How John Deere Hit 18% Construction Equipment Sales Growth in Q3 2026

In 2026, John Deere’s agricultural business remains a drag, but its construction and forestry equipment segment is a different story. Construction net sales increased 18% year-over-year to $3.6 billion in the company’s third-quarter results, and the first nine months of the fiscal year are even stronger, with sales up 26% to $10.1 billion.

The construction segment’s operating profit rose 84% in Q3 to $436 million and is up 67% year-to-date to $1.1 billion. Those are big numbers for a segment that has been running at a more measured pace in recent years, and the demand drivers behind them suggest the momentum isn’t a one-quarter anomaly.

What Is Actually Driving John Deere’s Construction Growth

The revenue jump does not come from a single factor. During the Q3 earnings call, Deere broke down the key contributors clearly.

Price realization, the net difference between what equipment was sold for this year versus last year, added $244 million to used construction equipment segment revenue. Sales volume growth contributed an additional $22 million. Those gains were partially offset by a $65 million increase in selling, administrative, and research and development expenses, but the net result was still a strong quarter by any measure.

These numbers become more interesting when considering volume growth. Specifically in North America, Deere cited big infrastructure projects, construction of data centres and energy-related development as the key drivers of demand. These aren’t cyclical construction categories that slow down when the housing market cools. They are sustained, multi-year capital investments that tend to keep equipment working regardless of broader economic sentiment.

Rental fleet investment is also continuing to support demand. Rental companies refreshing and expanding their fleets have been a consistent source of equipment movement throughout 2026, and Deere’s results reflect that trend directly.

Which John Deere Machines Are Top Selling

EDA equipment finance data for the second quarter of 2026 showed that John Deere financed 5,994 new construction machines in the U.S. in the quarter. The models driving that volume give a clear picture of where buyer demand stands right now.

The most active models in the financing data were the 325G compact wheel loader, 333 P-Tier compact track loader, and 35 P-Tier compact excavator. All three are in the compact equipment category, machines that work in a wide variety of applications, from infrastructure and site development to utility work and residential construction.

The popularity of these models reflects a broader trend in the market. Demand for smaller equipment continues to be more consistent than for larger machine categories because it is easier to finance, easier to transport and applicable to a wider range of project types.

What Deere Is Forecasting For The Rest Of 2026

It is worth noting what Deere’s earnings call said about the future. Sales of earthmoving equipment in North America are expected to grow 5% to 10% for the full year 2026, with sales of compact construction equipment expected to increase about 5%.

For the full fiscal year, Deere still expects construction net sales to be up about 20% year-over-year, with price realization expected to be up about 3%.

Those projections are based on the same demand drivers that are already manifesting in Q3: infrastructure spending, data center development, and investment in energy projects. These sectors continue to pull significant volume of equipment and show no signs of abating as we head into the final quarter of the year.

And another thing to note: John Deere reported $110 million in tariff refunds in Q3 and $382 million in tariff refunds for the first nine months of 2026. These refunds reflect the tariff relief adjustments announced earlier this year and have provided some margin support during a period of elevated production costs otherwise.

How Deere’s Construction Strength Compares To Its Agriculture Struggles

The gap between Deere’s construction and agriculture segments in 2026 is significant, and it’s worth understanding.

Construction net sales were up 18% in the third quarter, but agriculture net sales fell 6% to $4 billion in the same quarter. Agriculture operating profit is down 9% in Q3 to $527 million. Deere’s agriculture net sales are down 7% to $11.7 billion for the first nine months of the year, and operating profit is down 34% to $1.4 billion.

In agriculture, there is a $124 million drop in equipment shipment volumes and $95 million in additional production costs, a combination that squeezes margins from both sides at once.

The split between the two segments is a useful reminder that the equipment industry does not move as a block. Currently, demand for construction is on a completely different cycle than demand for agricultural equipment, as it is driven by infrastructure and energy investment.

What John Deere’s Q3 Results Mean For The Used Equipment Market

When a large equipment company such as John Deere makes strong sales of new equipment, it has a domino effect that quickly permeates the used construction equipment market.

Older machines from the same fleets are more likely to be moved to the used market when there is active buying of new machines. Fleet upgrades are expected to continue through the end of 2026, which will keep used John Deere machines, such as compact excavators, wheel loaders, and compact track loaders, available.

Meanwhile, Deere’s forecast of further price hikes this year will further drive the decision of many contractors to opt for quality used heavy equipment over buying new. The price realization gain of 3% on already high new equipment prices further widens the price difference between new and used, and that difference is driving buyers toward the used market for budgetary reasons.

The market is now a good time for contractors to buy used inventory instead of waiting. New prices are on the rise, availability from fleet rotations is fairly robust, and the demand that underlies these trends is not cooling off.

Looking for a quality used John Deere machine? MY-Equipment stocks a regularly updated range of used John Deere construction equipment, including compact excavators, wheel loaders, and track loaders, available out of Houston, Texas. Browse our John Deere inventory or contact our team to check current availability and pricing.

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