HARLEY dealers worldwide sold 57,415 new Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the first quarter of 2014, compared to 54,254 motorcycles in the year ago quarter (up 5.8 percent); in the U.S. dealers sold 35,730 units, up 3.0 percent compared to sales of 34,706 motorcycles in the year-ago period.
In international markets, dealers sold 21,685 new Harley-Davidson motorcycles during the first quarter, up 10.9% (19,548 motorcycles in the first three months of 2013), with sales said to be up 20.5% in the Asia Pacific region, 8.2% in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), and 8.9% in Latin American markets. Canada was down by -2.4%.
Keith Wandell, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. said: "Our dealers had a solid quarter of retail motorcycle sales. Sales in the Asia Pacific region were up strongly, and we are encouraged by the continued growth of new Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales in Europe. Domestically we achieved first quarter retail growth of 3.0% in the midst of a long, cold winter". According to Wandell "there's also great news for Harley-Davidson in the annual reporting of our demographic market share data".
According to Polk/IHS data 2013 saw Harley post a sixth consecutive year as the number-one seller of new on-road motorcycles in the U.S. (both in terms of their 'in-class' 601cc-plus displacement market and across all engine size bands) to young adults age 18-34, women, African- Americans and Hispanics (Harley's "outreach" customers) and Caucasian men age 35-plus (which Harley describes as "core" customers). The Company says that compared to 2012 it grew its U.S. market share and also increased its share gap to the nearest competitor in each of these segments.
"Together with our dealers, we continued to expand the appeal of our products and the Harley- Davidson experience", said Wandell. "Harley-Davidson dealers sold more than four times as many new, on-road motorcycles, 601cc and up, to U.S. young adults last year, and among riders age 35-plus, more than nine times as many to women, more than six times as many to African Americans and more than seven times as many to Hispanics, as the nearest competitor".
According to Harley-Davidson's internal data, retail sales of its motorcycles to U.S. "outreach" customers grew at more than twice the rate of sales growth to core customers in 2013 compared to 2012.
First-quarter 2014 diluted earnings per share were $1.21 (up 22.2%) on "higher motorcycle shipments and continued improvement in operating efficiencies". First-quarter net income was $265.9 million ($224.1 m in Q1 2013) on consolidated revenue of $1.73 billion ($1.57 billion in Q1 2013).
"Harley-Davidson delivered gains on many fronts in the first quarter, with shipments up 7.3%, strong margin improvement and solid growth in dealer new motorcycle sales", said Wandell.
"Our Project RUSHMORE motorcycles were in high demand in the quarter and we began shipping the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and 500 into select markets".
First-quarter operating income from motorcycles and related products grew 25.6% to $347.7 million ($276.8 m in Q1 2013); operating income in the quarter "benefited from higher motorcycle shipments and higher gross margin compared to the prior-year period", according to the Company.
Revenue from motorcycles grew 13.1% to $1.31 billion ($1.15 billion in Q1 2013) - the Company says it shipped 80,682 motorcycles to dealers and distributors worldwide during the quarter, which it says was "in line with guidance and a 7.3% increase compared to shipments of 75,222 motorcycles in the year-ago period".
Revenue from motorcycle parts and accessories was $198.1 million during the quarter, up 7.7%, and revenue from general merchandise, which includes MotorClothes apparel and accessories, was $64.1 million, down 11.1%, compared to the year ago period.
Gross margin was 37.7% in the first quarter of 2014, compared to 36.7% in the first quarter of 2013. First-quarter operating margin from motorcycles and related products was 22.1%, compared to operating margin of 19.6% in last year's first quarter.
Operating income from financial services was $63.2 million in the first quarter of 2014, an 11.7% decrease compared to operating income of $71.5 million in last year's first quarter - Harley says that "first quarter financial services results reflect a higher provision for credit losses".
