Financial Performance - Net income attributable to Harley-Davidson, Inc. was $133.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in Q1 2025, down 43.3% from $234.9 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, in Q1 2024[133][149]. - HDMC segment operating income was $116.3 million in Q1 2025, a decrease of 51.2% from $238.4 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to a planned decrease in motorcycle shipments[134][150]. - Worldwide retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles declined 21.3% in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, with North America down 24.0%[135]. - Revenue from motorcycle sales decreased by 29.3% to $863.9 million in Q1 2025, compared to $1.22 billion in Q1 2024[166]. - Retail unit sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles decreased by 21.3% year-over-year, totaling 31,010 units in Q1 2025 compared to 39,405 units in Q1 2024[156]. - U.S. retail sales declined by 25.3%, with 19,207 units sold in Q1 2025, down from 25,726 units in Q1 2024[156]. - Worldwide motorcycle shipments fell by 33.1% to 38,601 units in Q1 2025, down from 57,672 units in Q1 2024[165]. - LiveWire segment revenue decreased by 41.7% to $2.7 million in Q1 2025, down from $4.7 million in Q1 2024[170]. Operating Segments - The LiveWire segment reported an operating loss of $19.8 million in Q1 2025, an improvement from a loss of $29.2 million in the prior year quarter[134]. - HDFS segment operating income increased by 18.9% to $64.0 million in Q1 2025, driven by lower provision for credit losses and operating expenses[134][150]. - Operating income for the HDMC segment fell by 51.2% to $116.3 million in Q1 2025, down from $238.4 million in Q1 2024[166]. - Operating income increased by 18.9% to $64.0 million in Q1 2025, compared to $53.9 million in Q1 2024[174]. Inventory and Capital Expenditures - The Company expects a reduction of approximately 10% in year-end dealer inventory of new motorcycles in 2025 compared to the end of 2024[143]. - Retail inventory of new motorcycles decreased by approximately 19% year-over-year, totaling around 56,000 units at the end of Q1 2025[159]. - Capital investments for 2025 are now expected to be between $200 million and $225 million, down from previous expectations of $225 million to $250 million[146]. - Capital expenditures were $30.0 million in Q1 2025, down from $46.4 million in the same period last year[189]. Shareholder Returns - The Company plans to repurchase approximately $1 billion of shares from Q3 2024 through the end of 2026, including $350 million in discretionary repurchases in 2025[147]. - Share repurchases totaled $93.1 million in Q1 2025, compared to $107.8 million in Q1 2024[191]. Cash Flow and Debt - Cash flow from operating activities increased to $141.5 million in Q1 2025, up from $104.0 million in Q1 2024[186]. - The Company had $1.93 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025[183]. - Total outstanding debt increased to $7.30 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to $7.21 billion in the previous year[192]. Credit and Financing - Provision for credit losses decreased by $7.7 million to $53.3 million in Q1 2025, driven by lower actual credit losses[175]. - HDFS's retail credit losses have normalized to higher levels after a period of historically low levels, influenced by changing consumer credit behavior and macroeconomic conditions[218]. - The Company renewed its Canadian Conduit facility, increasing the total commitment by C$40 million to C$165 million, allowing for the purchase of eligible Canadian retail motorcycle finance receivables[198]. - The Company renewed its $1.50 billion U.S. Conduit Facility in November 2024, allowing for the transfer of U.S. retail motorcycle finance receivables to third-party banks[201]. Market Conditions and Risks - The Company is facing headwinds in the EV segment, with a belief that EV adoption will be slower than anticipated due to regulatory challenges and infrastructure issues[210]. - The Company is exposed to market risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates, utilizing derivative financial instruments to mitigate these risks[220]. - The HDMC segment's operating results are significantly affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies, particularly the Euro and Australian dollar[221]. - HDFS's operating income is sensitive to interest rate changes, with the Company using interest rate caps to reduce fluctuations' impact[224]. Strategic Focus - The Company aims to manage costs and improve dealer capabilities to enhance retail sales of motorcycles and related products[217]. - The Company is focused on maintaining relationships with distributors and managing risks related to economic conditions and consumer demand[217]. - The Company plans to explore third-party investments in HDFS to align with its objectives without adversely affecting its business[219]. - The Company is committed to managing risks associated with climate change and related regulations[219].

Core Viewpoint - Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) has recommended that shareholders vote "FOR ALL" of Harley-Davidson's director nominees, concluding that H Partners has not made a compelling case for change and that their campaign has likely hindered the ongoing CEO search process [1][2]. Group 1: Harley-Davidson's Strategy and Performance - The strategy introduced by CEO Jochen Zeitz has positively impacted Harley-Davidson's trajectory, reversing a decline that occurred prior to his leadership [4]. - Harley-Davidson has kept pace with its peers, a significant improvement compared to its prior underperformance before the Hardwire strategy was implemented [4]. - The board's actions in initiating the CEO search process were timely and appropriate, accommodating the dissident's preferences without dismissing them outright [4]. Group 2: Board and Governance - ISS acknowledges the strength of Harley-Davidson's board and governance structure, emphasizing the board's role in overseeing the execution of the Hardwire strategic plan [2]. - The board believes that H Partners' intentions are to undermine corporate governance practices by seeking to appoint unelected directors to influence the CEO search process [2]. - The criticisms against CEO Zeitz are considered overstated, with evidence suggesting his tenure has been more beneficial than detrimental [4]. Group 3: Shareholder Engagement - Harley-Davidson urges shareholders to protect their investment by voting "FOR ALL" of the company's nominees on the WHITE proxy card [5]. - The company has provided resources for shareholders needing assistance with the voting process, including a dedicated proxy solicitor [5].

Core Viewpoint - Harley-Davidson emphasizes the importance of its Board's skills and experience in selecting the next CEO and driving future growth, while criticizing H Partners' campaign as harmful and disingenuous, potentially jeopardizing shareholder value [1][3][4]. Group 1: Board and Management - The Board and management are dedicated to preserving Harley-Davidson's legacy and are actively transforming the business to enhance shareholder value [2]. - Each Director nominee possesses critical skills and institutional knowledge necessary for selecting a strong CEO, with experience in leadership, manufacturing, and successful business transformations [6][9]. - The current Board has a well-defined CEO search process and is committed to governance best practices, ensuring a smooth leadership transition [19][30]. Group 2: H Partners' Campaign - H Partners has been accused of launching a misleading campaign that undermines the Board's efforts and shareholder interests, particularly after their preferred CEO candidate did not gain majority support [4][19]. - The campaign is characterized as lacking constructive solutions and primarily aimed at gaining control over the Board rather than benefiting shareholders [15][19]. - H Partners previously supported the current CEO and Board decisions, raising questions about the motivations behind their recent actions [3][19]. Group 3: Company Performance - Despite facing one of the most challenging operating environments in its history, Harley-Davidson has outperformed its peers, with operating margins of 13% and free cash flow as a percentage of EBITDA at 70% [19][30]. - Recent product upgrades have led to a 12% increase in retail sales for certain models through the first nine months of 2023, indicating successful management execution [20].

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating Harley-Davidson (HOG) and Tesla (TSLA) for potential value opportunities in the Automotive - Domestic sector, with HOG currently presenting a more favorable investment case than TSLA [1]. Valuation Metrics - HOG has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to TSLA, which has a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [3]. - HOG's forward P/E ratio is 7.20, significantly lower than TSLA's forward P/E of 148.85, suggesting HOG is undervalued relative to TSLA [5]. - HOG's PEG ratio is 0.35, while TSLA's PEG ratio is 7.83, indicating HOG's expected earnings growth is more favorable [5]. - HOG has a P/B ratio of 0.90, contrasting with TSLA's P/B of 11.99, further supporting HOG's valuation attractiveness [6]. Value Grades - HOG has received a Value grade of A, while TSLA has been assigned a Value grade of F, reflecting HOG's superior valuation metrics and estimate revision activity [6][7].

Core Insights - Harley-Davidson, Inc. reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $1.07 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 80 cents, but down from $1.72 per share in the same quarter last year [1] - Consolidated revenues for the quarter were $1.33 billion, a decline of 23% year-over-year [1] Segmental Highlights - Revenues from the Motorcycle and Related Products segment fell 27% year-over-year to $1.08 billion, missing the forecast of $1.17 billion due to lower motorcycle shipments [2] - Worldwide motorcycle shipments decreased by 33% to 38,600 units, below the estimate of 43,571 units [2] - Revenues from motorcycle sales were $864 million, down 29% year-over-year, with operating income plunging 51% to $116 million, falling short of the estimate of $165.2 million [2] Retail Performance - Harley-Davidson retailed 31,000 motorcycle units globally, a decline of 21% year-over-year, and below expectations of 38,000 units [3] - Retail motorcycle sales in North America decreased by 24% to 20,900 units, while sales in EMEA declined by 2%, and Asia Pacific and Latin America saw declines of 28% and 6%, respectively [3] Parts and Accessories - Revenues from parts and accessories fell 14% year-over-year to $143 million, missing the estimate of $162.2 million [4] - Revenues from apparel decreased by 11% year-over-year to $57 million, also falling short of the forecast of $63 million [4] Financial Services - Revenues for Harley-Davidson Financial Services totaled $245 million, a decline of 2% year-over-year, missing the forecast of $273 million [5] - Operating income increased by 19% to $64 million, surpassing the estimate of $51.4 million due to lower provisions for credit losses and reduced operating expenses [5] LiveWire Performance - Total shipments for LiveWire were 33 units, a decline of 72% from the previous year, with revenues down 42% to $3 million, missing the estimate of $6.5 million [6] - Operating loss narrowed from $29 million to $20 million, which was better than the projected loss of $29.7 million [6] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, Harley-Davidson had cash and cash equivalents of $1.93 billion, up from $1.59 billion at the end of 2024 [7] - Long-term debt increased to $4.96 billion from $4.46 billion as of December 31, 2024 [7] - The company withdrew its 2025 guidance amid macroeconomic uncertainties and tariff issues [7]

Group 1: Consumer Sentiment and Spending - The Trump tariff policy has severely impacted consumer confidence in the U.S., particularly among middle and low-income groups, leading to reduced spending [1] - Companies that primarily target middle-class consumers, such as McDonald's, General Motors, Harley-Davidson, and Hershey, are experiencing declining sales and profit pressures [1] - McDonald's reported its lowest sales in mature U.S. restaurants since the pandemic, attributing this to cautious spending by lower-income customers [1] Group 2: Automotive Industry Impact - Harley-Davidson's motorcycle sales fell by 24% year-over-year, with the CEO citing economic uncertainty and high interest rates as key factors [2] - General Motors, despite initial sales growth, has lowered its annual profit forecast by $2 billion to $3 billion due to tariff costs of $4 billion to $5 billion [2] - GM plans to increase North American prices by up to 1%, reversing an earlier expectation of a price decrease [2] Group 3: Confectionery Sector Challenges - Hershey reported a 15% decline in sales of candy, mints, and gum, with executives noting a growing consumer focus on value [3] - The company anticipates a loss of $15 million to $20 million in the current quarter due to tariffs on key raw materials like cocoa, which cannot be grown domestically [3] Group 4: Technology Sector Performance - Apple reported strong second-quarter sales driven by increased iPhone demand, potentially due to panic buying before new tariffs took effect [4] - Analysts warn that ongoing economic uncertainty poses real risks to both domestic and global economies, with signs of declining business and consumer confidence [4]

Core Viewpoint - Harley-Davidson has suspended its full-year financial forecast for 2025 due to uncertainties surrounding global tariffs and macroeconomic conditions [1][3]. Financial Performance - The company reported a 21% decline in global motorcycle sales compared to the previous year, attributed to a volatile macroeconomic environment and consumer uncertainty [3]. - Retail sales in the US were softer than expected, with motorcycle shipments dropping to 24,865 in Q1 from 41,577 in the same period last year [4]. - Revenue fell by 23% in the first quarter to $1.33 billion compared to the previous year [4]. Tariff Impact - Harley-Davidson estimates its tariff bill could reach $175 million this year, primarily due to imports from China facing a 145% tariff, despite most suppliers being based in the US [1][8]. Strategic Focus - The company is concentrating on cost productivity measures, supply chain mitigation, controlling operating expenses, and reducing dealer inventory, as stated by CEO Jochen Zeitz [4]. Market Reaction - Shares in Harley-Davidson increased by 3.4% around midday [5]. Economic Context - Recent data indicated that the US economy unexpectedly shrank as companies rushed to import goods ahead of tariffs, while consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level since October 2011 [6]. Leadership Changes - Harley-Davidson is searching for a new CEO as Jochen Zeitz plans to retire [6]. - Investment firm H Partners is attempting to remove Zeitz and two other directors from the board, citing poor performance and cultural issues [7].

Core Insights - Harley-Davidson reported a revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a decline of 26.8% year-over-year and a surprise of -3.24% compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 billion [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) was $1.07, down from $1.72 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of +33.75% against the consensus estimate of $0.80 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Harley-Davidson's worldwide retail motorcycle sales totaled 31,010 units, falling short of the average estimate of 36,821 units [4] - Total worldwide motorcycle shipments were 38,601, compared to the average estimate of 40,365 [4] - Revenue from motorcycles and related products was $863.86 million, slightly above the average estimate of $861.54 million, but still down 29.3% year-over-year [4] - Revenue from licensing was reported at $3.06 million, significantly below the average estimate of $8.03 million, representing a year-over-year decline of 65.8% [4] - Revenue from Live Wire was $2.74 million, compared to the estimated $6.64 million, marking a 41.7% decrease year-over-year [4] - Apparel revenue was $57.32 million, below the average estimate of $63.92 million [4] - Parts & Accessories revenue was $143.43 million, compared to the average estimate of $163.70 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 13.7% [4] - Financial services revenue was $244.96 million, slightly below the average estimate of $249.71 million, with a year-over-year change of -1.5% [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Harley-Davidson shares have returned -12.4%, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential for outperformance in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Harley-Davidson's consolidated revenue in Q1 2025 decreased by 23%, with operating income at $160 million, a decline of 51% at HDMC, partially offset by a 19% increase in HDFS operating income [20][28] - The consolidated operating income margin for Q1 was 12.1%, down from 15.2% in the previous year, primarily due to lower volume impacting dealer inventory [20][25] - Earnings per share for Q1 was reported at $1.7, reflecting the overall decline in revenue and operating income [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - HDMC revenue decreased by 27% in Q1, driven by a 33% decline in motorcycle shipments, totaling 39,000 units compared to 58,000 units in the prior year [22][23] - HDFS revenue was $245 million, a decrease of 2%, while operating income increased by 19% to $64 million due to lower provisions for credit losses [27][28] - LiveWire segment reported an operating loss of $20 million, with revenue decreasing due to lower unit sales of electric motorcycles [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global retail sales were down 21% in Q1, with a 24% decline in North America, attributed to low consumer confidence [5][6] - EMEA region saw a retail decline of just 2%, while APAC experienced a 28% decline, primarily due to softness in China and Japan [7] - LATAM reported a 6% decline in retail sales year-over-year [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on a significant marketing development fund to support dealer networks and product launches closer to the riding season [6][10] - Harley-Davidson plans to introduce new entry-level products and expand its cruiser offerings, aiming for affordability and profitability [11][88] - The company is evaluating its investment in LiveWire due to challenges in the EV market, including slower adoption rates and regulatory hurdles [12][97] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed concerns over the uncertain macroeconomic environment and its impact on consumer confidence, leading to the withdrawal of previous 2025 guidance [13][34] - There is cautious optimism regarding potential trade deals that may mitigate tariff impacts, although the situation remains fluid [14][59] - Sequential improvement in retail sales was noted from February to April, indicating a slight recovery in consumer demand [66] Other Important Information - The company achieved $142 million in operating cash flow, an increase of $38 million from the prior period, with total cash and cash equivalents at $1.9 billion [31][32] - Harley-Davidson repurchased 3.4 million shares for $87 million in Q1 2025 as part of its capital allocation strategy [33] Q&A Session Summary Question: What might the economics of a long-term strategic partnership look like for Harley Davidson? - Management emphasized the importance of demonstrating the premium value of HDFS and maintaining attractive offers for customers and dealers [39][40] Question: What has changed regarding the strategic value of HDFS? - The focus is on ensuring a market-based view of HDFS's value while still recognizing its strategic importance to the company [42] Question: Can you provide insight into the tariff impacts and anti-American sentiment? - Management noted that while tariffs pose challenges, the company has a strong U.S.-centric manufacturing base, and there has not been significant negative sentiment affecting sales [56][64] Question: How is the retail environment evolving, especially in April? - Sequential improvement was observed in retail sales from February to April, with management noting that April showed signs of recovery compared to March [66] Question: What led to the decision to bring back entry-level bikes? - The company aims to capitalize on the opportunity to create profitable entry-level models, having previously focused on core business investments [88] Question: How are cost savings being tracked for LiveWire? - LiveWire is projected to reduce operating losses significantly, with ongoing efforts to drive cost savings and achieve a sustainable business model [97]

Harley-Davidson (HOG) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.07 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.80 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.72 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 33.75%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this motorcycle maker would post a loss of $0.68 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.93, delivering a surprise of -36.76%.Over the last four quarters, the com ...