Deere Announces Second-Quarter Earnings

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MOLINE, Ill. – Net income attributable to Deere & Company was $980.7 million, or $2.65 per share, for the second quarter that ended April 30, compared with $1.084 billion, or $2.76 per share, for the same period last year.

For the first six months of 2014, net income attributable to Deere & Company was $1.662 billion, or $4.46 per share, compared with $1.734 billion, or $4.41 per share, last year.

Worldwide net sales and revenues decreased 9 percent, to $9.948 billion, for the second quarter and were down 4 percent, to $17.602 billion, for six months. Net sales of the equipment operations were $9.246 billion for the quarter and $16.195 billion for six months, compared with $10.265 billion and $17.058 billion for the same periods last year.

Net sales of the worldwide equipment operations declined 10 percent for the quarter and 5 percent for six months compared with the same periods a year ago. Sales included price realization of 2 percent and an unfavorable currency-translation effect of 1 percent for the quarter and six months. Equipment net sales in the United States and Canada decreased 12 percent for the quarter and 6 percent year to date. Outside the U.S. and Canada, net sales were down 6 percent for the quarter and 3 percent for six months, including unfavorable currency-translation effects of 2 percent for both periods.

Deere’s equipment operations reported operating profit of $1.361 billion for the quarter and $2.252 billion for six months, compared with $1.663 billion and $2.500 billion last year. The decline for both periods was due primarily to the impact of lower shipment volumes, the unfavorable effects of foreign-currency exchange, and a less favorable product mix, partially offset by price realization.

Net income of the company’s equipment operations was $838 million for the second quarter and $1.381 billion for the first six months, compared with $953 million and $1.478 billion in 2013. In addition to the operating factors mentioned above, a lower effective tax rate benefited both quarterly and six-month results.

Financial services reported net income attributable to Deere & Company of $147.7 million for the quarter and $289.9 million for six months compared with $125.0 million and $257.9 million last year. The improvement for the quarter was due to growth in the credit portfolio, partially offset by higher selling, administrative and general expenses. Six-month results improved due to growth in the credit portfolio and a more favorable effective tax rate, partially offset by lower crop insurance margins and higher selling, administrative and general expenses.

Company equipment sales are projected to decrease about 4 percent for fiscal 2014 and for the third quarter compared with the year-ago periods. Included is an unfavorable currency-translation effect of about 1 percent for the year. For the fiscal year, net income attributable to Deere & Company is anticipated to be about $3.3 billion.