First Quarter 2016 Highlights:

  • North American retail sales increased 6% in the quarter with Indian motorcycles up over 50%.
  • Dealer inventory was down year-over-year.
  • North American off-road vehicle unit retail sales were flat with the 2015 first quarter, with consumer purchases of side-by-side vehicles down low single-digits percent and ATV retail sales up low-single digits percent over prior year. 
  • Motorcycle sales increased 18% during the quarter. ORV/Snowmobiles and Global Adjacent Markets sales were down, in-line with expectations.
  • First quarter results included additional expenses totaling approximately $30 million related to certain product liability settlements, ORV related warranty accruals, severance costs and acquisition related costs.
  • Repurchased 1.0 million shares of Polaris common stock during the first quarter.
  • Maintaining guidance range for full year 2016 earnings of $6.20 to $6.80 per diluted share, on sales in the range of down 2% to up 3% for the full year 2016.

MINNEAPOLIS — Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) reports its first quarter net income of $46.9 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 compared to $88.6 million, or $1.30 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2015, in-line with company expectations. Sales for the first quarter 2016 totaled $983.0 million, down 5% compared to last year’s first quarter sales of $1,033.3 million.

“Our first quarter results were in line with our projections, in spite of increased expenses for warranty and product liability. Our Customer Excellence initiatives and new products drove a 6% increase in North American retail, and in conjunction with shipment reductions, better demand forecasting, and process control improvements, enabled us to continue reducing dealer inventory levels year-over-year. During the quarter, we improved shipment lead-times, met retail demand from our Spirit Lake motorcycle facility, and completed the acquisition of Taylor-Dunn. I still believe 2016 is likely to be another volatile year in powersports, but we are seeing pockets of strength. The North American ORV industry was up in the first quarter, with March experiencing the strongest improvement,” commented Scott Wine, Polaris’ chairman and chief executive officer. “We remain focused on an all-out assault on costs and rededicating the business to drive growth, not only for this year but as part of a renewed commitment to achieving our 2020 objectives. The entire Polaris team is united, and determined, to grow sales and expand margins.”

2016 Business Outlook

While the powersports industry was slightly better than anticipated in the 2016 first quarter, the company is keeping its guidance range unchanged for the full year 2016 with earnings expected to be in the range of $6.20 to $6.80 per diluted share with sales in the range of down 2% to up 3%  over 2015 due to the persistent unpredictability around overall economic trends and more specifically powersports industry trends for the remainder of 2016.

Segment Summary

Off-Road Vehicle (“ORV”) and snowmobile segment sales, including their respective PG&A related sales, decreased 9% from the first quarter of 2015 to $720.6 million. ORV vehicle sales decreased 12%, snowmobile vehicle sales were up 2% and ORV and snowmobile related PG&A sales, combined, increased 2% in the 2016 first quarter compared to the same period last year.

ORV wholegood sales decreased 12% reflecting ongoing softness in retail sales in North American oil markets and tough comparables in the first quarter of last year. Polaris North American ORV unit retail sales were flat with the 2015 first quarter, with consumer purchases of side-by-side vehicles down low single-digits percent and ATV retail sales up low-single digits percent over prior year. ORV dealer inventory was down 10% in the 2016 first quarter compared to the same period last year. While the company experienced modest ORV market share loss in the 2016 first quarter with ATV market share up slightly and side-by-side’s down, Polaris continues to be the clear #1 market share leader in ORV in North American.

Snowmobile wholegood sales increased 2% due to the acquisition of Timbersled in the second quarter of 2015. The company gained market share the 2016 first quarter and for a third consecutive year for the season ending March 31, 2016.

Motorcycle segment sales, including their respective PG&A related sales, increased 18% in the 2016 first quarter to $188.2 million primarily due to continued strong retail sales for Indian motorcycles.

North American consumer retail demand for the Polaris motorcycle segment, including Victory, Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot, was up low-teens percent during the 2016 first quarter while the overall motorcycle industry retail sales, 900cc and above was about flat in the 2016 first quarter. During the 2016 first quarter, the company began retailing two new additions to its Victory and Indian motorcycle line-up with the introduction of the Octane, Victory motorcycles’ first mid-sized cruiser and the new Indian Springfield, named after the birthplace of Indian Motorcycle. Slingshot also broadened its color options with its 2016 model introduction including the new Limited Edition White Pearl SL. Product availability for Victory, Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot improved considerably in the 2016 first quarter and dealer inventories are essentially at targeted stocking levels at quarter-end.

Global Adjacent Markets segment sales along with their respective PG&A related sales decreased 5% to $74.1 million in the 2016 first quarter compared to the 2015 first quarter.

Work and Transportation group wholegood sales were up low single digits percent during the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to growth in the Aixam business. Sales for the company’s defense business were down significantly due to U.S. military budget spending patterns pushing orders into the future.

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