CMI vs DE

For growth investors, Cummins Inc.

(CMI) is the stronger pick with -1. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). Deere & Company (DE) offers the better valuation at 31. 1x trailing P/E (32. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cummins Inc. (CMI) a "Buy" — based on 51 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, Deere & Company (DE) is the cheapest at 31.

1x versus Cummins Inc. at 32. 9x. On forward P/E, Cummins Inc. is actually cheaper at 25. 6x — 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: Deere & Company wins at 1. 98x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 27x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Cummins Inc.

(CMI) delivered a total return of +171. 5%, compared to +59. 1% for Deere & Company (DE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DE returned +659. 4% versus CMI's +542. 4%. 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 Cummins Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning CMI is approximately 179% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cummins Inc. (CMI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cummins Inc.

(CMI) is pulling ahead at -1. 3% versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Deere & Company grew EPS 0. 0% year-over-year, compared to -27. 7% for Cummins Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMI leads at 6. 2% 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 8. 4% for Cummins Inc. — 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 11. 9% for CMI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DE leads at 36. 5%, 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, Deere & Company (DE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 98x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 27x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Cummins Inc. (CMI) trades at 25. 6x forward P/E versus 32. 3x for Deere & Company — 6. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DE: 18. 2% to $680. 54.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Cummins Inc. (CMI) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 1. 1% for Deere & Company (DE).

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, +659. 4% 10Y return). Cummins Inc. (CMI) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — 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: +659. 4%, CMI: +542. 4%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.