AVD vs DE vs AGCO vs FMC

For growth investors, Deere & Company (DE) is the stronger pick with -2.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -18. 3% for FMC Corporation (FMC). AGCO Corporation (AGCO) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (20. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate American Vanguard Corporation (AVD) a "Buy" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the cheapest at 12.

1x versus Deere & Company at 31. 4x. On forward P/E, FMC Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AGCO Corporation wins at 1. 77x versus Deere & Company's 1. 99x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Deere & Company (DE) delivered a total return of +54.

1%, compared to -83. 4% for American Vanguard Corporation (AVD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DE returned +671. 0% versus AVD's -71. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Deere & Company (DE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

56β versus FMC Corporation's 1. 63β — meaning FMC is approximately 189% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Deere & Company (DE) is pulling ahead at -2.

2% versus -18. 3% for FMC Corporation (FMC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AGCO Corporation grew EPS 271. 4% year-over-year, compared to -757. 4% for FMC Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, DE leads at -3. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Deere & Company (DE) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

3% net margin versus -64. 6% for FMC Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DE leads at 18. 8% versus -54. 4% for FMC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FMC leads at 37. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 77x versus Deere & Company's 1. 99x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, FMC Corporation (FMC) trades at 7. 7x forward P/E versus 32. 5x for Deere & Company — 24. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVD: 466. 7% to $17. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

FMC Corporation (FMC) offers the highest yield at 17. 0%, versus 1. 0% for AGCO Corporation (AGCO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Deere & Company (DE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

56), 1. 1% yield, +671. 0% 10Y return). FMC Corporation (FMC) carries a higher beta of 1. 63 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +671. 0%, FMC: -26. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (AVD (Basic Materials) and DE (Industrials) and AGCO (Industrials) and FMC (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AVD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AGCO is a small-cap deep-value stock; FMC is a small-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.