Apollon Financial LLC Increases Holdings in Deere & Company $DE

Key Points

• Apollon Financial LLC boosted its stake in Deere by 237.9% in Q4 to 3,163 shares, a position valued at about $1.47 million as of the latest 13F filing.
• Insider sale: Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares at an average of $510 for roughly $6.12 million, cutting his ownership by about 36.6%.
• Strong quarterly results and dividend: Deere reported $2.42 EPS vs. $1.90 expected and $9.61B revenue (up 17.5% YoY vs. $7.50B est.), and announced a quarterly dividend of $1.62 ($6.48 annual, ~1.1% yield) payable May 8.

Apollon Financial LLC increased its position in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE - Free Report) by 237.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,163 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,227 shares during the period. Apollon Financial LLC's holdings in Deere & Company were worth $1,473,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Strategic Advocates LLC acquired a new stake in Deere & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Activest Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 69.2% during the 3rd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 66 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Watch Advisors INC purchased a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the third quarter worth about $32,000. United Community Bank raised its position in shares of Deere & Company by 67.3% in the third quarter. United Community Bank now owns 92 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GoalVest Advisory LLC boosted its position in Deere & Company by 56.7% during the fourth quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 94 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.58% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Deere & Company

In other news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 12,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $510.00, for a total transaction of $6,120,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 20,792 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,603,920. This represents a 36.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.29% of the company's stock.

Deere & Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DE opened at $603.94 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $163.13 billion, a PE ratio of 34.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.98. Deere & Company has a fifty-two week low of $433.00 and a fifty-two week high of $674.19. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $591.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $517.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59.

Deere & Company (NYSE:DE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The industrial products company reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.52. The company had revenue of $9.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.50 billion. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 10.29%.The business's revenue was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.19 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current year.

Deere & Company Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Deere & Company's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Deere & Company from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 7th. Citigroup lowered their price target on Deere & Company from $675.00 to $625.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 9th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $460.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $521.00 to $615.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $715.00 target price on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Deere & Company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $655.45.

Deere & Company News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Deere & Company this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays kept an Overweight rating and raised its price target to $640, signaling more upside from current levels as the firm updates machinery-sector expectations. Barclays Maintains an Overweight Rating on Deere & Company (DE)
• Positive Sentiment: An analyst raised Deere’s FY2026 EPS forecast, reflecting stronger forward earnings visibility which supports longer-term valuation. FY2026 EPS Forecast for Deere & Company Lifted by Analyst
• Positive Sentiment: Operational tailwinds: coverage highlights ~50% order growth tied to data‑center construction demand and signs that the ag cycle is stabilizing — a diversification of end markets that can sustain equipment sales. The Green Machine Finds a Second Gear as AI Data Centers Drive 50% Order Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader coverage pieces note Deere has outperformed the market recently; that momentum supports investor interest but also raises the risk of profit-taking. Deere (DE) Exceeds Market Returns: Some Facts to Consider
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies moved its rating to “Hold,” reflecting mixed near-term expectations even as Deere’s fundamentals remain solid. Deere & Company Raised to "Hold" at Jefferies Financial Group
• Negative Sentiment: Legal/PR hit: Deere agreed to a $99M class-action settlement over “right-to-repair” claims and will make repair software more widely available. The payment and reputational fallout likely pressured sentiment despite the settlement limiting future liability. Deere agrees to pay $99M in ‘right to repair’ settlement
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan lifted its price target modestly to $550 but kept a Neutral rating — the new target implies limited upside from recent levels, which can prompt profit-taking by investors who bought the run-up. JPMorgan Adjusts Price Target on Deere to $550

About Deere & Company

Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deere—who developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soils—the company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide.

The company's principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity.

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