Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, farm equipment maker Deere (NYSE: DE) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Deere's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Deere facts

Headquarters (Founded) Moline, Ill. (1837)
Market Cap $34.8 billion
Industry Farm and construction machinery
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $32.0 billion
Management Chairman/CEO Samuel Allen
CFO James Field
Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years) 30.6%
Cash/Debt $3.7 billion / $26.7 billion
Dividend Yield 1.9%
Competitors Caterpillar
CNH Global
Kubota

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 96% of the 2,808 members who have rated Deere believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.

Late last year, one of those Fools, troym72, highlighted the tailwinds working in Deere's favor:

[T]humbing up Deere is pretty much a no-brainer. I really like the current valuation and regardless of the financial markets, people must eat. So, the products that Deere manufactures should not lose their demand unless a competitor is stealing market share. That said, Deere has the strongest brand recognition and loyalty in their industry, so I don't see them losing market share either.

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