Shares of Deere & Company (DE) were down on Wednesday morning after the company posted lower fourth quarter results and a weak outlook.
Inside DE’s Q4 Results
Earnings
The company reported earnings of $649.2 million, or $1.83 per share, down from $806.8 million, or $2.11 per share, last year. On average, analysts expected to see earnings of $1.57 per share.
Revenue
Revenue declined to $8.97 billion from $9.45 billion in the same quarter last year. Analysts expected to see earnings of $7.75 billion.
Outlook
Looking ahead, DE expects to see a 15% drop in sales in FY2015 and a 21% sales drop in the first quarter.
Mutual Funds to Watch
For investors seeking exposure to Deere & Company without purchasing the individual stock, a mutual fund from the list below may be a good choice. The following funds currently hold the largest stake in DE.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| VTSMX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index | 1.68% |
| FKINX | Franklin Income | 1.16% |
| VFINX | Vanguard 500 Index | 1.06% |
The Bottom Line
By investing in any of the funds above, investors can gain exposure to DE as well as diversified bundle of other securities and industries. Investors interested in DE may also be interested in Caterpillar (CAT) and Home Depot (HD).
