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The
results sent shares of the world's largest farm equipment maker
3% higher in premarket trading and eased some fears around the
impact of a worker strike that had hit Deere's operations for
about three weeks of the fourth quarter.
Higher corn and soybeans prices this year have brightened the
financial outlook for farmers, with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture estimating net farm income to rise 19.5% to $113
billion in 2021.
That has driven up sales of farm equipment despite price hikes
by manufacturers. Deere said sales of its large and some medium
equipment jumped 23% in the quarter, while sales of smaller farm
and turf equipment rose 17%.
The company increased prices by 8% for its large and medium
equipment orders to offset rising inflation, helping fatten its
margins.
Net income rose to $1.28 billion, or $4.12 per share, in the
quarter to Oct. 31, from $757 million, or $2.39 per share, a
year earlier. Analysts on average had expected a profit of $3.90
per share, according to Refinitiv.
Deere's equipment sales rose 19% to $10.28 billion, below
expectations of $10.44 billion.
The company earlier this month agreed to a new deal with its
workers belonging to the United Auto Workers union, ending a
nearly six-week-long strike.
(Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by
Aditya Soni)
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