Improved farm and construction equipment markets led to a higher third-quarter result for Deere & Company, with a net income of $641.8 million through the quarter ending July 30, 2017, the company has announced. The performance has benefited from advanced products and a flexible cost structure, and has aided the company to maintain a strong position.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2017, net income attributable to Deere & Company was $1.649 billion, or $5.11 per share, compared with $1.239 billion, or $3.91 per share, for the same period last year.
Worldwide net sales and revenues increased 16 percent, to $7.808 billion, for the third quarter and increased 8 percent, to $21.720 billion, for the first nine months. Net sales of the equipment operations were $6.833 billion for the third quarter and $18.791 billion for nine months, compared with $5.861 billion and $17.737 billion for the periods last year.
"John Deere reported another quarter of strong performance as the company continued to benefit from improving market conditions throughout the world," said Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are seeing higher overall demand for our products with farm machinery sales in South America experiencing strong gains and construction equipment sales rising sharply. Deere's performance also is being assisted by an advanced product portfolio and the continuing impact of a flexible cost structure and lean asset base."
Net sales of the worldwide equipment operations increased 17 percent for the quarter and 6 percent for the first nine months compared with the year-ago periods. Sales included price realization of 1 percent for the quarter and 2 percent year to date. Foreign-currency rates did not have a material translation effect on net sales for either period compared with last year. Equipment net sales in the United States and Canada increased 11 percent for the quarter and were down 1 percent for the first nine months. Outside the U.S. and Canada, net sales increased 25 percent for the quarter and 17 percent for nine months, with favorable currency-translation effects of 1 percent for both periods.
Deere's equipment operations reported operating profit of $795 million for the quarter and $2.152 billion for nine months, compared with $625 million and $1.526 billion, respectively, last year. The improvement for the quarter was primarily driven by higher shipment volumes and price realization, partially offset by increased production costs, higher selling, administrative and general expenses and warranty costs. On a year-to-date basis, results benefited from higher shipment volumes, price realization and a favorable product mix, partially offset by increased production costs, higher warranty costs and higher selling, administrative and general expenses. Results for both periods were aided by a gain on the sale of a partial interest in SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (SiteOne).
Net income of the company's equipment operations was $506 million for the third quarter and $1.291 billion for nine months, compared with $353 million and $873 million for the corresponding periods of 2016. In addition to the operating factors mentioned above, a lower effective tax rate improved results for the third quarter of 2017.
Financial services reported net income attributable to Deere & Company of $131.2 million for the quarter and $349.1 million for nine months compared with $125.9 million and $357.9 million last year. Results for the quarter benefited from lower losses on lease residual values, partially offset by a higher provision for credit losses and higher selling, administrative and general expenses. Year-to-date results were affected by less-favorable financing spreads and higher selling, administrative and general expenses, partially offset by lower losses on lease residual values.
Company equipment sales are projected to increase about 10 percent for fiscal 2017 and be up about 24 percent for the fourth quarter compared with the same periods of 2016. Included in the forecast is a positive foreign-currency translation effect of about 1 percent for the full year and about 2 percent in the fourth quarter. Net sales and revenues are projected to increase about 11 percent for fiscal 2017 with net income attributable to Deere & Company of about $2.075 billion.
"Deere's ability to deliver consistently strong financial results is proof of our success building a more durable business model," Allen said. "We are continuing to find ways to make our operations more efficient and profitable while providing even more value to our global customers. As a result, we're confident Deere is well-positioned to continue its strong performance and to fully capitalize on the world's increasing need for advanced machinery and services in the future."
