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PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
12 Months Ended
Nov. 02, 2025
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS  
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

7. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

We have several funded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit (OPEB) plans. These plans cover U.S. employees and certain foreign employees. The measurement date of our plans is October 31. The U.S. salaried qualified pension plan and U.S. salaried and hourly OPEB health care plans are closed to new participants.

The components of net periodic pension and OPEB (benefit) cost excluding the service cost component are included in the line item “Other operating expenses.”

The components of net periodic pension benefit and the related assumptions consisted of the following:

 

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

 

Pensions:

Service cost

 

$

252

$

230

$

246

Interest cost

 

517

 

545

 

533

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1,005)

 

(967)

 

(878)

Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss

 

5

 

3

 

(13)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

39

 

40

 

38

Settlements/curtailments

 

25

 

38

 

37

Net benefit

$

(167)

$

(111)

$

(37)

Weighted-average assumptions:

Discount rates – service cost

4.9%

5.8%

5.2%

Discount rates – interest cost

4.9%

5.7%

5.1%

Rate of compensation increase

4.3%

3.8%

3.8%

Expected long-term rates of return

7.2%

7.0%

6.3%

Interest crediting rate – U.S. cash balance plans

4.2%

4.8%

4.3%

During 2025 and 2024, curtailment expense of $18 and $35, respectively, was recognized related to U.S. hourly employee layoffs. During 2023, a settlement expense of $36 was recognized for the acceleration of actuarial losses related to the transfer of the Canadian pension plan’s defined benefit obligations and related plan assets to an insurance company.

The 2026 net periodic pension benefit is expected to increase by $60 due to changes in discount rates, decreases in amortization of actuarial losses, and the U.S. hourly pension curtailment recognized in 2025, described above.

The components of net periodic OPEB cost and the assumptions related to the cost consisted of the following:

 

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

 

OPEB:

Service cost

$

17

$

17

$

27

Interest cost

 

158

 

174

 

176

Expected return on plan assets

 

(113)

 

(108)

 

(117)

Amortization of actuarial gain

 

(44)

 

(54)

 

(59)

Amortization of prior service credit

 

(4)

 

(4)

 

(3)

Net cost

$

14

$

25

$

24

Weighted-average assumptions:

Discount rates – service cost

5.7%

6.7%

6.1%

Discount rates – interest cost

5.0%

5.9%

5.4%

Expected long-term rates of return

5.3%

5.6%

5.7%

The OPEB net periodic cost is expected to decrease by $50 due to an increase in the expected return related to the 2025 U.S. voluntary contribution.

The benefit plan obligations, funded status, and the assumptions related to the obligations at November 2, 2025, and October 27, 2024, follow:

Pensions

OPEB

2025

2024

2025

2024

Change in benefit obligations:

  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

 

  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

 

  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

 

  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Beginning of year balance

$

(11,077)

$

(9,928)

$

(3,362)

$

(3,029)

Service cost

 

(252)

 

(230)

 

(17)

 

(17)

Interest cost

 

(517)

 

(545)

 

(158)

 

(174)

Actuarial gain (loss)

 

197

 

(1,097)

 

(25)

 

(385)

Benefits paid

 

752

 

746

 

280

 

263

Health care subsidies

 

(24)

 

(22)

Foreign exchange and other

 

(99)

 

(23)

 

(2)

 

2

End of year balance

 

(10,996)

 

(11,077)

 

(3,308)

 

(3,362)

Change in plan assets (fair value):

Beginning of year balance

 

13,080

 

12,004

 

2,171

 

2,028

Plan assets actual gain (loss)

 

849

 

1,703

 

203

 

259

Employer contribution

 

107

 

96

 

671

 

145

Benefits paid

 

(752)

 

(746)

 

(280)

 

(263)

Foreign exchange and other

 

74

 

23

 

2

 

2

End of year balance

 

13,358

 

13,080

 

2,767

 

2,171

Funded status

$

2,362

$

2,003

$

(541)

$

(1,191)

Weighted-average assumptions:

Discount rates

5.2%

5.1%

5.1%

5.2%

Rate of compensation increase

3.9%

4.3%

Interest crediting rate – U.S. cash balance plans

4.2%

4.1%

The actuarial gain for pension for 2025 was due to increases in discount rates. The actuarial losses for pension and OPEB for 2024 were due to decreases in discount rates. The actuarial loss for OPEB for 2024 was also impacted by changes to health care assumptions.

The discount rate assumptions used to determine the pension and OPEB obligations for all periods presented were based on hypothetical AA yield curves represented by a series of annualized individual discount rates. These discount rates represent the rates at which our benefit obligations could effectively be settled at the October 31 measurement dates.

The mortality assumptions for the 2025 and 2024 U.S. benefit plan obligations used the tables based on the plan’s mortality experience and the most recent scales issued by the Society of Actuaries. The 2025 and 2024 mortality assumptions included an adjustment to the scale related to COVID for some plans.

The weighted-average annual rates of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits (the health care cost trend rates) for medical and prescription drug claims for pre- and post-65 age groups used to determine the November 2, 2025, and

October 27, 2024, accumulated postretirement benefit obligations were as follows:

2025

2024

Initial year

18.1% (2025 to 2026)

16.9% (2024 to 2025)

Second year

9.9% (2026 to 2027)

11.5% (2025 to 2026)

Ultimate

4.7% (2034 to 2035)

4.7% (2033 to 2034)

An increase in Medicare Advantage premiums impacted the weighted-average annual rates of increase for the initial year in 2025 and 2024.

Information related to pension plans benefit obligations at November 2, 2025, and October 27, 2024, follows:

2025

2024

Total accumulated benefit obligations for all plans

$

10,424

$

10,441

Plans with accumulated benefit obligation exceeding fair value of plan assets:

Accumulated benefit obligations

1,405

1,405

Fair value of plan assets

983

920

Plans with projected benefit obligation exceeding fair value of plan assets:

Projected benefit obligations

1,542

1,541

Fair value of plan assets

1,021

951

The pension and OPEB amounts recognized in the balance sheet at November 2, 2025, and October 27, 2024, consisted of the following:

Pensions

OPEB

2025

2024

2025

2024

Noncurrent asset

$

2,883

  ​

$

2,593

$

390

  ​

$

328

Less: Current liability

 

56

 

66

41

39

Less: Noncurrent liability

 

465

 

524

 

890

 

1,480

Total

$

2,362

$

2,003

$

(541)

$

(1,191)

The retirement benefits and other liabilities recognized in the balance sheet at November 2, 2025, and October 27, 2024, consisted of the following:

2025

2024

Deferred compensation – current

$

23

$

28

Deferred compensation and other – noncurrent

235

217

Pensions and OPEB – current

97

105

Pensions and OPEB – noncurrent

1,355

2,004

Total

$

1,710

$

2,354

The amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income pretax at November 2, 2025, and October 27, 2024, consisted of the following:

Pensions

OPEB

2025

2024

2025

2024

Net actuarial (gain) loss

$

1,953

$

2,011

$

(653)

$

(632)

Prior service cost

 

272

 

329

 

8

 

2

Total

$

2,225

$

2,340

$

(645)

$

(630)

Actuarial gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). To the extent unamortized gains and losses exceed 10% of the higher of the market-related value of assets or the benefit obligation, the excess is amortized as a component of net periodic (benefit) cost over the remaining service period of the active participants. For plans in which all or almost all of the plan’s participants are inactive, the amortization period is the remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants.

Contributions

We make any required contributions to the plan assets under applicable regulations and voluntary contributions after evaluating our liquidity position and ability to make tax-deductible contributions. Total contributions to the plans were $778 in 2025 and $241 in 2024, which included both required and voluntary contributions and direct benefit payments. The 2025 contributions include a $520 voluntary contribution to a U.S. OPEB plan. This contribution increased plan assets.

We expect to contribute approximately $100 to our pension plans and approximately $150 to our OPEB plans in 2026. The contributions include voluntary contributions and direct benefit payments from company funds. We have no required contributions to U.S. pension plan assets in 2026 under applicable funding regulations.

Expected Future Benefit Payments

The expected future benefit payments at November 2, 2025, were as follows:

 

  ​ ​Pensions   

  ​

  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​OPEB*      

 

2026

$

750

$

256

2027

 

727

 

262

2028

 

725

 

267

2029

 

724

 

269

2030

 

718

 

275

2031 to 2035

 

3,585

 

1,321

*    Net of prescription drug group benefit subsidy under Medicare Part D.

Plan Asset Information

The fair values of the pension plan assets at November 2, 2025, follow:

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Cash and short-term investments

$

275

$

272

$

3

Equity:

U.S. equity securities

 

479

 

468

11

International equity securities and funds

 

249

 

241

8

Fixed Income:

Government and agency securities

 

1,279

 

860

 

419

Corporate debt securities

 

5,543

 

 

5,543

Mortgage-backed securities

 

254

 

 

254

Other investments

 

55

 

31

 

24

Derivative contracts – assets

 

95

 

57

 

38

Derivative interest rate contracts – liabilities

 

(75)

 

(3)

 

(72)

Receivables and payables

 

(264)

 

(264)

Securities lending collateral

 

507

 

507

Securities lending liability

 

(507)

 

(507)

Securities sold short

 

(107)

 

(105)

(2)

Total of Level 1 and Level 2 assets

7,783

$

1,557

$

6,226

Investments at net asset value:

Short-term investments

503

U.S. equity funds

211

International equity funds

259

Fixed income funds

1,593

Real estate funds

316

Hedge funds

481

Private equity

1,037

Venture capital

1,121

Other investments

54

Total net assets

$

13,358

The fair values of the OPEB health care assets at November 2, 2025, follow:

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Cash and short-term investments

$

104

$

104

Equity securities

73

67

$

6

Fixed Income:

Government and agency securities

 

673

 

621

52

Corporate debt securities

 

658

 

658

Mortgage-backed securities

 

110

 

110

Other

 

(28)

 

(30)

2

Securities lending collateral

 

105

 

105

Securities lending liability

 

(105)

 

(105)

Total of Level 1 and Level 2 assets

1,590

$

762

$

828

Investments at net asset value:

U.S. equity funds

115

International equity funds

75

Fixed income funds

436

Real estate funds

106

Hedge funds

104

Private equity

153

Venture capital

165

Other investments

23

Total net assets

$

2,767

The fair values of the pension plan assets at October 27, 2024, follow:

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Cash and short-term investments

$

411

$

399

$

12

Equity:

U.S. equity securities

 

451

 

440

11

International equity securities and funds

 

238

 

232

6

Fixed Income:

Government and agency securities

 

1,250

 

932

 

318

Corporate debt securities

 

4,956

 

 

4,956

Mortgage-backed securities

 

177

 

 

177

Other investments

 

57

 

36

 

21

Derivative contracts – assets

 

130

 

7

 

123

Derivative interest rate contracts – liabilities

 

(161)

 

(119)

 

(42)

Receivables, prepaids, and payables

 

(171)

 

(171)

Securities lending collateral

 

662

 

662

Securities lending liability

 

(662)

 

(662)

Securities sold short

 

(94)

 

(92)

(2)

Total of Level 1 and Level 2 assets

7,244

$

1,664

$

5,580

Investments at net asset value:

Short-term investments

492

U.S. equity funds

174

International equity funds

194

Fixed income funds

1,649

Real estate funds

385

Hedge funds

457

Private equity

1,219

Venture capital

1,219

Other investments

47

Total net assets

$

13,080

The fair values of the OPEB health care assets at October 27, 2024, follow:

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Cash and short-term investments

$

77

$

77

Fixed Income:

Government and agency securities

 

606

 

561

$

45

Corporate debt securities

 

551

 

551

Mortgage-backed securities

 

92

 

92

Other

11

 

7

4

Securities lending collateral

 

167

 

167

Securities lending liability

 

(167)

 

(167)

Total of Level 1 and Level 2 assets

1,337

$

645

$

692

Investments at net asset value:

U.S. equity funds

163

International equity funds

84

Fixed income funds

348

Real estate funds

77

Hedge funds

71

Private equity

41

Venture capital

41

Other investments

9

Total net assets

$

2,171

Investments at net asset value in the preceding tables are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient and are not classified in the fair value hierarchy. Fair value measurement levels in the preceding tables are defined in Note 25.

Fair values are determined as follows:

Cash and Short-Term Investments – The investments include (1) cash accounts that are valued based on the account value, which approximates fair value; (2) investments that are valued at quoted prices in the active markets in which the investment trades or using a market approach (matrix pricing model) in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data; and (3) investment funds that are valued based on a constant fund net asset value, which is based on quoted prices in the active market in which the investment fund trades, or the fund’s net asset value using the net asset value per share practical expedient (NAV), which is based on the fair value of the underlying securities.

Equity Securities and Funds The Level 1 investments are determined using quoted prices in the active market in which the equity investment trades. Equity funds are valued using the fund’s NAV, which is based on the fair value of the underlying securities.

Fixed Income Securities and Funds and Other FundsThe securities are valued using either a market approach (matrix pricing model) in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, credit risk, and prepayment speeds, or they are valued using the quoted prices in the active market in which the fixed income investment trades. Fixed income and other funds are valued using the fund’s NAV, which is based on the fair value of the underlying securities.

Real Estate, Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds The investments that are structured as limited partnerships are valued at estimated fair value based on their proportionate share of the limited partnership’s fair value that is determined by the respective general partner. These investments are valued using the fund’s NAV, which is based on the fair value of the underlying investments. Valuations may be lagged up to six months. The NAV is adjusted for cash flows (additional investments or contributions, and distributions) and any known substantive valuation changes through year end.

Derivative InstrumentsThe derivatives are valued using either an income approach (discounted cash flow) using market observable inputs, including swap curves and both forward and spot exchange rates, or a market approach (quoted prices in the active market in which the derivative instrument trades).

The investment objective for the pension and health care plan assets is to fulfill the projected obligations to the beneficiaries over a long period of time, while meeting our fiduciary responsibilities. The asset allocation policy is the most important decision in managing the assets, and it is reviewed regularly. The asset allocation policy considers our long-term asset class risk/return expectations for each plan since the obligations are long-term in

nature. The target asset allocations as of November 2, 2025, are as follows:

Pension

Health Care

 

  ​ ​ ​

Assets

  ​ ​ ​

Assets

 

Equity

8%

10%

Debt

66%

70%

Real estate

3%

3%

Other investments

23%

17%

The assets are diversified and are managed by professional investment firms as well as by investment professionals who are company employees. As a result of our diversified investment policy, there were no significant concentrations of risk.

A market related value of plan assets is used to calculate the expected return on assets. The market related value recognizes changes in the fair value of pension plan assets systematically over a five-year period. The market related value of the health care plan assets equals fair value.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets reflects management’s expectations of long-term average rates of return on funds invested to provide for benefits included in the projected benefit obligations. The expected return is based on the outlook for inflation and for returns in multiple asset classes, while also considering historical returns, asset allocation, and investment strategy. Our approach has emphasized the long-term nature of the return estimate such that the return assumption is not changed significantly unless there are fundamental changes in capital markets that affect our expectations for returns over an extended period of time (i.e., 10 to 20 years). The average annual return of our U.S. pension fund was approximately 7.4% during the past 10 years and approximately 7.7% during the past 20 years.

We have Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association trusts (VEBAs) for the funding of hourly and salary postretirement health care benefits. The future expected asset returns for the VEBAs are lower than the expected return on the other pension and health care plan assets due to investment in a higher proportion of liquid securities. These assets are in addition to the other postretirement health care plan assets that have been funded under Section 401(h) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and maintained in a separate account in the John Deere Pension Trust.

Defined Contribution Plans

We maintain separate defined contribution plans, primarily in the U.S. Under the plans, we contribute a percentage of each eligible employee’s compensation. Our contributions and costs under these plans were $333 in 2025, $326 in 2024, and $288 in 2023.