Deere & Company DE Form 10-Q filing Q3 FY2024

Item 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

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See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

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See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

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See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

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See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

**(1)**Organization and Consolidation

Deere & Company has been developing innovative solutions to help its customers become more profitable for more than 185 years. References to “Deere & Company,” “John Deere,” “we,” “us,” or “our” include our consolidated subsidiaries. We manage our business through the following operating segments: production and precision agriculture (PPA), small agriculture and turf (SAT), construction and forestry (CF), and financial services (FS). References to “agriculture and turf” include both PPA and SAT.

We use a 52/53 week fiscal year with quarters ending on the last Sunday in the reporting period. The third quarter ends for fiscal year 2024 and 2023 were July 28, 2024 and July 30, 2023, respectively. Both third quarters contained 13 weeks, while both year-to-date periods contained 39 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, or months refer to our fiscal years generally ending in October and the associated periods in those fiscal years.

All amounts are presented in millions of dollars, unless otherwise specified.

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**(2)**Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and New Accounting PROnouncements

Quarterly Financial Statements

The interim consolidated financial statements of Deere & Company have been prepared by us, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. All normal recurring adjustments have been included. Management believes the disclosures are adequate to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. It is suggested these interim consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those to be expected for the fiscal year.

Use of Estimates in Financial Statements

Certain accounting policies require management to make estimates and assumptions in determining the amounts reflected in the financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements

We closely monitor all Accounting Standard Updates (ASUs) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and other authoritative guidance.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

We adopted the following standards in 2024, none of which had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

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Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands disclosures in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and cash income taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. The effective date of the ASU is fiscal year 2026. We are assessing the effect of this update on our related disclosures.

We will also adopt the following standards in future periods, none of which are expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

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**(3)**Revenue Recognition

Our net sales and revenues by primary geographic market, major product line, and timing of revenue recognition follow:

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We invoice in advance of recognizing the sale of certain products and the revenue for certain services. These relate to extended warranty premiums, advance payments for future equipment sales, and subscription and service revenue related to precision guidance, telematic services, and other information enabled solutions. These advanced customer payments are presented as deferred revenue, a contract liability, in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses.” The deferred revenue received, but not recognized in revenue, was $1,895, $1,697, and $1,753 at July 28, 2024, October 29, 2023, and July 30, 2023, respectively. The contract liability is reduced as the revenue is recognized. During the three months ended July 28, 2024 and July 30, 2023, $126 and $96, respectively, of revenue was recognized from deferred revenue that was recorded as a contract liability at the beginning of the respective fiscal year. During the nine months ended July 28, 2024 and July 30, 2023, $484 and $440, respectively, of revenue was recognized from deferred revenue that was recorded as a contract liability at the beginning of the respective fiscal year.

The amount of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original duration greater than one year was $1,677 at July 28, 2024. The estimated revenue to be recognized by fiscal year follows: remainder of 2024 – $188, 2025 – $456, 2026 – $384, 2027 – $254, 2028 – $157, 2029 – $128, and later years – $110. As permitted, we elected only to disclose remaining performance obligations with an original contract duration greater than one year. The contracts with an expected duration of one year or less are for sales to dealers and retail customers for equipment, service parts, repair services, and certain telematics services.

**(4)**Other Comprehensive Income Items

The after-tax components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) follow:

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The following tables reflect amounts recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), as well as reclassifications out of other comprehensive income (loss).

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**(5)**Earnings Per Share

A reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to Deere & Company follows in millions, except per share amounts:

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**(6)**Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

We have several funded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit (OPEB) plans. These plans cover U.S. employees and certain foreign employees. The components of net periodic pension and OPEB (benefit) cost consisted of the following:

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The components of net periodic pension and OPEB (benefit) cost excluding the service cost component are included in the line item “Other operating expenses.”

During the first nine months of 2024, we contributed and expect to contribute the following amounts to our pension and OPEB plans:

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**(7)**Segment DATA

Information relating to operations by operating segment follows:

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Operating profit for PPA, SAT, and CF is income from continuing operations before corporate expenses, certain external interest expenses, certain foreign exchange gains and losses, and income taxes. Operating profit of financial services includes the effect of interest expense and foreign exchange gains and losses. Reconciling items to net income are primarily corporate expenses, certain interest income and expenses, certain foreign exchange gains and losses, pension and OPEB benefit (cost) amounts excluding the service cost component, and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Identifiable operating assets were as follows:

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**(8)**Financing Receivables

We monitor the credit quality of financing receivables based on delinquency status, defined as follows:

• Past due balances represent any payments 30 days or more past the due date.
• Non-performing financing receivables represent receivables for which we have stopped accruing finance income. This generally occurs when receivables are 90 days delinquent.
• Write-offs generally occur when receivables are 120 days delinquent. In these situations, the estimated uncollectible amount is written off to the allowance for credit losses. Any expected recovery is presented as non-performing.

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The credit quality analysis of retail notes, financing leases, and revolving charge accounts (collectively, retail customer receivables) by year of origination was as follows:

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The credit quality analysis of wholesale receivables by year of origination was as follows:

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An analysis of the allowance for credit losses and investment in financing receivables follows:

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In the third quarter of 2024, we determined that the financial services business in Brazil met the held for sale criteria. The receivables in Brazil were reclassified to “Assets held for sale.” The associated allowance for credit losses was reversed and a valuation allowance for the assets held for sale was recorded (see Note 21). Excluding the business in Brazil, the allowance for credit losses on retail notes and financing lease receivables increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024,

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primarily due to higher expected losses as a result of elevated delinquencies and a decline in market conditions. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in the allowance on revolving charge accounts, driven by write-offs of seasonal financing program accounts and recoveries expected on those accounts in the future.

In the first quarter of 2023, the financial services business in Russia met the held for sale criteria. The allowance for credit losses for the financing receivables in Russia was reversed and a valuation allowance for the assets held for sale was recorded. These operations were sold in the second quarter of 2023 (see Note 20).

Write-offs by year of origination were as follows:

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Modifications

We occasionally grant contractual modifications to customers experiencing financial difficulties. Before offering a modification, we evaluate the ability of the customer to meet the modified payment terms. Modifications offered include payment deferrals, term extensions, or a combination thereof. Finance charges continue to accrue during the deferral or extension period with the exception of modifications related to bankruptcy proceedings. Our allowance for credit losses incorporates historical loss information, including the effects of loan modifications with customers. Therefore, additional adjustments to the allowance are generally not recorded upon modification of a loan.

The ending amortized cost of modified loans with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during the third quarter and the nine months ended July 28, 2024 were $23 and $67, respectively, of which $56 were current, $4 were 30-59 days past due, $3 were 60-89 days past due, $1 were 90 days or greater past due, and $3 were non-performing. These modifications represented 0.04 and 0.13 percent of our financing receivable portfolio for the same periods, respectively.

Defaults and subsequent write-offs of loans modified in the prior twelve months were not significant during the third quarter or the first nine months of 2024. In addition, at July 28, 2024, commitments to provide additional financing to these customers were not significant.

(9)  Securitization of Financing Receivables

Our funding strategy includes receivable securitizations, which allows us to receive cash for financing receivables immediately. While these securitization programs are administered in various forms, they are accomplished in the following basic steps:

1. We transfer financing receivables into a bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity (SPE).

2. The SPE issues debt to investors. The debt is secured by the financing receivables.

3. Investors are paid back based on cash receipts from the financing receivables.

As part of step 1, these receivables are legally isolated from the claims of our general creditors. This ensures cash receipts from the financing receivables are accessible to pay back securitization program investors. The structure of these transactions does not meet the accounting criteria for a sale of receivables. As a result, they are accounted for as a secured borrowing. The receivables and borrowings remain on our balance sheet and are separately reported as “Financing receivables securitized – net” and “Short-term securitization borrowings,” respectively.

The components of securitization programs were as follows:

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**(10)**Inventories

A majority of inventories owned by us are valued at cost on the “last-in, first-out” (LIFO) basis. If all inventories had been valued on a “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) basis, the estimated inventories by major classification would have been as follows:

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**(11)**Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets – Net

The changes in amounts of goodwill by operating segments were as follows. There were no accumulated goodwill impairment losses.

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The components of other intangible assets were as follows:

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The amortization of other intangible assets in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024 was $41 and $124, and for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2023 was $42 and $126, respectively. The estimated amortization expense for the next five years is as follows: remainder of 2024 – $49, 2025 – $145, 2026 – $121, 2027 – $119, 2028 – $87, and 2029 – $74.

**(12)**Short-Term Borrowings

Short-term borrowings were as follows:

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**(13)**Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:

Amounts are presented net of eliminations, which primarily consist of dealer sales incentives with a right of set-off against trade receivables of $2,535 at July 28, 2024, $2,228 at October 29, 2023, and $2,240 at July 30, 2023. Other eliminations were made for accrued taxes and other accrued expenses.

**(14)**Long-Term Borrowings

Long-term borrowings consisted of:

Medium-term notes due through 2034 are primarily offered by prospectus and issued at fixed and variable rates. The principal balances of the medium-term notes were $36,716, $30,902, and $30,348, at July 28, 2024, October 29, 2023, and July 30, 2023, respectively. All outstanding notes and debentures are senior unsecured borrowings and rank equally with each other.

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**(15)**Leases – Lessor

We lease equipment manufactured or sold by us through John Deere Financial. Sales-type and direct financing leases are reported in “Financing receivables – net.” Operating leases are reported in “Equipment on operating leases – net.”

Lease revenues earned by us follow:

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**(16)**Commitments and Contingencies

A standard warranty is provided as assurance that the equipment will function as intended. The standard warranty period varies by product and region. At the time a sale is recognized, we record an estimate of future warranty costs based on historical claims rate experience and estimated population under warranty.

The reconciliation of the changes in the warranty liability follows:

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The costs for extended warranty programs are recognized as incurred.

In certain international markets, we provide guarantees to banks for the retail financing of John Deere equipment. At July 28, 2024, the notional value of these guarantees was $151. We may repossess the equipment collateralizing the receivables. At July 28, 2024, the accrued losses under these agreements were not material.

We also had other miscellaneous contingent liabilities and guarantees totaling approximately $130 at July 28, 2024. The accrued liability for these contingencies was $20 at July 28, 2024.

At July 28, 2024, we had commitments of approximately $585 for the construction and acquisition of property and equipment. Also, at July 28, 2024, we had restricted assets of $234, classified as “Other assets.”

We are subject to various unresolved legal actions. The accrued losses on these matters were not material at July 28, 2024. We believe the reasonably possible range of losses for these unresolved legal actions would not have a material effect on our financial statements. The most prevalent legal claims relate to product liability (including asbestos-related liability), retail credit, employment, patent, trademark, and antitrust matters.

**(17)**FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The fair values of financial instruments that do not approximate the carrying values were as follows. Long-term borrowings exclude finance lease liabilities.

Fair value measurements above were Level 3 for all financing receivables and Level 2 for all borrowings.

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Fair values of the financing receivables that were issued long-term were based on the discounted values of their related cash flows at interest rates currently being offered by us for similar financing receivables. The fair values of the remaining financing receivables approximated the carrying amounts. In May 2024, we acquired a held-to-maturity marketable security that matures in less than one year. The carrying value of the held-to-maturity marketable security was $12 as of July 28, 2024, which approximated its fair value.

Fair values of long-term borrowings and short-term securitization borrowings were based on current market quotes for identical or similar borrowings and credit risk, or on the discounted values of their related cash flows at current market interest rates.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis follow, excluding our cash equivalents, which were carried at a cost that approximates fair value and consisted of money market funds and time deposits.

The mortgage-backed securities are primarily issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises.

The contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities at July 28, 2024 follow:

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid. Mortgage-backed securities contain prepayment provisions and are not categorized by contractual maturity.

Fair value, nonrecurring Level 3 measurements from impairments were as follows:

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The following is a description of the valuation methodologies we use to measure certain financial instruments on the balance sheets at fair value:

Marketable securities – The portfolio of investments is valued on a market approach (matrix pricing model) in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, credit risk, and prepayment speeds. Funds are valued using the fund’s net asset value, based on the fair value of the underlying securities. International debt securities are valued using quoted prices for identical assets in inactive markets.

Derivatives – Our derivative financial instruments consist of interest rate contracts (swaps), foreign currency exchange contracts (futures, forwards, and swaps), and cross-currency interest rate contracts (swaps). The portfolio is valued based on an income approach (discounted cash flow) using market observable inputs, including swap curves and both forward and spot exchange rates for currencies.

Assets held for sale – The impairment was measured at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Fair value was based on the probable sale price. The inputs included estimates of the final sale price (see Note 21).

**(18)**Derivative Instruments

Fair values of our derivative instruments and the associated notional amounts were as follows. Assets are recorded in “Other assets,” while liabilities are recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses.”

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The amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheets related to borrowings designated in fair value hedging relationships were as follows. Fair value hedging adjustments are included in the carrying amount of the hedged item.

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The classification and gains (losses), including accrued interest expense, related to derivative instruments on the statements of consolidated income consisted of the following:

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• Includes interest and foreign exchange gains (losses) from cross-currency interest rate contracts.

Certain of our derivative agreements contain credit support provisions that may require us to post collateral based on the size of the net liability positions and credit ratings. The aggregate fair value of all derivatives with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position at July 28, 2024, October 29, 2023, and July 30, 2023, was $566, $1,076, and $865, respectively. In accordance with the limits established in these agreements, we posted $269, $659, and $435 of cash collateral at July 28, 2024, October 29, 2023, and July 30, 2023, respectively. In addition, we paid $8 of collateral that was outstanding at July 28, 2024, October 29, 2023, and July 30, 2023 to participate in an international futures market to hedge currency exposure, not included in the table below.

Derivatives are recorded without offsetting for netting arrangements or collateral. The impact on the derivative assets and liabilities related to netting arrangements and collateral follows:

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**(19)**Share-Based Awards

We are authorized to grant shares for stock options and restricted stock units. The outstanding shares authorized were 14.9 million at July 28, 2024. In December 2023, we granted stock options to employees for the purchase of 216 thousand shares of common stock at an exercise price of $377.01 per share and a binomial lattice model fair value of $98.04 per share at the grant date. At July 28, 2024, options for 1.7 million shares were outstanding with a weighted-average exercise price of $228.10 per share.

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During the nine months ended July 28, 2024, the restricted stock units (RSUs) granted in thousands of shares and the weighted-average grant date fair values, using the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, in dollars follow:

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In December 2023, we granted market/service-based RSUs. The vesting period for the market/service-based RSUs is three years and dividend equivalents are not earned during the vesting period. The market/service-based RSUs are subject to a market related metric based on total shareholder return, compared to a benchmark group of companies, and award common stock in a range of zero to 200 percent for each unit granted based on the level of the metric achieved. The fair value of the market/service-based RSUs was determined using a Monte Carlo model.

**(20)**Disposition

In March 2023, we sold our financial services business in Russia to Insight Investment Group. The total proceeds, net of restricted cash sold, were $36. The operations were included in the financial services operating segment through the date of sale. At the disposal date, the total assets were $31, consisting primarily of financing receivables, the total liabilities were $5, and the cumulative translation loss was $10. We did not incur additional gains or losses upon disposition.

**(21)**Special ItemS

2024

Employee-Separation Programs

In the third quarter of 2024, we implemented employee-separation programs for our salaried workforce in several geographic areas, including the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The programs’ main purpose was to help meet our strategic priorities while reducing overlap and redundancy in roles and responsibilities. The programs were largely involuntary in nature with the expense recorded when management committed to a plan, the plan was communicated to the employees, and the employees were not required to provide service beyond the legal notification period.

The programs’ total pretax expenses are estimated to be approximately $150, with $124 recorded in the third quarter of 2024. The remaining expenses are expected to be recorded primarily in 2025. Payments made during the third quarter of 2024 with respect to these program expenses totaled $30. The expenses for the three months and nine months ended July 28, 2024 were recorded as follows:

• Relates primarily to corporate expenses.

Banco John Deere S.A.

In the third quarter of 2024, our board of directors authorized the sale of 50 percent ownership in our wholly owned subsidiary, Banco John Deere S.A. (BJD). BJD, located in Brazil, is included in our financial services segment and finances retail and wholesale loans for agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment. The transaction will reduce our incremental risk as we continue to grow in the Brazilian market. As a result, we reclassified the BJD business as held for sale, including a reversal of $38 in allowance for credit losses, and the establishment of a $53 valuation allowance on the assets held for sale. The net impact of these entries was a pretax and after-tax loss of $15 recorded in “Selling, administrative and general expenses.” We do not expect a significant gain or loss upon deconsolidation of BJD in 2025.

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The major classes of the total consolidated assets and liabilities of BJD that were classified as held for sale and liabilities of BJD to other intercompany parties were as follows:

• Includes $1 restricted cash balance.

In August 2024, we entered into an agreement with a Brazilian bank, Banco Bradesco S.A. (Bradesco), for Bradesco to invest and become 50 percent owner of BJD. On the transaction date, which is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2025, subject to usual and customary regulatory approval, Bradesco will contribute capital equal to our equity investment in BJD. We will retain a 50 percent equity interest in BJD and report the results of the joint venture as an equity investment in unconsolidated affiliates.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

In the third quarter of 2024, we exercised our right to purchase the remaining 20 percent interest in SurePoint Ag Systems, Inc. The arrangement was accounted for as an equity transaction with no gain or loss recorded in the statements of consolidated income.

2023

Brazil Tax Ruling

In the third quarter of 2023, the Brazil Superior Court of Justice published a favorable tax ruling regarding taxability of local incentives, which allowed us to record a $243 reduction in the provision for income taxes and $47 of interest income.

Financial Services Financing Incentives Correction

In the second quarter of 2023, we corrected the accounting treatment for financing incentives offered to John Deere dealers, which impacted the timing of expense recognition and the presentation of incentive costs in the consolidated financial statements. The cumulative effect of this correction, $173 pretax ($135 after-tax), was recorded in the second quarter of 2023 in “Selling, administrative and general expenses” by financial services. Prior period results were not restated, as the adjustment was considered immaterial to our financial statements.

Summary of 2024 and 2023 Special Items

The following table summarizes the operating profit impact of the special items recorded for the three months and nine months ended July 28, 2024 and July 30, 2023.

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**(22)**Subsequent EventS

In August 2024, we entered into an agreement with a Brazilian bank, Banco Bradesco S.A., to invest and become 50 percent owner of Banco John Deere S.A. (see Note 21).

On August 28, 2024, a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share was declared at the Board of Directors meeting, payable on November 8, 2024, to stockholders of record on September 30, 2024.

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Item 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

All amounts are presented in millions of dollars unless otherwise specified.

Overview

Organization

Deere & Company is a global leader in the production of agricultural, turf, construction, and forestry equipment and solutions. John Deere Financial provides financing for John Deere equipment, parts, services, and other input costs customers need to run their operations. Our operations are managed through the production and precision agriculture (PPA), small agriculture and turf (SAT), construction and forestry (CF), and financial services operating segments. References to “equipment operations” include PPA, SAT, and CF, while references to “agriculture and turf” include both PPA and SAT.

Smart Industrial Operating Model and Leap Ambitions

We announced the Smart Industrial Operating Model in 2020. This operating model is based on three focus areas:

(a) Production systems: A strategic alignment of products and solutions around our customers’ operations.

(b) Technology stack: Investments in technology, as well as research and development, that deliver intelligent solutions to our customers through digital capabilities, automation, autonomy, and alternative power technologies.

(c) Lifecycle solutions: The integration of our aftermarket and support capabilities to more effectively manage customer equipment, service, and technology needs across the full lifetime of a John Deere product.

Our Leap Ambitions were launched in 2022. These ambitions are designed to boost economic value and sustainability for our customers. The ambitions align across our customers’ production systems seeking to optimize their operations to deliver better outcomes with fewer resources.

Trends and Economic Conditions

Industry Sales Outlook for Fiscal Year 2024

Agriculture and Turf

Construction and Forestry

Company Trends

Customers seek to improve profitability, productivity, and sustainability through technology. Integration of technology into equipment is a persistent market trend. Our Smart Industrial Operating Model and Leap Ambitions are intended to capitalize on this market trend. These technologies are incorporated into products within each of our operating segments. We expect this trend to persist for the foreseeable future. Our progress is demonstrated, in part, by the growing use of the John Deere Operations Center (our digital operations management system) engaging more agricultural acres globally. Engaged acres give us a foundational understanding of customer utilization of John Deere technology. The investments in these technologies and establishing a Solutions as a Service business model may increase our operating costs and decrease operating margins during the transition period.

Company Outlook for 2024

Production volumes are expected to continue to decline during the remainder of 2024 due to reduced demand amid challenges in the global agricultural and turf sectors and construction industry coupled with inventory management through planned underproduction to retail demand.

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Agriculture and Turf Outlook for 2024

• We expect large and small agricultural equipment sales to be down from 2023 levels across all our major markets.
• Agricultural fundamentals are expected to continue to moderate in 2024 due to rising global grain stocks from excellent growing conditions, lower commodity prices, elevated interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty.
• Demand in the U.S. and Canada continues to be affected by declining farm income margins partially offset by stable farm balance sheets.
• The U.S. equipment fleet age is elevated for tractors and in line with historic averages for combines. However, increases in used inventory levels are impacting purchasing decisions.
• Sales of compact utility tractors in the U.S. are forecasted to be down due to higher interest rates, partially offset by small and mid-tractor tailwinds from improving dairy and livestock fundamentals.
• In Europe, volatile weather conditions continue to drive uncertainty about crop yields and along with elevated input costs are impacting demand in the region, while the dairy and livestock sector remains steady due to stronger pricing and lower feed costs.
• Demand in Brazil is expected to be down due to strong global yields driving down commodity prices and persistently high interest rates.
• Industry sales in Asia are forecasted to be down moderately due to commodity price changes, inventory reductions, and weather impacts.

Construction and Forestry Outlook for 2024

• Construction equipment industry sales are forecasted to be down from 2023 levels.
• Benefits from strong U.S. infrastructure spending and increasing manufacturing investment levels are expected to partially offset declines in housing starts, decreases in rental purchases, low levels of commercial real estate construction, and the effect of inventory levels having recovered from historical lows.
• Roadbuilding demand remains strong in the U.S., largely offset by continuing softness in Europe.

Financial Services Outlook for 2024

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Net Income ​ Up moderately ​

• Higher average portfolio ​ Favorable ​

• Prior period special item ​ Favorable ​

(-) Provision for credit losses ​ Unfavorable ​

(-) Financing spreads ​ Unfavorable ​

Additional Trends

Agricultural Market Business Cycle. The agricultural market is affected by various factors including commodity prices, acreage planted, crop yields, and government policies. These factors affect farmers’ income and may result in lower demand for equipment. We may experience any of the following effects during unfavorable market conditions: lower net sales, higher sales discounts, higher receivable write-offs, and losses on equipment on operating leases.

In the third quarter of 2024, we implemented employee-separation programs for our salaried workforce to help meet our strategic priorities while reducing overlap and redundancy in roles and responsibilities. The programs’ total pretax expenses are estimated to be approximately $150, of which $124 was recorded in the third quarter of 2024. Annual pretax savings from these programs are estimated to be approximately $230, with $100 estimated to be realized in 2024 (See Note 21).

Interest Rates. Central bank policy interest rates increased in 2023 and have remained elevated. Increased rates impacted us in several ways, primarily affecting the demand for our products and financing spreads for the financial services operations.

The markets for our agriculture, turf, and construction products were negatively impacted by elevated interest rates and their effect on borrowing costs for our customers.

Most retail customer receivables are fixed rate. Wholesale financing receivables generally are variable rate. Both types of receivables are financed with fixed and floating rate borrowings. We manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations by matching our receivables with our funding sources. We also enter into interest rate swap agreements to match our interest rate exposure.

Rising interest rates have historically impacted our borrowings sooner than the benefit is realized from receivable and lease portfolios. As a result, our financial services operations experienced $66 (after-tax) less favorable financing spreads in 2024 compared to 2023. We expect to continue experiencing spread compression in 2024.

Higher interest rates are driven by factors outside of our control, and as a result we cannot reasonably foresee when this condition will subside.

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Other Items of Concern and Uncertainties

Other items that could impact our results are:

• global and regional political conditions, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East,
• economic, tax, and trade policies,
• new or retaliatory tariffs,
• capital market disruptions,
• foreign currency and capital control policies,
• regulations and legislation regarding right to repair or right to modify,
• weather conditions,
• marketplace adoption, and monetization of technologies we have invested in,
• our ability to strengthen our digital capabilities, automation, autonomy, and alternative power technologies,
• workforce reductions impact on employee retention, morale, and institutional knowledge,
• changes in demand and pricing for new and used equipment,
• delays or disruptions in our supply chain,
• significant fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates,
• volatility in the prices of many commodities, and
• slower economic growth or recession.

Consolidated Results – 2024 Compared with 2023

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Net sales and revenues decreased for both the quarter and year-to-date periods primarily due to lower sales volumes. Net income and diluted EPS decreased driven by lower sales. The discussion of net sales and operating profit is included in the Business Segment Results below. Net income in each of the periods presented were impacted by special items. See Note 21 for additional details.

An explanation of the cost of sales to net sales ratio and other significant statement of consolidated income changes follows:

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Business Segment Results – 2024 Compared with 2023

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Production and precision agriculture sales decreased for the quarter as a result of lower shipment volumes (primarily in the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and Asia) driven mainly by lower commodity prices and higher interest rates, partially offset by price realization in the U.S. and Canada. Operating profit decreased primarily due to lower shipment volumes and employee-separation programs’ expenses, partially offset by price realization and lower warranty expenses.

Production & Precision Agriculture Operating Profit

Third Quarter 2024 Compared to Third Quarter 2023

Sales for the first nine months decreased as a result of lower shipment volumes (primarily in Brazil, the U.S., and Europe) partially offset by price realization in the U.S. and Canada. Operating profit for the first nine months decreased due to lower sales volume, higher selling, administrative, and general expenses and research and development expenses, partially offset by price realization and lower warranty expenses.

Production & Precision Agriculture Operating Profit

First Nine Months 2024 Compared to First Nine Months 2023

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Small agriculture and turf sales decreased for the quarter due to lower shipment volumes (primarily in Europe, the U.S., and Mexico) driven mainly by uncertainty in commodity prices and higher interest rates, partially offset by price realization in the U.S. and Europe. Operating profit decreased due to lower shipment volumes and higher warranty expenses, partially offset by price realization.

Small Agriculture & Turf Operating Profit

Third Quarter 2024 Compared to Third Quarter 2023

Sales for the first nine months decreased as a result of lower shipment volumes (primarily in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico), partially offset by price realization. Operating profit for the first nine months decreased primarily as a result of lower sales volumes and higher warranty expenses. These items were partially offset by price realization and lower production costs.

Small Agriculture & Turf Operating Profit

First Nine Months 2024 Compared to First Nine Months 2023

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Construction and forestry sales decreased for the quarter due to lower U.S. shipment volumes, driven by moderating demand and efforts to reduce field inventory. Operating profit decreased due to lower sales volumes, unfavorable mix, and unfavorable price realization.

Construction & Forestry Operating Profit

Third Quarter 2024 Compared to Third Quarter 2023

Sales for the first nine months decreased due to lower worldwide shipment volumes, partially offset by price realization. Operating profit for the first nine months decreased due to lower sales volumes, increased production costs driven by low volume inefficiencies, and higher selling, administrative, and general expenses and research and development expenses. These factors were partially offset by price realization.

Construction & Forestry Operating Profit

First Nine Months 2024 Compared to First Nine Months 2023

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The average balance of receivables and leases financed was 12 percent higher in the third quarter of 2024 and 16 percent higher in the first nine months of 2024 compared with the same periods last year. Revenue also increased due to higher average financing rates in both periods. Interest expense increased compared to both prior periods as a result of higher average borrowing rates and higher average borrowings. Financial services net income decreased in the third quarter of 2024 due to a higher provision for credit losses and less favorable financing spreads, partially offset by income earned on higher average portfolio balances and favorable discrete tax items. Excluding the impact of an accounting correction in the prior year, financial services net income decreased in the first nine months of 2024 due to a higher provision for credit losses and less favorable financing spreads, partially offset by income earned on higher average portfolio balances. Net income for the first nine months of 2023 was affected by a correction of the accounting treatment for financing incentives offered to John Deere dealers. The cumulative effect of this correction, $173 pretax ($135 after-tax), was recorded in the second quarter of 2023.

Critical Accounting Estimates

See our critical accounting estimates discussed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to these policies.

Capital Resources and Liquidity – 2024 Compared with 2023

We have access to global markets at a reasonable cost. Sources of liquidity include:

• cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities on hand,
• funds from operations,
• the issuance of commercial paper and term debt,
• the securitization of retail notes, and
• bank lines of credit.

We closely monitor our cash requirements. Based on the available sources of liquidity, we expect to meet our funding needs in the short term (next 12 months) and long term (beyond 12 months). We are forecasting lower operating cash flows from equipment operations in 2024 compared with 2023 driven by a decrease in net income adjusted for non-cash provisions and a reduction in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

We operate in multiple industries, which have unique funding requirements. The equipment operations are capital intensive. Historically, these operations have been subject to seasonal variations in financing requirements for inventories and receivables from dealers.

The financial services operations rely on their ability to raise substantial amounts of funds to finance their receivable and lease portfolios. Banco John Deere S.A. assets and liabilities were reclassified to held for sale in the third quarter of 2024 (see Note 21).

Key metrics are provided in the following table:

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In 2024, we invested $177 in U.S. dollar denominated bonds issued by the central bank of Argentina. The bonds are recorded in “Marketable securities,” classified as “International debt securities.” These bonds can be held until maturity or sold in a secondary market outside of Argentina to settle intercompany debt.

The increase in unused credit lines in 2024 compared to both prior periods relates to a decrease in commercial paper outstanding.

There have been no material changes to the contractual obligations and other cash requirements identified in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Cash Flows

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Cash inflows from consolidated operating activities in the first nine months of 2024 were $4,139. This resulted mainly from net income adjusted for non-cash provisions, partially offset by a working capital change. Included in the working capital change was a cash outflow of $1,015 from accounts payable and accrued expenses due to less trade payables consistent with our forecasted decrease in production and lower accrued expenses related to dealer sales discounts and employee benefits. Cash outflows from investing activities were $3,671 in the first nine months of this year. The primary drivers were growth in the retail customer receivable portfolio and equipment on operating leases and purchases of property and equipment. Cash outflows from financing activities were $789 in the first nine months of 2024, as cash returned to shareholders was partially offset by higher external borrowings. Cash returned to shareholders was $4,429 in the first nine months of 2024. Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash decreased $327 during the first nine months of 2024.

Key Metrics and Balance Sheet Changes

Trade Accounts and Notes Receivable. Trade accounts and notes receivable arise from sales of goods to customers. Trade receivables decreased $270 during the first nine months of 2024 and decreased $1,828 compared to a year ago, primarily due to lower sales volumes. The percentage of total worldwide trade receivables outstanding for periods exceeding 12 months was 3 percent at July 28, 2024, 1 percent at October 29, 2023, and 1 percent at July 30, 2023.

Financing Receivables and Equipment on Operating Leases. Financing receivables and equipment on operating leases consist of retail notes originated in connection with financing of new and used equipment, operating leases, revolving charge accounts, sales-type and direct financing leases, and wholesale notes. Financing receivables and equipment on operating leases increased $1,363 during the first nine months of 2024 and increased $4,276 in the past 12 months due to higher dealer inventory levels and an increase in the retail customer receivable portfolio, partially offset by the reclassification of Banco John Deere S.A. receivables to “Assets held for sale” in the third quarter of 2024 (see Note 21). Total acquisition volumes of financing receivables and equipment on operating leases were 8 percent higher in the first nine months of 2024, compared with the same period last year, as volumes of wholesale notes, operating leases, financing leases, and retail notes were higher, while revolving charge accounts were flat compared to July 30, 2023.

Inventories. Inventories decreased by $464 during the first nine months of 2024 and decreased by $1,654 compared to a year ago. The decreases were due to lower forecasted shipment volumes. A majority of these inventories are valued on the last-in, first out (LIFO) method.

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment cash expenditures in the first nine months of 2024 were $1,043 compared with $887 in the same period last year. Capital expenditures in 2024 are estimated to be approximately $1,850.

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses. Accounts payable and accrued expenses decreased by $1,733 in the first nine months of 2024, primarily due to decreased accounts payable associated with trade payables, and a decrease in accrued expenses associated with derivative liabilities, dealer sales discounts, and employee benefits. Accounts payable and accrued expenses decreased $943 compared to a year ago due to a decrease in accounts payable associated with trade payables and a decrease in accrued expenses associated with derivative liabilities, partially offset by an increase in extended warranty liabilities.

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Borrowings. Total external borrowings increased by $2,444 in the first nine months of 2024 and increased $3,992 compared to a year ago, generally corresponding with the level of the receivable and lease portfolios, as well as other working capital requirements. The change in borrowings was also impacted by the reclassification of Banco John Deere S.A. borrowings to “Liabilities held for sale” in the third quarter of 2024 (see Note 21).

John Deere Capital Corporation (Capital Corporation), a U.S. financial services subsidiary, has a revolving warehouse facility to utilize bank conduit facilities to securitize retail notes (see Note 9). The facility was renewed in November 2023 with an expiration in November 2024 and with an increase in the total capacity or “financing limit” from $1,500 to $2,000. At July 28, 2024, $1,566 of securitization borrowings were outstanding under the facility. At the end of the contractual revolving period, unless the banks and Capital Corporation agree to renew, Capital Corporation would liquidate the secured borrowings over time as payments on the retail notes are collected.

In the first nine months of 2024, the financial services operations issued $3,722 and retired $2,849 of retail note securitization borrowings, which are presented in “Net proceeds (payments) in short-term borrowings (original maturities three months or less).”

Lines of Credit. We have access to bank lines of credit with various banks throughout the world.

Worldwide lines of credit totaled $10,930 at July 28, 2024, consisting primarily of:

• a 364-day credit facility agreement of $5,000 expiring in the second quarter of 2025,
• a credit facility agreement of $2,750 expiring in the second quarter of 2028, and
• a credit facility agreement of $2,750 expiring in the second quarter of 2029.

At July 28, 2024, $4,917 of these worldwide lines of credit were unused. For the purpose of computing unused credit lines, commercial paper and short-term bank borrowings were considered to constitute utilization. These credit agreements require Capital Corporation and other parts of our business to maintain certain performance metrics and liquidity targets. All requirements in the credit agreements have been met during the periods included in the financial statements.

Debt Ratings. To access public debt capital markets, we rely on credit rating agencies to assign short-term and long-term credit ratings to our debt securities as an indicator of credit quality for fixed income investors. A security rating is not a recommendation by the rating agency to buy, sell, or hold our securities. A credit rating agency may change or withdraw ratings based on its assessment of our current and future ability to meet interest and principal repayment obligations. Each agency’s rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Lower credit ratings generally result in higher borrowing costs, including costs of derivative transactions, and reduced access to debt capital markets. The senior long-term and short-term debt ratings and outlook currently assigned to unsecured company securities by the rating agencies engaged by us are as follows:

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​ Senior ​ ​

​ ​ Long-Term ​ Short-Term ​ Outlook

Fitch Ratings ​ A+ ​ F1 ​ Stable ​

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. A1 Prime-1 Stable ​

Standard & Poor’s A A-1 Stable ​

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATING DATA

The supplemental consolidating data presented on the subsequent pages is presented for informational purposes. Equipment operations represents the enterprise without financial services. Equipment operations includes production and precision agriculture operations, small agriculture and turf operations, construction and forestry operations, and other corporate assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses not reflected within financial services. Transactions between the equipment operations and financial services have been eliminated to arrive at the consolidated financial statements.

Equipment operations and financial services participate in different industries. Equipment operations primarily generate earnings and cash flows by manufacturing and selling equipment, service parts, and technology solutions to dealers and retail customers. Financial services finances sales and leases by dealers of new and used equipment that is largely manufactured by equipment operations. Those earnings and cash flows generally are the difference between the finance income received from customer payments less interest expense, and depreciation on equipment subject to an operating lease. The two businesses are capitalized differently and have separate performance metrics. The supplemental consolidating data is also used by management due to these differences.

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1 Elimination of intercompany interest income and expense.

2 Elimination of equipment operations’ margin from inventory transferred to equipment on operating leases.

3 Elimination of income and expenses between equipment operations and financial services related to intercompany guarantees of investments in certain international markets and intercompany service revenues and expenses.

4 Elimination of intercompany service fees.

5 Elimination of financial services’ lease depreciation expense related to inventory transferred to equipment on operating leases.

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1 Elimination of intercompany interest income and expense.

2 Elimination of equipment operations’ margin from inventory transferred to equipment on operating leases.

3 Elimination of income and expenses between equipment operations and financial services related to intercompany guarantees of investments in certain international markets and intercompany service revenues and expenses.

4 Elimination of intercompany service fees.

5 Elimination of financial services’ lease depreciation expense related to inventory transferred to equipment on operating leases.

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6 Elimination of receivables / payables between equipment operations and financial services.

7 Primarily reclassification of sales incentive accruals on receivables sold to financial services.

8 Reclassification of net pension assets / liabilities.

9 Reclassification of deferred tax assets / liabilities in the same taxing jurisdictions.

10 Elimination of financial services’ equity.

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11 Elimination of depreciation on leases related to inventory transferred to equipment on operating leases.

12 Reclassification of share-based compensation expense.

13 Elimination of dividends from financial services to the equipment operations, which are included in the equipment operations’ operating activities.

14 Primarily reclassification of receivables related to the sale of equipment.

15 Reclassification of direct lease agreements with retail customers.

16 Reclassification of sales incentive accruals on receivables sold to financial services.

17 Elimination of change in investment from equipment operations to financial services.

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