By Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deere & Co gave an underwhelming earnings forecast on Wednesday for fiscal 2019 after missing quarterly profit estimates amid a U.S. trade battle with China that has depressed U.S. farm commodity prices and hurt farm equipment demand.
The Moline, Illinois-based tractor maker expects net income of about $3.6 billion in 2019. That would translate into earnings of $11.10 per share, compared with the average analyst estimate of $11.47, according to Refinitiv data.
Equipment sales for the world's largest tractor manufacturer are estimated to grow 7 percent on the year in 2019 compared with a 29 percent jump in fiscal 2018, which ended Oct. 28.
Stephen Volkmann, an equity analyst with Jefferies, said the earnings forecast reflected the potential impact of the tit-for-tat tariff war between the world's two largest economies.
"It could well be that we are now starting to see some impact of those (trade) concerns," Volkmann said.
Deere reported an adjusted profit in the fourth quarter through Oct. 28 of $2.30 per share, lower than Refinitiv's estimates for $2.45, as equipment sales growth halved from the previous quarter.
Agriculture and turf equipment sales rose 3 percent in the quarter, compared with 18 percent in the third quarter.
Shares slipped 2.8 percent in light premarket trading. The stock has fallen over 19 percent since late January.
The U.S. trade showdown with China, one of the biggest export markets for U.S. agricultural products, is further squeezing American farmers whose incomes have been under a siege for the past four years amid a global grain glut.
Last year, China imported 32 million tons of soybeans from the United States. But this year, the country has not purchased any of the U.S. crop after Beijing slapped a 25 percent tariff on U.S. imports in July. The move was in retaliation for U.S. duties on Chinese goods, imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
There has been growing concern that depressed bean prices could induce a significant switch of acreage into other crops next year, causing a supply glut that could, in turn, hurt the prices of other farm commodities.
On Wednesday, Deere moderated its previous expectations, projecting farm cash receipts to remain flat. It had earlier been hopeful that stronger demand for crops like corn, wheat and cotton would mitigate the impact of the trade battle and boost U.S. farm cash receipts in 2019.
Deere said industry sales of agricultural equipment in North America - its biggest market - were expected to be flat to up 5 percent next year, compared with a 10 percent estimated increase for 2018.
Its global sales for agriculture and turf equipment are projected to rise 3 percent in 2019, significantly slower than a 15 percent year-on-year jump this year.