Polaris (PII) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 29, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsJ.C. Weigelt - VP - IRMichael Speetzen - CEO & DirectorRobert Mack - CFO, Executive VP - Finance & Corporate DevelopmentJoseph Altobello - Managing DirectorSean Wagner - AVPTristan Thomas - Equity Research AssociateAlexander Perry - Director - Equity ResearchConference Call ParticipantsCraig Kennison - Director - Research Operations & Senior Research AnalystNoah Zatzkin - VP & Equity Research AnalystJoseph Nolan - Associate An ...

Polaris (PII) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 29, 2025 10:00 AM ET Speaker0Good morning and welcome to the Polaris Second Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in listen only mode. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to J. C.Weigelt, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.Speaker1Thank you, Gary, and good morning or afternoon, everyone. I'm J. C. Weigelt, Vice President of Investor Relations at Polaris. Thank ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, sales decreased by 12% due to reduced shipments aimed at managing dealer inventory amidst a downturn in the powersports market [5][6] - Adjusted EPS was negative $0.90, aligning with the midpoint of the guidance range provided earlier [6] - Gross profit margin declined by 147 basis points, primarily due to increased promotions and a prolonged downturn in the powersports sector [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Off-Road sales were down 10%, influenced by lower volume and higher promotions, although a favorable mix partially offset this decline [31] - On-Road sales decreased by 20%, driven by challenges in the motorcycle market and timing issues with engine deliveries [34] - Marine sales fell by 7%, consistent with planned reductions in shipments, while the pontoon industry experienced an 11% decline year-to-date [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American retail sales were down 7%, with better performance in the utility segment compared to recreational products [6] - International business sales dropped 16% due to weak markets in both off-road and on-road segments [30] - Retail trends showed volatility, with significant month-to-month swings, attributed to high inflation and economic uncertainty [85] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has withdrawn its full-year guidance due to the fluid tariff environment and its potential impact on consumer spending [9] - A four-pronged tariff mitigation strategy has been implemented, focusing on supply chain adjustments, cost control, market reprioritization, and government advocacy [21] - The company aims to emerge stronger by maintaining close relationships with dealers and focusing on cash preservation [9][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging operating environment, emphasizing the importance of navigating through tariffs and economic uncertainty [5][9] - There is optimism regarding the potential for retail demand recovery, contingent on inventory levels stabilizing and consumer confidence improving [56] - The leadership remains committed to long-term strategies that prioritize innovation and operational efficiency [30][46] Other Important Information - The company reported its highest Q1 operating free cash flow in nine years, reflecting effective working capital management [28] - Warranty expenses have improved significantly, contributing positively to customer satisfaction and expected future margins [33][89] - The company is actively engaging with government officials to address tariff-related challenges and advocate for U.S. manufacturing interests [15][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What role will pricing play in tariff mitigation efforts? - Management indicated that pricing will remain stable through May, as raising prices in a recessionary environment is challenging due to inelastic demand [49][50] Question: Where does the company stand in terms of inventory cleanup among competitors? - Management believes they are in the later innings of the inventory cleanup process, with some competitors still facing significant excess inventory [54][55] Question: What is the expected annualized impact from tariffs in 2026? - Management refrained from providing a specific number, emphasizing ongoing mitigation efforts and the complexity of the tariff environment [62][63] Question: How is the company planning shipment levels in light of retail demand? - The company plans to ship fewer units than retail to manage dealer inventory effectively, adjusting based on future retail strength [95][96] Question: What does the recession playbook entail? - The recession playbook focuses on cash preservation, working capital management, and deferring non-critical CapEx projects [100][101]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, sales decreased by 12% due to reduced shipments to manage dealer inventory amidst a downturn in powersports [7][9] - Adjusted EPS was negative $0.90, aligning with the guidance range provided in January [9] - North American retail sales were down 7%, with better performance in the utility business compared to recreational products [9][10] - Gross profit margin decreased by 147 basis points, primarily due to promotions and economic downturn [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Off Road sales declined by 10% due to lower volume and higher promotions, although a favorable mix partially offset this [36][38] - On Road sales fell by 20%, impacted by a challenging motorcycle market and engine delivery timing issues [39] - Marine sales decreased by 7%, consistent with planned reductions in shipments, while the pontoon industry saw an 11% decline year-to-date [41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International business sales dropped by 16% due to weak markets in both off-road and on-road segments [36] - Retail trends showed volatility, with significant month-to-month swings attributed to high inflation and interest rates [92] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has withdrawn its full-year guidance due to the fluid tariff environment and its impact on consumer spending [12] - A four-pronged tariff mitigation strategy has been implemented, focusing on supply chain adjustments, cost control, market reprioritization, and government advocacy [26] - The company aims to emerge stronger by maintaining close relationships with dealers and focusing on cash preservation [12][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging environment but expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate through it [6][34] - The CEO emphasized the importance of innovation and dealer partnerships in overcoming current market challenges [17][34] - Management noted that consumer reluctance to spend on discretionary items is affecting retail performance, with expectations for modestly lower retail demand [92] Other Important Information - The company has seen improvements in warranty claims, indicating better product quality and customer satisfaction [39][98] - The company is focused on reducing working capital and has achieved the highest Q1 operating free cash flow in nine years [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What role will pricing play in tariff mitigation efforts? - Management indicated that pricing will remain stable through May, as raising prices in a recessionary environment is challenging [56] Question: Where does the company stand in terms of inventory cleanup? - Management believes they are in the later innings of the inventory cleanup process, with improvements noted across the industry [61] Question: What is the expected annualized impact from tariffs in 2026? - Management refrained from providing specific estimates for 2026, focusing instead on current year impacts and mitigation efforts [70] Question: How is the company planning shipment levels in light of retail demand? - The company plans to ship lower than retail to continue reducing dealer inventory, adjusting as market conditions evolve [102][104] Question: What actions are being taken to preserve cash? - Management is focused on cash preservation, reviewing CapEx budgets, and maintaining liquidity through discussions with lending partners [78][84]