In this article, we will look at the 10 Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires.
A Research and Markets report valued the global agriculture market at $14.36 trillion in 2024. The analysis projects the market’s growth to accelerate at a 7.9% CAGR, reaching $15.5 trillion in 2025 and $20.63 trillion by 2029. According to the report, the engine behind this growth trajectory is increasing global food demand, technological advancements in farming practices, and the growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural solutions.
In the United States, the value of cropland has been rising steadily, with an average annual growth rate of 5.5% over the past 20 years. As of 2023, the average price per acre was $5,586 compared to $3,494 just ten years back. One of the reasons given for this phenomenon is “steady demand and competitive bidding.”
Many investors, including billionaires such as Bill Gates and John Malone, view farmland as an inflation hedge. No wonder Gates is now the largest private farmland owner in the US, holding over 275,000 acres across 17 states.
Similarly, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has considerable exposure to agricultural machinery and fertilizer firms. In an interview, hedge fund titan Jim Rogers reiterated his stance that “agriculture is going to be one of the most exciting industries of our lifetime” due to shrinking arable land and a growing world population.
On the public markets, the S&P Global Agribusiness Index is up 12.90% year-to-date (as of July 29), a performance that far outstrips the S&P 500’s 8.64%. With this backdrop in mind, this article explores the top 10 farmland and agriculture stocks favored by billionaires.
Our Methodology
To identify the 10 best farmland and agriculture stocks to buy according to billionaires, we analyzed agricultural ETF holdings, and financial media reports to create an initial list of agriculture-focused companies. We picked stocks with positive year to date returns (as of August 3). Then we used Insider Monkey’s exclusive database of billionaire stock holdings (as of Q4 2024) to select the stocks with the highest number of billionaire investors. Our list of the 10 best farmland and agriculture stocks to buy according to billionaires is ranked based on the number of billionaire investors of the respective stocks. Furthermore, we also noted down the hedge fund interest surrounding each stock from Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database of Q1 2025.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Best Farmland and Agriculture Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires
10. AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO)
Year to Date Returns: 24.42%
Total Value of Billionaire Holdings: 5
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27
AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) is one of the best farmland and agriculture stocks to buy according to billionaires. On July 10, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on September 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 15, 2025.
AGCO has consistently paid a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share in recent quarters, including payments on June 16, 2025 (ex-dividend date May 15, 2025), and March 14, 2025 (ex-dividend date February 14, 2025). Except for this recent plateau, the company has increased its dividends for 13 consecutive years, with an average dividend growth rate of 13.19% over the past 36 months, 12.63% over the past 60 months, and 9.93% over the past 120 months.
On April 25, 2024, AGCO declared a special variable dividend of $2.50 per share, paid on May 20, 2024. This payment was in addition to the regular quarterly dividend.
AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) is a global manufacturer and distributor of agricultural machinery and precision agriculture technology. Through brands like Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Valtra, and PTx, AGCO provides tractors, combines, grain storage systems, and smart farming solutions that support large-scale crop production.
9. Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR)
Year to Date Returns: 29.33%
Number of Billionaires: 6
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) is one of the best farmland and agriculture stocks to buy according to billionaires. On July 14, RBC Capital Markets raised the price target for Nutrien from $65 to $70. The investment bank maintained an “Outperform” rating while noting that the price target adjustment was part of a broader analysis of Q2 outcomes for fertilizer companies.
According to RBC analysts, fertilizer prices have exceeded expectations, driven by geopolitical disruptions that have affected nitrogen supplies and rising international natural gas prices. Phosphate supply remains tight, and potash demand continues to be robust. Nutrien’s strong position is supported by an 8% increase in US retail fertilizer sales volumes in April 2025 compared to April 2024, indicating strong application rates.
RBC highlighted Nutrien’s effective strategies, including achieving its $200 million annual cost savings target by 2025, one year ahead of schedule, and optimizing capital expenditure. The analysts estimated that Nutrien would generate approximately $2 billion in annual cash flows, equating to an 8% yield, supporting dividends, share buybacks, and strategic acquisitions.
Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services. It supplies potash, nitrogen, and phosphate fertilizers to farmers across more than a dozen countries. Through its Nutrien Ag Solutions division, the company offers precision agriculture tools, soil testing, and crop protection products that directly support farmland productivity.