Deere & Co's DEI showdown

Shareholders, not other stakeholders, in theory get the final say over corporate decisions, but so far the biggest U.S. investors haven't really weighed in about pullback from diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by many of their portfolio companies.

Let's see what message shareholders send in the springtime proxy season, starting with Deere & Co's meeting next month. You can read more in my column this week, linked below. I've also flagged stories by my colleagues concerning the environmental impacts of JBS and of Berkshire Hathaway. 
               
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Farm equipment maker Deere & Co last year became one of the first U.S. companies to back away from DEI initiatives, without a lot of public reaction from the asset managers who sought some of the changes in the first place.

Deere's annual meeting could provide more clarity about what investors want, based on the results of shareholder resolutions backed by groups with opposing views. You can read more in my column this week by clicking here.

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