– Income jumps 26% on 4% gain in net sales and revenues.
– Performance driven by strong profits in farm machinery and financial services.
– Extensive growth investments remain on track, helping expand company’s global footprint.
– Full-year income forecast raised to $3.45 billion.

Net income attributable to Deere & Company was $996.5 million, or $2.56 per share, for the third quarter ended July 31, compared with $788.0 million, or $1.98 per share, for the same period last year. 

For the first nine months of the year, net income attributable to Deere & Company was $2.730 billion, or $6.97 per share, compared with $2.377 billion, or $5.88 per share, last year.

Worldwide net sales and revenues increased 4%, to $10.010 billion, for the third quarter and rose 8% to $28.345 billion for nine months. Net sales of the equipment operations were $9.316 billion for the quarter and $26.373 billion for nine months, compared with $8.930 billion and $24.454 billion for the same periods last year. 

"John Deere is well on the road to another year of impressive performance after reporting record third-quarter results," said Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer. Sales and income for the period were higher than in any prior third quarter, he pointed out. "Deere's success is a reflection of considerable strength in the farm sector, especially in North and South America. We also are making further progress executing our wide-ranging operating and marketing plans, which call for expanding our global market presence while keeping a close watch on costs and assets."

Summary of Operations

Net sales of the worldwide equipment operations increased 4% for the quarter and 8% for nine months compared with the same periods a year ago. Sales included price realization of 3% and an unfavorable currency-translation effect of 1% for both the quarter and nine months. Equipment net sales in the United States and Canada rose 4% for the quarter and 9% year to date. Outside the U.S. and Canada, net sales increased 5% for the quarter and 6% for nine months, with unfavorable currency-translation effects of 1% and 3% for these periods. 

Deere's equipment operations reported operating profit of $1.443 billion for the quarter and $3.943 billion for nine months, compared with $1.127 billion and $3.347 billion last year. The improvement for both periods was due primarily to the impact of price realization and higher shipment volumes. Also affecting third-quarter results was an impairment charge for long-lived assets related to John Deere Water operations. In addition, nine-month results were impacted by increases in production costs, selling, administrative and general expenses and warranty costs, as well as the unfavorable effects of foreign exchange. Increased production costs were related primarily to higher manufacturing-overhead expenses, partially offset by lower raw-material costs. The higher manufacturing-overhead expenses were in support of growth, new products and engine-emission requirements. 

Net income of the company's equipment operations was $846 million for the third quarter and $2.324 billion for the first nine months, compared with $678 million and $2.040 billion in 2012. The operating factors mentioned above, along with a higher effective tax rate and increased interest expense, affected both quarterly and year-to-date results.

Financial services reported net income attributable to Deere & Company of $150.0 million for the quarter and $407.9 million for nine months compared with $110.4 million and $338.6 million last year. Results for both periods were aided by growth in the credit portfolio and improved crop insurance margins. These factors were partially offset by an increased provision for credit losses in the quarter and by higher selling, administrative and general expenses for the year to date. Last year's nine-month results also benefited from revenue related to wind energy credits. 

Company Outlook & Summary

Company equipment sales are projected to be up about 5% for fiscal 2013 and to decrease by about 5% for the fourth quarter compared with the year-ago periods. Included is an unfavorable currency-translation impact of about 1% for the year. For the full year, net income attributable to Deere & Company is anticipated to be about $3.45 billion.

According to Allen, Deere is poised for a very successful 2013. "Last year's fourth-quarter sales were particularly strong, in part because our factories were running at a high rate to catch up with customer orders. Even with this difficult comparison, our financial guidance implies a healthy level of income for the coming quarter and a third consecutive year of record results."

Longer term, Allen said he remains quite optimistic about the company's prospects. "We continue to believe our investment in new products and capacity will allow Deere to be the provider of choice for a growing global customer base in the years ahead," he said. "In our view, broad trends based on a growing, more affluent, and increasingly mobile population have ample staying power and should help the company deliver substantial value to its customers, investors and other stakeholders in the future."

Equipment Division Performance

Agriculture & Turf. Sales increased 8% for the quarter and 12% for nine months largely due to higher shipment volumes and price realization, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of currency translation. Operating profit was $1.336 billion for the quarter and $3.684 billion year to date, compared with $1.014 billion and $2.991 billion, respectively, last year. The improvement for the quarter was driven primarily by the impact of price realization and higher shipment volumes. Also affecting third-quarter results was an impairment charge for long-lived assets related to John Deere Water operations. Year-to-date results improved due primarily to higher shipment volumes and price realization. These factors were partially offset by increases in production costs, selling, administrative and general expenses, warranty costs, and unfavorable effects of foreign exchange.

Construction & Forestry. Construction and forestry sales decreased 11% for the quarter and 8% for nine months mainly as a result of lower shipment volumes. Operating profit was $107 million for the quarter and $259 million for nine months, compared with $113 million and $356 million last year. The quarterly operating-profit decline was primarily because of decreased shipment volumes, mostly offset by price realization and lower research and development expenses. Nine-month results were lower mainly due to reduced shipment volumes, increases in production costs, an unfavorable product mix and higher selling, administrative and general expenses, partially offset by price realization.

Market Conditions & Outlook

Agriculture & Turf. Deere's worldwide sales of agriculture and turf equipment are forecast to increase by about 7% for full-year 2013, including a negative currency-translation impact of about 1%. Relatively high commodity prices and strong farm incomes are continuing to support a favorable level of demand for farm machinery in much of the world. Deere's sales are further benefiting from global expansion and advanced new products.  Industry sales for agricultural machinery in the U.S. and Canada are forecast to be up about 5% for the year, reflecting continued strength in demand for large equipment such as high-horsepower tractors and combines. Full-year industry sales in the EU28 are forecast to be down about 5% due to weakness in the overall economy and soft conditions in the U.K. farm sector. In South America, industry sales are projected to be up about 20% as a result of strong market conditions and the impact of government-financing programs in Brazil. Industry sales in the Commonwealth of Independent States are expected to be moderately lower than in 2012, while Asian sales are projected to be little-changed.

In the U.S. and Canada, industry sales of turf and utility equipment are expected to be up about 5% for 2013, reflecting improved market conditions.

Construction & Forestry. Deere's worldwide sales of construction and forestry equipment are forecast to decrease by about 8% for 2013. The decline mostly reflects a cautious outlook for U.S. economic growth. Global forestry sales are expected to be higher for the year as improved U.S. demand more than offsets weakness in European markets.

Financial Services. Full-year 2013 net income attributable to Deere & Company for the financial services operations is expected to be approximately $560 million. The forecast improvement over last year is due primarily to expected growth in the credit portfolio and lower crop insurance claims, partially offset by higher selling, administrative and general expenses. 

John Deere Capital Corporation. ¨The following is disclosed on behalf of the company's financial services subsidiary, John Deere Capital Corporation (JDCC), in connection with the disclosure requirements applicable to its periodic issuance of debt securities in the public market. Net income attributable to John Deere Capital Corporation was $124.7 million for the third quarter and $335.6 million year to date, compared with $98.5 million and $270.2 million for the respective periods last year. Results improved for both periods due primarily to growth in the credit portfolio. Nine-month results were also impacted by higher selling, administrative and general expenses. Net receivables and leases financed by JDCC were $30.096 billion at July 31, 2013, compared with $25.766 billion last year.