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The Captive BankNarrow moat

Deere & Company (DE) — moat facet

Deere's captive bank holds $70 billion of assets and lets dealers sell on Deere's credit terms, at the cost of making the consolidated accounts look like a lender's.

Deere is two companies under one ticker: a maker of machines and a bank that lends against them. The bank, John Deere Financial, is built around John Deere Capital Corporation in the U.S.1. It buys the retail notes Deere's sales companies take from farmers, finances dealers' inventory, and leases equipment2. At the fiscal 2025 year end it held $70,021 million of assets, against $42,859 million in the equipment operations3.

Deere total assets at fiscal 2025 year end ($bn)70.0Financial Services42.9Equipment operationsDeere Form 10-K FY2025, supplemental consolidating data; before eliminations
The bank is bigger than the factory on the balance sheet.

The bank is a moat because it lets a dealer close a sale on the spot, at a rate Deere chooses. Interest-free and reduced-rate offers are paid for by the equipment business, which compensated the finance arm $414 million in fiscal 20254; the cost is deducted from net sales. A rival without its own lender must persuade a third party to share that subsidy.

It is also the main reason Deere's consolidated numbers look ordinary. The finance arm earned $890 million in fiscal 2025, 17.7% of group net income, on 66.1% of the assets5. It borrows $54,765 million at 8.4 times its equity67, which is normal for a lender and swamps the equipment business's modest debt.

Four pages examine it. Retail Notes Sold the Same Day is the mechanism. Free Financing, Paid by the Factory is the subsidy. An A-Rated Balance Sheet Behind the Lender is the funding. Brazil, Half Sold to a Bank is the 2025 decision to share the riskiest part.

The bank finances more than tractors. It offers financing in Argentina, Australia, India, Mexico, New Zealand and several other countries outside North America8, revolving charge accounts and extended warranties at home9, and in fiscal 2025 the equipment operations bought $2,868 million of equipment that went out on operating leases10. Leasing lets a customer pay for use rather than ownership, which suits a farmer short of cash.

The bank is a narrow moat, real but not unique, because any lender can finance a tractor; what Deere's bank adds is speed and subsidy at the dealer's desk. Its value to Deere is that it turns a cyclical machine sale into a financed relationship that runs for years. If financial services net income falls below $700 million in fiscal 2027, the cycle will have reached the bank as well as the factory.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

FS net income $890M (FY2025), guided about $870M for FY2026.

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Financial Services net income, latest quarter
$219M (Q3 FY2026), up 7% from $205M; about $870M guided for FY2026

The bank's earning power; below $700M for a year would mean the cycle has reached the loan book.

Source: Deere & Company Q3 FY2026 results release ↗
Aspects of the moat
DIG DEEPER 01
Retail Notes Sold the Same Day
Deere's dealers sell the farmer's loan to Deere's own bank the same day, which is how $70 billion of assets ended up in the finance arm.
DIG DEEPER 02
Free Financing, Paid by the Factory
Deere's zero-percent offers are paid for by its equipment business at market rates, $414 million in fiscal 2025, and counted as a reduction of sales.
DIG DEEPER 03
An A-Rated Balance Sheet Behind the Lender
Deere's finance arm borrows $54.8 billion at 8.6 times equity on the strength of the tractor maker's A ratings and a support agreement.
DIG DEEPER 04
Brazil, Half Sold to a Bank
Deere sold half its Brazilian bank to Bradesco in 2025, cutting its exposure there to $879 million just as South American demand fell again.
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
Two Thirds of the Assets, a Fifth of the Profit
Deere's bank holds 66% of the group's assets and earns 18% of its profit, which drags the consolidated return to about 6%.
⚠ THREAT 02
High Rates Help the Lender and Hurt the Borrower
Deere's bank earns more when rates are high and its farmers buy less; in fiscal 2026 the spread is winning.
References
  1. ReportedThe bank, John Deere Financial, is built around John Deere Capital Corporation in the U.S..
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Financial Services: John Deere Capital Corporation, financing receivables, credit quality, interest-free periods, the support agreement and Banco John Deere. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  2. ReportedIt buys the retail notes Deere's sales companies take from farmers, finances dealers' inventory, and leases equipment.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Financial Services: John Deere Capital Corporation, financing receivables, credit quality, interest-free periods, the support agreement and Banco John Deere. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  3. ReportedAt the fiscal 2025 year end it held $70,021 million of assets, against $42,859 million in the equipment operations.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - selected financial data, MD&A and the supplemental consolidating data for equipment operations and financial services. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  4. ReportedInterest-free and reduced-rate offers are paid for by the equipment business, which compensated the finance arm $414 million in fiscal 2025; the cost is deducted from net sales.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Financial Services: John Deere Capital Corporation, financing receivables, credit quality, interest-free periods, the support agreement and Banco John Deere. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  5. Moat Explorer calcThe finance arm earned $890 million in fiscal 2025, 17.7% of group net income, on 66.1% of the assets.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Deere & Company reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end on the Sunday nearest 31 October). Cycle: net income FY2025 over FY2023 5,027 / 10,166 - 1 = -50.6%; net sales and revenues 45,684 / 61,251 - 1 = -25.4%; FY2025 over FY2024 45,684 / 51,716 - 1 = -11.7%; equipment net sales 38,917 / 55,565 - 1 = -30.0%; Production & Precision Ag sales 17,311 / 26,790 - 1 = -35.4%, FY2025 over FY2024 17,311 / 20,834 - 1 = -16.9%; Small Ag & Turf 10,224 / 13,980 - 1 = -26.9%; Construction & Forestry 11,382 / 14,795 - 1 = -23.1%; PPA operating profit 2,671 / 6,996 - 1 = -61.8%; PPA sales 2020-2023 26,790 / 12,962 = 2.07 times, more than double; PPA U.S. net sales and revenues 7,753 / 13,917 - 1 = -44.3%; U.S. net sales and revenues 23,974 / 34,105 - 1 = -29.7%; Latin America 5,607 / 8,197 - 1 = -31.6%; production agriculture product line 16,960 / 26,450 - 1 = -35.9%; roadbuilding 3,552 / 3,794 - 1 = -6.4%; roadbuilding over Construction & Forestry net sales 3,552 / 11,382 = 31.2%. Construction & Forestry product lines FY2023 to FY2025: construction 4,570 / 6,842 - 1 = -33.2%; compact construction 1,922 / 2,451 - 1 = -21.6%; forestry 1,124 / 1,429 - 1 = -21.3%; roadbuilding -6.4%. Segment margins (operating profit over segment net sales): PPA 2020 1,969 / 12,962 = 15.2%; 2021 3,334 / 16,509 = 20.2%; 2022 4,386 / 22,002 = 19.9%; 2023 6,996 / 26,790 = 26.1%; 2024 4,514 / 20,834 = 21.7%; 2025 2,671 / 17,311 = 15.4%. SAT 2020 1,000 / 9,363 = 10.7%; 2021 2,045 / 11,860 = 17.2%; 2022 1,949 / 13,381 = 14.6%; 2023 2,472 / 13,980 = 17.7%; 2024 1,627 / 10,969 = 14.8%; 2025 1,207 / 10,224 = 11.8%. CF 2020 590 / 8,947 = 6.6%; 2021 1,489 / 11,368 = 13.1%; 2022 2,014 / 12,534 = 16.1%; 2023 2,695 / 14,795 = 18.2%; 2024 2,009 / 12,956 = 15.5%; 2025 1,028 / 11,382 = 9.0%. Equipment operations operating profit 2,671 + 1,207 + 1,028 = 4,906 (FY2025), 4,514 + 1,627 + 2,009 = 8,150 (FY2024), 6,996 + 2,472 + 2,695 = 12,163 (FY2023); equipment operating margin 4,906 / 38,917 = 12.6%, 8,150 / 44,759 = 18.2%, 12,163 / 55,565 = 21.9%; first nine months FY2026 (1,372 + 1,538 + 1,134 = 4,044) / 30,779 = 13.1%; Q3 FY2026 527 + 622 + 436 = 1,585 against Q3 FY2025 580 + 485 + 237 = 1,302, an increase of 283. Nine-month operating profit change: PPA 1,372 / 2,066 - 1 = -33.6%; SAT 1,538 / 1,182 - 1 = +30.1%; CF 1,134 / 681 - 1 = +66.5%. PPA share of segment operating profit FY2023 6,996 / 12,958 = 54.0%; FY2025 2,671 / 6,020 = 44.4%. FS segment operating profit 1,114 / 795 - 1 = +40.1%. Equipment gross margin (net sales less consolidated cost of sales): FY2023 55,565 - 37,715 = 17,850, / 55,565 = 32.1%; FY2024 (44,759 - 30,775) / 44,759 = 31.2%; FY2025 38,917 - 28,159 = 10,758, / 38,917 = 27.6%. Equipment share of net sales and revenues 38,917 / 45,684 = 85.2% (FY2025); 55,565 / 61,251 = 90.7% (FY2023). Financial Services band (total net sales and revenues less equipment net sales): 2020 35,540 - (12,962 + 9,363 + 8,947 = 31,272) = 4,268; 2021 44,024 - (16,509 + 11,860 + 11,368 = 39,737) = 4,287; 2022 52,577 - (22,002 + 13,381 + 12,534 = 47,917) = 4,660; 2023 61,251 - 55,565 = 5,686; 2024 51,716 - 44,759 = 6,957; 2025 45,684 - 38,917 = 6,767 = finance and interest income 5,748 + other income 1,019; share of revenue 6,767 / 45,684 = 14.8% (FY2025), 5,686 / 61,251 = 9.3% (FY2023). Financial Services share of consolidated assets 70,021 / 105,996 = 66.1%; share of net income 890 / 5,027 = 17.7%; return on equity 890 / ((7,069 + 7,454) / 2 = 7,262) = 12.3%; Financial Services borrowings 13,382 + 6,595 + 34,788 = 54,765; consolidated borrowings 13,796 + 6,596 + 43,544 = 63,936; FS share 54,765 / 63,936 = 85.7%; Financial Services equity over assets 7,069 / 70,021 = 10.1%, about a tenth (debt to equity 8.6 to 1). Interest compensation to Financial Services 414 / 687 - 1 = -39.7%. Financing receivables 44,575 (about $44.6bn) / 23,702 = 1.88 times. Write-offs six months FY2026 150 / 44,575 = 0.3%. Equipment operations: net debt 9,171 - 6,557 = 2,614 (FY2025); 2,614 / 4,137 = 0.63 years of net income, less than eight months; return on invested capital estimate FY2025 (4,137 + 372 x 0.8 = 4,435) / (18,887 + 9,171 - 6,557 = 21,501) = 20.6%; FY2024 (6,404 + 396 x 0.8 = 6,721) / (15,389 + 7,516 - 5,740 = 17,165) = 39.2%; 20% tax on interest is an approximation. Equipment operations cash flow 5,100 / 11,919 - 1 = -57.2%. Costs and people: R&D over equipment net sales 2,177 / 55,565 = 3.9% (FY2023), 2,290 / 44,759 = 5.1% (FY2024), 2,311 / 38,917 = 5.9% (FY2025), 1,704 / 30,779 = 5.5% (nine months FY2026); nine-month R&D 1,704 / 1,631 - 1 = +4.5%; R&D at the FY2023 ratio 38,917 x 3.9% = about 1,520, difference 2,311 - 1,520 = about 790, about 2 points of 38,917. Employees 82,956 - 73,146 = 9,810, about 9,800, 9,810 / 82,956 = 11.8%. Tariff cost about 600 / 4,906 = 12.2% of equipment operating profit; 1,100 / 4,906 = 22%, about a fifth. Trade receivables 7,723 / 6,103 - 1 = +26.5%. Wirtgen first-year operating profit 116 / 5,327 = 2.2%; CF operating profit 1,028 / 5,327 = 19.3%, about a fifth; CF goodwill 3,051 / 4,188 = 72.9%. Tenna goodwill 286 / 439 = 65%. Backlog CF 3.8 / 2.2 - 1 = +73%. Engaged acres per connected machine 520 million / 1.2 million = about 433. Capital returns: cash returned FY2023 dividends paid 1,427 + repurchases 7,216 = 8,643; FY2025 1,720 + 1,138 = 2,858; 2,858 / 8,643 - 1 = -66.9%; diluted shares 271.7 / 316.6 - 1 = -14.2%; dividend payout 6.48 / 18.50 = 35.0%. Fiscal 2016 net margin 1,523.9 / 26,644.0 = 5.7%. Diluted EPS FY2025 over FY2023 18.50 / 34.63 - 1 = -46.6%. Equipment segment identifiable assets 8,787 + 3,987 + 7,792 = 20,566, over Financial Services 70,021 = 29.4%, less than a third. Valuation: trailing twelve months to 2 August 2026 net sales and revenues 45,684 - 33,290 + 35,589 = 47,983; net income 5,027 - 3,962 + 3,808 = 4,873; diluted EPS 18.50 - 14.57 + 14.06 = 17.99; P/E 185,230 / 4,873 = 38.0; P/S 185,230 / 47,983 = 3.86; market value over FY2023 net income 185,230 / 10,166 = 18.2 times; market value change since FY2025 year end 185,230 / 124,792 - 1 = +48.4%; trailing net income 4,873 / 5,027 - 1 = -3.1%; analyst target 691.83 / 687.00 - 1 = +0.7%; Deere over CNH and AGCO 185.23 / (16.67 + 8.03 = 24.70) = 7.5 times; Deere over Caterpillar 185.23 / 388.62 = 47.7%, about half; Caterpillar over Deere 388.62 / 185.23 = 2.1 times. Year-end P/E and P/S: 2015 24.15bn / 1,940 = 12.45, / 28,863 = 0.837; 2016 32.65 / 1,524 = 21.42, / 26,644 = 1.225; 2017 50.49 / 2,159 = 23.39, / 29,738 = 1.698; 2018 47.52 / 2,368 = 20.07, / 37,358 = 1.272; 2019 54.28 / 3,253 = 16.69, / 39,258 = 1.383; 2020 84.31 / 2,751 = 30.65, / 35,540 = 2.372; 2021 106.137 / 5,963 = 17.80, / 44,024 = 2.411; 2022 119.777 / 7,131 = 16.80, / 52,577 = 2.278; 2023 104.011 / 10,166 = 10.23, / 61,251 = 1.698; 2024 111.610 / 7,100 = 15.72, / 51,716 = 2.158; 2025 124.792 / 5,027 = 24.82, / 45,684 = 2.732. Guidance: fiscal 2026 net income midpoints (4,000 + 4,750) / 2 = 4,375 (November 2025); (4,500 + 5,000) / 2 = 4,750 (February and May 2026); (4,750 + 5,000) / 2 = 4,875, $4.875bn (August 2026); 4,875 / 5,027 - 1 = -3.0%; nine months 3,808 / 4,875 = 78.1%; implied fourth quarter 4,750 - 3,808 = 942 to 5,000 - 3,808 = 1,192. U.S. share of net sales and revenues 23,974 / 45,684 = 52.5% (FY2025), 34,105 / 61,251 = 55.7% (FY2023) - cycle, costs, people, capital returns and geography. — FY2015-Q3 FY2026 · publ. October 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Deere & Company Forms 10-K, 10-Q, results releases, the 2026 proxy statement, the Q3 FY2026 call, and stockanalysis.com market data; each operand is stated in the source line.
  6. ReportedIt borrows $54,765 million at 8.4 times its equity, which is normal for a lender and swamps the equipment business's modest debt.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Financial Services: John Deere Capital Corporation, financing receivables, credit quality, interest-free periods, the support agreement and Banco John Deere. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  7. ReportedIt borrows $54,765 million at 8.4 times its equity, which is normal for a lender and swamps the equipment business's modest debt.
    Deere & Company Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 2 August 2026, $ millions - income statement, balance sheet, receivables, financing receivables, cash returned and the outlook. — Q3 FY2026 · publ. 27 August 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedIt offers financing in Argentina, Australia, India, Mexico, New Zealand and several other countries outside North America, revolving charge accounts and extended warranties at home, and in fiscal 2025 the equipment operations bought $2,868 million of equipment that went out on operating leases.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Item 1 business: dealers, distribution, parts, used-equipment trade-ins, sales incentives and manufacturing. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  9. ReportedIt offers financing in Argentina, Australia, India, Mexico, New Zealand and several other countries outside North America, revolving charge accounts and extended warranties at home, and in fiscal 2025 the equipment operations bought $2,868 million of equipment that went out on operating leases.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Item 1 business: dealers, distribution, parts, used-equipment trade-ins, sales incentives and manufacturing. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  10. ReportedIt offers financing in Argentina, Australia, India, Mexico, New Zealand and several other countries outside North America, revolving charge accounts and extended warranties at home, and in fiscal 2025 the equipment operations bought $2,868 million of equipment that went out on operating leases.
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Item 1 business: dealers, distribution, parts, used-equipment trade-ins, sales incentives and manufacturing. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
Sources
Generated October 5, 2026