USD 57 million profit before taxes
Depreciation and amortization: USD 28 million in the "Small Agriculture & Turf" segment
Restructuring costs: USD 157 million before tax (USD 124 million after tax)
Quarterly overview
Production & Precision Agriculture: 38% decline in sales, 64% decline in operating profit
Small Agriculture & Turf: Decline in sales of 25%, operating profit down 47
Construction & Forestry: 29% drop in sales, 36% decline in operating profit
Balance sheet overview
Assets:
Total: USD 107.32 billion (2024 vs. USD 104.09 billion in 2023)
Cash and cash equivalents: USD 7.324 billion (-1.8% year-on-year)
Inventories: USD 7.093 billion (-13% year-on-year)
Liabilities:
Total: USD 84.395 billion (+2.7% year-on-year)
Non-current liabilities: USD 43.229 billion (+12 %)
Equity:
Shareholders' equity: USD 22.843 billion (+4.8 %)
Profit and loss account
Breakdown of sales:
Production & Precision Agriculture: USD 4.305 billion (-38% year-on-year)
Small Agriculture & Turf: USD 2.306 billion (-25% year-on-year)
Construction & Forestry: USD 2.664 billion (-29% year-on-year)
Margins:
Operating Margin:
Production & Precision Agriculture: 15.3 % (previous year: 26.4 %)
Small Agriculture & Turf: 10.1% (previous year: 14.4%)
Construction & Forestry: 12.3% (previous year: 13.8%)
Cash flow
Operating cash flow (financial year 2024): USD 9.231 billion (+7% year-on-year)
Used for: USD 1.64 billion investments, USD 4.007 billion share buybacks and USD 1.605 billion dividend payments
Investment cash flow: USD -6.464 billion, characterized by acquisitions and expenses for leased equipment
Financing cash flow: USD -2.717 billion, mainly due to debt repayments and returns to shareholders
Segment analysis
Best segment: Financial Services (+13 % year-on-year sales growth), driven by higher portfolio values
Weakest area: Production & Precision Agriculture (-38% decline in sales year-on-year)
Competitive position
Deere remains a leader in precision agriculture, but faces challenges such as lower delivery volumes and difficult market conditions.
Outlook and management comments
Net profit forecast (financial year 2025): USD 5.0 to 5.5 billion
Agriculture & Turf:
Large agricultural machinery in the USA: decline of approx. 30% expected
Europe: decline in sales of 5-10% forecast
Construction & Forestry:
Global forestry: Stable to -5 %
Risks and opportunities
Risks:
Declining demand in the agricultural sector
Rising interest rates put pressure on financing
Disruptions in the supply chain and geopolitical tensions
Opportunities:
Investments in technology and precision agriculture
Partnership with Banco Bradesco in Brazil to promote growth
Five positive aspects
1. strong operating cash flow (+7 % year-on-year)
2. resilience in the Financial Services division (+13% sales growth)
3. continued investment in customer-oriented innovations
4. restructuring measures that are expected to generate annual savings of USD 220 million
5. strategic partnership in Brazil reduces risks and promotes growth
Five negative aspects
1. significant decline in sales (-28% year-on-year in Q4)
2. declining operating margins in all key segments
3. high restructuring costs (USD 157 million before taxes)
4. weakness in core markets such as the USA and Europe
5. increased write-downs and loan loss provisions