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Free Financing, Paid by the FactoryNarrow moat

Deere & Company (DE) — moat facet

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.

Interest-free financing is one of Deere's sharpest selling tools, and it is not free. The finance arm receives "compensation from the sales companies at approximate market interest rates for periods during which finance charges are waived or reduced" on retail notes or leases, and "The cost is accounted for as a deduction in arriving at net sales by the equipment operations"1. Dealers also get interest-free periods on wholesale purchases; these "range from one to twelve months for most equipment"2.

Deere interest compensation paid by equipment operations to Financial Services ($M)687FY2023640FY2024414FY2025Deere Form 10-K FY2025, supplemental consolidating data
The subsidy fell by two fifths in two years.

The consolidating statements show the bill. Interest compensation paid by the equipment operations to financial services was $687 million in fiscal 2023, $640 million in fiscal 2024 and $414 million in fiscal 20253, a fall of 39.7% in two years4. Lower rates and a smaller book both reduce it.

This arrangement is an advantage rivals without a captive lender cannot easily copy. A farmer comparing two tractors at similar prices will often choose the one with zero percent for a year, and Deere can decide, model by model and season by season, where to spend that subsidy. It also shifts profit inside Deere: the subsidy lowers equipment net sales and raises the bank's income, which is one reason the finance arm looks steadier than the factory.

Interest-free wholesale terms are bounded. Interest-free periods for dealers "may not be extended," interest charged "may not be forgiven," and past-due amounts carry higher rates5. The discipline is the counterweight to the subsidy: the dealer gets months without interest, not an open-ended loan.

The weakness is that subsidised credit is a price cut that does not show on the price list. Deere's 10-K says fiscal 2025 brought "greater reliance on sales incentives"6. Interest compensation back above $600 million, with equipment sales still below the fiscal 2024 level, would be Deere buying volume rather than earning it.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

Interest compensation $687M (FY2023) to $414M (FY2025).

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Interest compensation paid to Financial Services, fiscal year
$414M (FY2025), from $640M in FY2024 and $687M in FY2023

The cost of subsidised credit; above $600M with sales still below FY2024 would mean volume is being bought.

Source: Deere & Company Form 10-K, FY2025 ↗
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
A Price Cut That Is Not on the Price List
Deere owed dealers $2.2 billion of promised sales incentives in August 2026, so its positive price realization measures list prices more than real…
References
  1. ReportedThe finance arm receives "compensation from the sales companies at approximate market interest rates for periods during which finance charges are waived or reduced" on retail notes or leases, and "The cost is accounted for as a deduction in arriving at net sales by the equipment operations".
    Deere & Company Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 2 November 2025), $ millions - Item 1A risk factors and legal proceedings: the farm cycle, interest rates, tariffs, technology adoption, competition and the right-to-repair litigation. — FY2025 · publ. 18 December 2025 · source ↗
  2. ReportedDealers also get interest-free periods on wholesale purchases; these "range from one to twelve months for most 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. ReportedInterest compensation paid by the equipment operations to financial services was $687 million in fiscal 2023, $640 million in fiscal 2024 and $414 million in fiscal 2025, a fall of 39.7% in two years.
    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 ↗
  4. Moat Explorer calcInterest compensation paid by the equipment operations to financial services was $687 million in fiscal 2023, $640 million in fiscal 2024 and $414 million in fiscal 2025, a fall of 39.7% in two years.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Deere & Company reported figures ($ 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) - Financial Services, financing and the equipment operations balance sheet. — 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.
  5. ReportedInterest-free periods for dealers "may not be extended," interest charged "may not be forgiven," and past-due amounts carry higher rates.
    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 ↗
  6. ReportedDeere's 10-K says fiscal 2025 brought "greater reliance on sales incentives".
    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