One of the most serious challenges facing the world is a lack of sufficient food for much of the global population, suggests Stephen Leeb, editor of The Complete Investor.
Some peer-reviewed studies estimate that crop yields will need to double in the next 30 years to feed a growing global population.
One US company with the most to offer in this area is Deere & Company (DE), the world’s leading farm equipment company and our top conservative idea for 2015.
Deere produces a line that ranges from sprayers to heavy tractors. We think it should be a core holding in virtually every investor’s portfolio.
The market values the shares as if Deere were a heavy construction company, not a growth stock. But since the beginning of this century, there has been only one year in which Deere’s earnings declined.
And while full-year 2014 earnings are down, growth over the next five years should average around 15% a year.
Deere’s growth bona fides come both from its balance sheet metrics—which include return on equity consistently above 20% plus high and rising operating margins—and from its focus on research and technology.
With a P/E of about 11 and a case for strong growth that could easily last more than a generation, Deere is compellingly valued and we recommend buying it aggressively.
