5 Biggest Agriculture Companies in the World

1. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)

Market Capitalization as of March 23: $132.383 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61

Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) was founded in 1837 and is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, operating via four primary segments – Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The company’s core business is to supply  agriculture and forestry equipment. 

On March 22, Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) shares rose to a record high of $436.28, as the company is a prominent gainer amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) is also the top year-to-date performer in the S&P 500 industrials index, posting a 25% gain. 

The full-year revenue for 2021 of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) came in at roughly $44 billion, up from $35.5 billion in the previous year. The net income in 2021 grew approximately 117% year-over-year to $5.96 billion. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)’s market cap clocked in over $132 billion on March 23, making it one of the biggest agriculture companies in the world. 

According to the fourth quarter database of Insider Monkey, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust is a significant shareholder of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE), with more than 1 million shares worth $354.4 million. Overall, 61 hedge funds placed long bets on the stock at the end of the December quarter. 

Here is what Harding Loevner has to say about Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“In the US, where we increased our weight as part of our recent portfolio manager transition, two of our industrial holdings stood out (one is) John Deere. John Deere delivered stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings and raised its guidance for the full-year. Sales of Deere’s tractors and combine harvesters are underpinned by Chinese demand for agriculture products and the bioethanol market rebounding with oil prices.”

You can also take a look at 10 Value Stocks Hedge Funds Like in 2022 and 10 Dividend Stocks Redditors Buy for Early Retirement.

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