Nixon Capital LLC Invests $1.94 Million in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)

Nixon Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 4,215 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,944,000. Deere & Company makes up about 0.6% of Nixon Capital LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of DE. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Deere & Company by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,002 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $426,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. DLK Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. DLK Investment Management LLC now owns 8,212 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,479,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC increased its stake in Deere & Company by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 889 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $377,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Deere & Company by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,019 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,398,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Douglas Lane & Associates LLC raised its position in Deere & Company by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Douglas Lane & Associates LLC now owns 557 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. 68.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on DE shares. Argus set a $510.00 target price on Deere & Company in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Baird R W cut shares of Deere & Company from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $477.00 to $507.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $437.00 to $455.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $501.00 target price on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $457.26.

Deere & Company Stock Up 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE DE traded up $15.56 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $459.75. 1,245,049 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,434,904. Deere & Company has a 1 year low of $340.20 and a 1 year high of $515.05. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $470.92 and a 200 day moving average of $443.29. The stock has a market cap of $124.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94.

Deere & Company (NYSE:DE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The industrial products company reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.05. Deere & Company had a net margin of 12.94% and a return on equity of 27.31%. On average, research analysts expect that Deere & Company will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Deere & Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.41%. Deere & Company's payout ratio is 28.72%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Deere & Company news, insider Rajesh Kalathur sold 24,580 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $500.61, for a total transaction of $12,304,993.80. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 74,878 shares in the company, valued at approximately $37,484,675.58. This represents a 24.71 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Deere & Company

Deere & Co engages in the manufacture and distribution of equipment used in agriculture, construction, forestry, and turf care. It operates through the following segments: Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Agriculture and Turf segment focuses on the distribution and manufacture of a full line of agriculture and turf equipment and related service parts.