Polaris RZR in the Desert

Polaris Up 7% in ORV Segment in 4th Quarter of 2019

Date: February 28, 2020

Categories:News,Press Releases

admin

Polaris Up 7% in ORV Segment in 4th Quarter of 2019

"We ended the year with positive fourth quarter retail momentum in both Off-Road Vehicles and Motorcycles, supporting strong full year, broad-based sales growth of 12 percent. While TAP grew modestly in the fourth quarter, non-TAP Parts, Garments and Accessories (PG&A) and aftermarket sales stole the show, eclipsing $1 billion for the first time in 2019. Our recent leadership changes were made to spur both tactical and strategic growth, and the 37 percent increase in Indian Motorcycle sales in the fourth quarter, driven largely by the Indian Challenger, demonstrates what is possible as Mike Dougherty takes over that important segment. Steve Menneto is aggressively moving to accelerate retail performance in Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles, building off a strong year of financial performance in our largest business. In 2019, we delivered strong operational performance across Polaris, especially productivity and delivery, and we expect further gains to create value for customers and shareholders in the year ahead. Our commitment to being a customer-centric highly profitable growth company is unwavering, and I am extremely confident in this Polaris team to deliver on that promise."

-- Scott Wine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Industries Inc.

Off-Road Vehicles (“ORV”) and Snowmobiles segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $1,140 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, up seven percent over $1,060 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 driven by growth in side-by-side sales. PG&A sales for ORV and Snowmobiles combined increased seven percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter last year. Gross profit increased 12 percent to $315 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $282 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Gross profit percentage increased 103 basis points during the 2019 fourth quarter due to favorable product mix.

ORV whole-good sales for the fourth quarter of 2019 increased 13 percent, primarily driven by positive mix. Polaris North American ORV retail sales were up low-single digits percent for the quarter with side-by-side vehicles up low-single digits percent and ATV vehicles up mid-single digits percent. The North American ORV industry was up mid-single digits percent compared to the fourth quarter last year.

Snowmobile wholegood sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 were down 10 percent compared to the fourth quarter last year. Snowmobile sales growth was pressured by a challenging comparable in the prior year period, due to the timing of pre-season SnowCheck order shipments.

Motorcycles segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $119 million, up 37 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, led by strong sales of Indian Motorcycles. Slingshot reported a sales decline during the quarter. Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2019 was negative $2 million compared to $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to increased promotions and higher warranty costs.

North American consumer retail sales for Polaris Indian motorcycles increased low-single digits percent during the fourth quarter of 2019 in a weak mid to heavy-weight two-wheel motorcycle industry that was down high-single digits percent. North American consumer retail sales for Polaris' motorcycle segment, including both Indian Motorcycles and Slingshot, decreased low-single digit percent during the fourth quarter of 2019, while the North American Motorcycle industry retail sales for mid to heavy-weight motorcycles including three-wheel vehicles, was down mid-single digits percent in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Global Adjacent Markets segment sales, including PG&A, decreased one percent to $120 million in the 2019 fourth quarter compared to $122 million in the 2018 fourth quarter primarily due to lower sales in the commercial, government and defense business. Gross profit increased six percent to $35 million or 29.1 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $33 million or 27.2 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2018, due to improved operational efficiency.

Aftermarket segment sales of $221 million in the 2019 fourth quarter increased four percent compared to $212 million in the 2018 fourth quarter. Transamerican Auto Parts (TAP) sales of $185 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased one percent compared to $183 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company's other aftermarket brands increased sales by 22 percent. Gross profit decreased to $49 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $52 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to higher tariff costs.

Boats segment sales decreased seven percent to $135 million in the 2019 fourth quarter compared to $145 million in the 2018 fourth quarter primarily due to negative product mix and planned dealer inventory reductions. Gross profit decreased one percent to $26 million or 19.0 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $26 million or 17.9 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Supplemental Data:

Parts, Garments, and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales increased seven percent for the 2019 fourth quarter driven primarily by growth in ORV, snowmobiles and global adjacent markets.

International sales to customers outside of North America, including PG&A, totaled $215 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, down one percent from the same period in 2018. The decrease was driven by negative currency rates.