XLI - Deere leads industrials to all-time highs after blowout quarter

Deere ([[DE]] +10.8%) powers up to the top of today's S&P leaderboard - and a new record high - after blowing past Q1 expectations and lifting its earnings guidance well above Wall Street estimates due to elevated crop prices and an improving farm economy.Farm-focused peers Caterpillar ([[CAT]] +5.3%) and Agco ([[AGCO]] +8.2%), as well as the SPDR Industrial Sector ETF ([[XLI]] +1.8%), also are rallying to all-time highs.Improved demand has strengthened Deere's pricing power, which combined with cost control measures enabled it to deliver the highest operating margin in company history.Among glowing analyst comments, Barclays' Adam Seiden says Deere has "had some strong quarters as of late, but this is among the top."Jefferies analyst Stephen Volkmann says Q1 results and full-year guidance were far ahead of expectations, helped by strong pricing and sales.Stifel's Stanley Elliott says he remains encouraged by strong agriculture fundamentals and believes the ongoing replacement cycle can drive

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Deere leads industrials to all-time highs after blowout quarter