Deere Posts Record First Quarter Earnings of $369 Million

MOLINE, Ill., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Deere & Company today announced worldwide net income of $369.1 million, or $0.83 per share, for the first quarter ended January 31, compared with $238.7 million, or $0.52 per share, for the same period last year. Worldwide net sales and revenues increased 18 percent to $5.201 billion for the quarter compared with $4.425 billion a year ago. Net sales of the equipment operations were $4.531 billion for the period compared with $3.815 billion last year.

Strongly favorable conditions throughout the global farm sector, coupled with a positive customer response to the company's product lineup, are continuing to drive results, noted Robert W. Lane, chairman and chief executive officer. "Advanced product offerings that help John Deere customers be more profitable and productive are supporting the company's financial performance and helping expand our global market presence," he said. "Further, benefiting from our ongoing actions to create a fundamentally more resilient, more successful business, Deere's non-agricultural operations remain on a profitable course in spite of weakening economic conditions in the United States."

Summary of Operations

Net sales of the worldwide equipment operations increased 19 percent for the quarter, including positive effects for currency translation and price changes of 6 percent. Equipment sales in the United States and Canada were up 9 percent for the quarter. Net sales outside the United States and Canada increased by 37 percent, which included a positive currency-translation effect of 11 percent.

Deere's equipment divisions reported operating profit of $457 million for the quarter compared with $270 million last year. The improvement was largely due to the favorable impact of higher sales and production volumes and improved price realization, partially offset by higher selling, administrative and general expenses and raw-material costs.

Trade receivables and inventories at the end of the quarter were $6.488 billion, or 29 percent of previous 12-month sales, compared with $5.672 billion, or 28 percent of sales, a year ago.

Financial services reported net income of $97.7 million for the quarter compared with $88.2 million last year. The improvement was primarily due to growth in the credit portfolio, higher crop insurance income and a lower effective tax rate. Higher interest expense resulting from increased leverage, higher selling, administrative and general expenses, and an increase in the provision for credit losses partially offset the improvements.

Company Outlook

Company equipment sales are projected to increase by about 17 percent for full-year 2008 and to be up approximately 23 percent for the second quarter. Currency accounts for approximately 3 percent of the sales increase for both periods. Deere's net income is forecast to be about $2.2 billion for the year and in a range of $700 million to $725 million for the second quarter.

Company Summary

Deere's performance is receiving support from the company's actions to produce stronger, more sustainable financial results, to attract and serve customers throughout the world, and from positive global economic trends. "We are making the investments necessary to serve a growing customer base in all our businesses," Lane said. "At the same time, the company remains in a prime position to benefit from powerful trends sweeping the world, such as growing affluence, increasing demand for food and infrastructure, and the rising use of biofuels." On the strength of these factors, Lane believes the company is on track to continue delivering strong financial results and solid investor value.

Equipment Division Performance

Agricultural. Sales increased 33 percent for the quarter, primarily as a result of higher volumes, the favorable effects of currency translation, and improved price realization. Operating profit was $332 million compared with $137 million last year. The profit increase was primarily due to the favorable impact of higher sales and production volumes and improved price realization, partially offset by higher selling, administrative and general expenses attributable in large part to currency translation. Also affecting the quarter's results were increased research and development expenses.

Commercial & Consumer. Division sales were up 16 percent for the quarter. LESCO operations, acquired in the third quarter of 2007, accounted for 14 percent of the sales increase. The division had operating profit of $8 million for the quarter, compared with $38 million a year ago. The profit decline was primarily due to higher selling, administrative and general expenses from LESCO, partially offset by higher sales volumes.

Construction & Forestry. Though sales declined 6 percent, operating profit rose to $117 million for the quarter, versus $95 million a year ago. The profit increase was mainly due to improved price realization and the positive effect of production levels in closer alignment with retail demand, partially offset by higher raw-material costs and lower sales volumes.

Market Conditions & Outlook

Agricultural. With support from continuing strength in the global farm sector, worldwide sales of John Deere agricultural equipment are expected to increase by about 28 percent for full-year 2008. This includes about 4 percent related to currency translation.

Farm conditions throughout the world remain quite positive, benefiting from healthy commodity prices and demand for renewable fuels. Recently enacted energy legislation in the United States requires a significant increase in renewable-fuel production through 2022. Relative to consumption, global grain stocks such as wheat and corn are forecast to remain at or near 30-year lows. In addition, a large number of advanced new John Deere products coming to market in 2008 are expected to lend support to sales of agricultural equipment.

On an industry basis, farm machinery sales in the United States and Canada are forecast to be up 15 to 20 percent for the year. Large tractors and combines are expected to lead the improvement while demand for cotton equipment is projected to be down. Overall farm machinery sales are expected to benefit from a significant increase in farm cash receipts, related in large part to higher crop prices.

Industry sales in Western Europe are forecast to be up 3 to 5 percent for the year. Greater increases are expected in Eastern Europe and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, including Russia, where demand for productive farm machinery is experiencing rapid growth. South American markets are expected to show further improvement in 2008, with industry sales forecast to increase by 15 percent or more. Despite strong commodity-price support, however, farm machinery demand in Brazil could be affected by uncertainties over government-backed financing programs. Deere sales are expected to be helped by an expanded product line and additional capacity associated with the start-up of a world-class tractor-manufacturing facility in Brazil and by higher demand for the company's innovative sugarcane- harvesting equipment.

Commercial & Consumer. John Deere commercial and consumer equipment sales are projected to be up about 8 percent for the year, including about 7 percent from a full year of LESCO sales. Sales gains from new products, such as an expanded line of innovative commercial mowing equipment, are expected to more than offset market weakness related to the U.S. housing slowdown and rising costs for fertilizer and other lawn-maintenance supplies.

Construction & Forestry. U.S. markets for construction and forestry equipment are forecast to remain under continued pressure due in large part to a continuing slump in housing starts. It is expected that housing activity in 2008 will remain far below last year in spite of recent interest-rate reductions. Non-residential construction is expected to remain in line with last year's relatively strong levels. Although the U.S. housing sector is negatively affecting forestry equipment markets in the United States and Canada, forestry sales on a worldwide basis are projected to rise in 2008 due to economic growth in other regions.

Despite a generally weak environment, Deere sales are expected to benefit from new products and factory-production levels in closer alignment with retail demand. For 2008, the company's worldwide sales of construction and forestry equipment are forecast to be approximately equal to the prior year.

Credit. Full-year 2008 net income for Deere's credit operations is forecast to be approximately $365 million. The improvement is expected to be driven by growth in the credit portfolio and higher crop insurance income, partially offset by increased interest expense resulting from higher leverage.

John Deere Capital Corporation

The following is disclosed on behalf of the company's credit subsidiary, John Deere Capital Corporation (JDCC), in connection with the disclosure requirements applicable to its periodic issuance of debt securities in the public market.

JDCC's net income was $77.2 million for the first quarter, compared with net income of $73.2 million a year ago. The improvement was primarily due to increased crop insurance income, growth in the credit portfolio and a lower effective tax rate. Increased selling, administrative and general expenses, higher interest expense resulting from increased leverage, and a higher provision for credit losses partially offset the improvements.

Net receivables and leases financed by JDCC were $18.261 billion at January 31, 2008, compared with $17.257 billion last year. Net receivables and leases administered, which include receivables previously sold, totaled $18.470 billion at January 31, 2008, compared with $18.050 billion one year ago.

Safe Harbor Statement

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements under "Company Outlook," "Company Summary," "Market Conditions & Outlook," and other statements herein that relate to future operating periods are subject to important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties could affect particular lines of business, while others could affect all of the Company's businesses.

Forward-looking statements involve certain factors that are subject to change, including for the Company's agricultural equipment segment the many interrelated factors that affect farmers' confidence. These factors include worldwide demand for agricultural products, world grain stocks, weather conditions, soil conditions, harvest yields, prices for commodities and livestock, crop and livestock production expenses, availability of transport for crops, the growth of non-food uses for some crops (including ethanol and biodiesel production), real estate values, available acreage for farming, the land ownership policies of various governments, changes in government farm programs (including those in the U.S. and Brazil), international reaction to such programs, global trade agreements, animal diseases and their effects on poultry and beef consumption and prices (including bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as "mad cow" disease, and avian flu), crop pests and diseases (including Asian rust), and the level of farm product exports (including concerns about genetically modified organisms).

Factors affecting the outlook for the Company's commercial and consumer equipment segment include weather conditions, general economic conditions, customer profitability, consumer confidence, consumer borrowing patterns, consumer purchasing preferences, housing starts, infrastructure investment, spending by municipalities and golf courses, and consumable-input costs.

General economic conditions, consumer spending patterns, the number of housing starts, and interest rates are especially important to sales of the Company's construction equipment. The levels of public and non-residential construction also impact the results of the Company's construction and forestry segment. Prices for pulp, lumber and structural panels are important to sales of forestry equipment.

All of the Company's businesses and its reported results are affected by general economic conditions in, and the political and social stability of, the global markets in which the Company operates; production, design and technological difficulties, including capacity and supply constraints and prices, including for supply commodities such as steel, rubber and fuel; the availability and prices of strategically sourced materials, components and whole goods; delays or disruptions in the Company's supply chain due to weather or natural disasters; start-up of new plants and new products; the success of new product initiatives and customer acceptance of new products; oil and energy prices and supplies; inflation and deflation rates, interest rate levels and foreign currency exchange rates; the availability and cost of freight; trade, monetary and fiscal policies of various countries; wars and other international conflicts and the threat thereof; actions by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and other central banks; actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; actions by environmental regulatory agencies, including those related to engine emissions and the risk of global warming; actions by other regulatory bodies; actions by rating agencies; capital market disruptions; customer borrowing and repayment practices, the number and size of customer loan delinquencies and defaults, and the sub-prime credit market crises; actions of competitors in the various industries in which the Company competes, particularly price discounting; dealer practices especially as to levels of new and used field inventories; labor relations; changes to accounting standards; changes in tax rates; the effects of, or response to, terrorism; and changes in laws and regulations affecting the sectors in which the Company operates. The spread of major epidemics (including influenza, SARS, fevers and other viruses) also could affect Company results. Company results are also affected by changes in the level of employee retirement benefits, changes in market values of investment assets and the level of interest rates, which impact retirement benefit costs, and significant changes in health care costs. Other factors that could affect results are changes in Company declared dividends, acquisitions and divestitures of businesses and common stock issuances and repurchases.

The Company's outlook is based upon assumptions relating to the factors described above, which are sometimes based upon estimates and data prepared by government agencies. Such estimates and data are often revised. The Company, except as required by law, undertakes no obligation to update or revise its outlook, whether as a result of new developments or otherwise. Further information concerning the Company and its businesses, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K (including the factors discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors) and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

                       First Quarter 2008 Press Release                            (millions of dollars)                                                    Three Months Ended                                                         January 31                                                                         %                                                2008        2007       Change    Net sales and revenues:      Agricultural equipment net sales         $2,758      $2,081       +33      Commercial and consumer equipment       net sales                                  743         641       +16      Construction and forestry net sales       1,030       1,093        -6          Total net sales *                     4,531       3,815       +19      Credit revenues                             550         493       +12      Other revenues                              120         117        +3        Total net sales and revenues *         $5,201      $4,425       +18    Operating profit: **      Agricultural equipment                     $332        $137      +142      Commercial and consumer equipment             8          38       -79      Construction and forestry                   117          95       +23      Credit                                      133         132        +1      Other                                         3           2       +50        Total operating profit *                  593         404       +47      Interest, corporate expenses and       income taxes                              (224)       (165)      +36        Net income                               $369        $239       +54    * Includes equipment operations outside the U.S. and Canada as follows:        Net sales                              $1,808      $1,324       +37        Operating profit                         $210         $83      +153        The company views its operations         as consisting of two geographic         areas, the "U.S. and Canada",         and "outside the U.S. and Canada".    ** Operating profit is income from continuing operations before external       interest expense, certain foreign exchange gains and losses, income       taxes and corporate expenses. However, operating profit of the credit       segment includes the effect of interest expense and foreign exchange       gains or losses.