GPRE vs DE

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 9% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Deere & Company (DE) offers the better valuation at 32. 0x trailing P/E (33. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 forward P/E, Deere & Company is actually cheaper at 33.

2x.

Over the past 5 years, Deere & Company (DE) delivered a total return of +58.

7%, compared to -47. 0% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DE returned +676. 6% versus GPRE's +17. 1%. 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 Green Plains Inc. 's 1. 22β — meaning GPRE is approximately 116% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% 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 -14. 9% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Deere & Company grew EPS 0. 0% year-over-year, compared to -39. 5% for Green Plains Inc.. 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 -5. 8% for Green Plains 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 -4. 0% for GPRE. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Deere & Company (DE) trades at 33.

2x forward P/E versus 48. 1x for Green Plains Inc. — 14. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DE: 15. 0% to $680. 54.

In this comparison, DE (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. GPRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +676. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +676. 6%, GPRE: +17. 1%), 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 (GPRE (Basic Materials) and DE (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

DE pays a dividend while GPRE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.