Sandhills Global has officially published the results from a new report, which was designed to cover used equipment, trucks, and trailers on Sandhills’ U.S. platforms, eventually revealing market uncertainty with slight undertones of affordable options for buyers.
Going by the available report, this particular report would leverage Sandhills’ Equipment Value Index (EVI), which buyers and sellers can use to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data effectively includes equipment available in auction and retail markets, as well as model-year equipment actively in use.
More on that would reveal how EVI spread measures the percentage difference between asking and auction values.
“Economic pressures and market volatility remain a top concern. However, while the current environment presents challenges, it also opens opportunities for buyers to obtain equipment at more favorable prices. We anticipate the market will contract and eventually stabilize to a state similar to what we observed between 2017 and 2019,” said Ryan Dolezal, manager at TractorHouse.
Talk about the given report on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the space of US used tractors with 100 horsepower or more.
Here, the market was found to have gone down by 2.3% month-over-month. While it did record an uptick worth 1.73% year-over-year in April, the used 100- to 174-horsepower tractor category experienced the largest M/M fluctuation with a 2.51% decline, whereas on the other hand, high-horsepower (300-plus-HP) tractor category saw the most significant YOY increase at 7.1%.
Furthermore, asking values in this market inched up M/M but decreased YOY. As for auction prices, they would go up by 0.73% M/M, but at the same time, fall by 4.86% when looked at from YOY perspective. If compared to other categories, the used 175- to 299-HP tractor category registered its largest YOY decrease at 4.68%.
The EVI spread, on its part, increased to 38%, clocking one point higher than in March and slightly lower than the peak values observed during 2015.
Next up, we must dig into the U.S. used combines. Inventory levels of used combine harvesters were up by 0.53% M/M in April. However, they were still 5.43% lower compared to year-ago levels. Expanding upon that a little more, asking values showed a modest increase of 0.22% M/M in April, but they were down 2.06% YOY. Auction values, on the flipside, continued their upward trajectory, increasing by 1.31% M/M and 2.21% YOY in April.
in terms of EVI spread for used combines, it tumbled for the fourth month in a row to 44% during April.
Turning our attention towards used sprayers, the inventory levels associated with used sprayers continued their downward trend, declining by 3.69% M/M and 1.81% YOY in April.
Mirroring that downturn, asking values decreased by 1.88% M/M and 4.41% YOY.. Almost like an extension of it, auction values also dropped by 3.71% M/M and 2.91% YOY. Having said so, the latter still maintained an upward trend.
The EVI spread in this discipline increased three points to 43% during April, slightly below the peak values recorded in 2015.
Then, we have used compact and utility tractors that saw their inventory levels trending downward for six months. In fact, during April, inventory declined by 4.09% M/M and a substantial 23.71% YOY. The used less-than-40-HP tractor category experienced the most significant decrease, with inventory down 4.98% M/M and 26.69% YOY.
Asking values in this market, despite an upward trend, shrunk slightly by 0.19% M/M and were down 1.66% YOY. The used 40- to 99-HP tractor category showed the largest YOY decrease at 3.77%.
Following that lead, auction values, although trending upward, decreased by 0.34% M/M and 0.35% YOY. The used less-than-40-HP tractor category markedly experienced the largest YOY decrease at 2.54%.
“New truck sales have been stagnant, with pre-buy behavior moving from 2025 to 2026. OEMs recognize this, and they have been cutting back production. Given the uncertainty clouding the global economy, many buyers are stalling, but inventory levels are stable and deals are still being made,” said Scott Lubischer, manager at Truck Paper.
