We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Can Deere Overcome Tariff Impact & Weak Agricultural Sector?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) is expected to be hit hard as China’s latest round of tariffs is aggravating the woes of an already struggling U.S agricultural sector.
The U.S Agriculture industry has been grappling with low commodity prices and sluggish farm incomes over the past few years. Moreover, tariffs imposed by China on U.S. agricultural exports last year dealt a severe blow to the industry as China is the largest export market for U.S. agriculture producers. Per American Farm Bureau, farm bankruptcy filings have gone up 13% in the 12-month period ended June 2019. Further, delinquency rates for commercial agricultural loans are at a six-year high.
Farmers have thus been more cautious about spending on farm equipment, which in turn put pressure on Deere’s top line. China’s recent announcement to hike tariffs between 5% and 10% on U.S. goods worth $75 billion including agricultural products, in two stages on Sep 1 and Dec 15, 2019, thus raises a red flag for Deere’s customers.
Apart from the impact of weak farm equipment spending on Deere’s top line, its margins continue to bear the brunt of higher raw material costs on account of the implementation of tariffs.
During third-quarter fiscal 2019 conference call, Deere, one of the major names in the Manufacturing - Farm Equipment industry, lowered its expectation for net income for fiscal 2019 to about $3.2 billion from the prior $3.3 billion citing the ongoing trade war and a weak agricultural sector. For the Agriculture & Turf segment, Deere anticipates industry sales of agricultural equipment in the United States and Canada to be flat in fiscal 2019 compared with the prior fiscal year. The segment’s overall fiscal 2019 sales are expected to be up 2% year over year.
So far this year, shares of Deere have gained 3.9%, underperforming its industry’s growth of 4.5%.
Silver Lining
However, it’s too early to write off Deere as we believe strong results from the Construction & Forestry segment will help negate the impact of a weak agricultural sector and tariffs. Notably, in the first three quarters of fiscal 2019, the segment’s sales improved 11% and operating profit improved 66% from the prior-year comparable period. This was aided by the Wirtgen acquisition, higher shipment volume and price realization, somewhat offset by unfavorable foreign exchange.
As a reminder, Deere acquired the world’s leading road-construction equipment maker, Wirtgen, for $5.2 billion in cash and debt in December 2017. The buyout significantly enhanced Deere's exposure to global transportation infrastructure. The company updated its synergy target to 125 million euro by 2022.
With order books extending into the fourth quarter, the segment is poised for improved results for fiscal 2019. Deere projects global sales for Construction & Forestry equipment to rise 10% in fiscal 2019. For the fiscal, U.S. GDP, total construction investments, housing starts and oil activity remains at supportive levels for equipment demand. Equipment rental utilization remains high and rental rates are likely to trend higher in 2019. Global transportation investment this year is expected to be up about 5%, spurring demand for road construction equipment, which bodes well for Wirtgen.
Deere is also assessing cost structure by reviewing organization efficiency and footprint assessment, which in turn will help improve margins. Deere will benefit from concerted focus on launching products with advanced technologies and features, which provides it a competitive edge. The company remains focused on revolutionizing agriculture with technology in an effort to make farming automated, easy to use and more precise across the production process. Consequently, Deere continues to invest in technology leadership and data analytics.
Zebra Technologies has a projected earnings growth rate of 16.71% for the current year. The stock has gained 28.9% so far this year.
AGCO has an expected earnings growth rate of 29.5% for the ongoing year. The stock has appreciated 24% over the past year.
Cintas has an estimated earnings growth rate of 11.15% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 57.0% in the past year.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
Image: Bigstock
Can Deere Overcome Tariff Impact & Weak Agricultural Sector?
Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) is expected to be hit hard as China’s latest round of tariffs is aggravating the woes of an already struggling U.S agricultural sector.
The U.S Agriculture industry has been grappling with low commodity prices and sluggish farm incomes over the past few years. Moreover, tariffs imposed by China on U.S. agricultural exports last year dealt a severe blow to the industry as China is the largest export market for U.S. agriculture producers. Per American Farm Bureau, farm bankruptcy filings have gone up 13% in the 12-month period ended June 2019. Further, delinquency rates for commercial agricultural loans are at a six-year high.
Farmers have thus been more cautious about spending on farm equipment, which in turn put pressure on Deere’s top line. China’s recent announcement to hike tariffs between 5% and 10% on U.S. goods worth $75 billion including agricultural products, in two stages on Sep 1 and Dec 15, 2019, thus raises a red flag for Deere’s customers.
Apart from the impact of weak farm equipment spending on Deere’s top line, its margins continue to bear the brunt of higher raw material costs on account of the implementation of tariffs.
During third-quarter fiscal 2019 conference call, Deere, one of the major names in the Manufacturing - Farm Equipment industry, lowered its expectation for net income for fiscal 2019 to about $3.2 billion from the prior $3.3 billion citing the ongoing trade war and a weak agricultural sector. For the Agriculture & Turf segment, Deere anticipates industry sales of agricultural equipment in the United States and Canada to be flat in fiscal 2019 compared with the prior fiscal year. The segment’s overall fiscal 2019 sales are expected to be up 2% year over year.
So far this year, shares of Deere have gained 3.9%, underperforming its industry’s growth of 4.5%.
Silver Lining
However, it’s too early to write off Deere as we believe strong results from the Construction & Forestry segment will help negate the impact of a weak agricultural sector and tariffs. Notably, in the first three quarters of fiscal 2019, the segment’s sales improved 11% and operating profit improved 66% from the prior-year comparable period. This was aided by the Wirtgen acquisition, higher shipment volume and price realization, somewhat offset by unfavorable foreign exchange.
As a reminder, Deere acquired the world’s leading road-construction equipment maker, Wirtgen, for $5.2 billion in cash and debt in December 2017. The buyout significantly enhanced Deere's exposure to global transportation infrastructure. The company updated its synergy target to 125 million euro by 2022.
With order books extending into the fourth quarter, the segment is poised for improved results for fiscal 2019. Deere projects global sales for Construction & Forestry equipment to rise 10% in fiscal 2019. For the fiscal, U.S. GDP, total construction investments, housing starts and oil activity remains at supportive levels for equipment demand. Equipment rental utilization remains high and rental rates are likely to trend higher in 2019. Global transportation investment this year is expected to be up about 5%, spurring demand for road construction equipment, which bodes well for Wirtgen.
Deere is also assessing cost structure by reviewing organization efficiency and footprint assessment, which in turn will help improve margins. Deere will benefit from concerted focus on launching products with advanced technologies and features, which provides it a competitive edge. The company remains focused on revolutionizing agriculture with technology in an effort to make farming automated, easy to use and more precise across the production process. Consequently, Deere continues to invest in technology leadership and data analytics.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Deere currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
A few better-ranked stocks in the Industrial Products sector are Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA - Free Report) , AGCO Corporation (AGCO - Free Report) and Cintas Corporation (CTAS - Free Report) . While Zebra Technologies presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), AGCO and Cintas carry a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Zebra Technologies has a projected earnings growth rate of 16.71% for the current year. The stock has gained 28.9% so far this year.
AGCO has an expected earnings growth rate of 29.5% for the ongoing year. The stock has appreciated 24% over the past year.
Cintas has an estimated earnings growth rate of 11.15% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 57.0% in the past year.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>