The article argues July is the strongest month for stocks historically, with the S&P 500 rising 2.3% on average over 20 years. The author recommends buying two dividend-growth stocks: Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Deere (DE). ITW is highlighted for its high operating margins, consistent dividend growth, and share buybacks despite analyst neglect. Deere is positioned to benefit from a construction boom while the agricultural segment is at a cycle bottom, with corn and wheat prices showing signs of recovery.

Husker Harvest Days 2026, the Western Corn Belt's premier agricultural showcase, opens registration for its Sept. 15-17 event in Grand Island, Nebraska. The event features new live demonstrations of corn stalk baling, tub grinders, and feed mixers, alongside returning attractions like the HHD Drone Zone and 12 field demonstration categories. Free admission is available for pre-registered attendees.

The Farm Progress Show returns to Boone, Iowa, Sept. 1-3, 2026, with three major additions: an expanded Agronomy Zone featuring research-grade crop plots with the Hefty brothers from Ag PhD, new premium ticket packages at $60, and a Drone Zone for precision agriculture demonstrations. The event previously attracted 161,000 attendees and 548 exhibitors in 2025.

The Organic Grower Summit, presented by Farm Progress and sponsored by John Deere, is accepting nominations for its ninth annual Grower of the Year Award. The award will recognize four finalists who demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and leadership in organic agriculture. The summit will take place December 2-3, 2026, in Monterey, California, with the winner announced during the keynote presentation. Nominations close August 31, 2026.

United Rentals has delivered exceptional returns over the past decade with a 1,360% gain, significantly outperforming the S&P 500. The equipment rental company benefits from strong fundamentals including 10% revenue CAGR and 20% EPS CAGR, market leadership with 16% share of North American equipment rental market, and exposure to growing data center and utilities sectors. The company is also returning capital to shareholders through a $5 billion buyback program and 10% dividend increase, though valuation concerns and debt levels present some risks.

Deere & Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share, payable on August 10, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2026.

Deere & Co.'s stock momentum has declined 8.77% over the past month due to agricultural market weakness and rising fertilizer costs driven by the Iran conflict. Despite short-term technical weakness, analysts maintain a positive long-term outlook, with Freedom Broker raising its price target to $590, citing 2026 as a cyclical trough with higher structural profitability from construction equipment demand and technology monetization. The company expects U.S. and Canadian agricultural markets to decline 15-20% this year due to high interest rates and input costs.

The article recommends two industrial blue chip stocks as buying opportunities following a market pullback. Lockheed Martin is highlighted for its strong defense backlog and F-35 fighter jet program, with expected 18% annual earnings growth and a 2.6% dividend yield. Deere & Company is suggested as a cyclical stock to buy during agricultural weakness, with analysts projecting 15% annual earnings growth as the sector recovers.

U.S. stocks edged lower Thursday as Treasury yields rebounded and crude oil climbed above $100 a barrel amid fading optimism over a U.S.-Iran agreement. Despite Nvidia's blockbuster earnings beat with $81.6B revenue, the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.6%. The S&P 500 declined 0.3% while the Russell 2000 gained slightly. IBM surged 8% on a $1B CHIPS Act award, while Intuit plummeted 20.2% on job cut announcements.

Deere & Co reported Q2 earnings that beat analyst estimates with EPS of $6.55 vs. $5.73 expected and revenue of $13.369 billion vs. $11.535 billion expected. However, the stock fell 7.47% as investors focused on weakness in large agricultural markets. The company forecasts Production & Precision Agriculture sales to decline 5-10% in FY26, citing weak farmer sentiment due to high input costs, elevated interest rates, and rising global fuel and fertilizer costs exacerbated by the Iran conflict.

The AI-powered crop micronutrients market is experiencing rapid growth with over $3.15 billion in recent investments. Major technology and agriculture companies are deploying AI solutions for precision nutrient management, with leaders like John Deere's See and Spray Technology covering 5 million acres in North America. AI-driven innovations including precision sprayers, satellite-based nutrient mapping, and digital twin models are enabling more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices.

As tech stocks dominate market gains, contrarian investors can capitalize on discounted closed-end funds offering yields up to 11.8%. Three funds—Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB), DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund (DSL), and NXG Nextgen Infrastructure Income Fund (NXG)—provide diversified exposure to stocks, bonds, and infrastructure while trading at significant discounts to net asset value.