Polaris First Quarter 2021 Earnings Results

 

 

Key Financial Data

 

 

 

CEO Commentary

 

The strength of our brands and the agility and dedication of the global Polaris team were on full display yet again this quarter, building on our incredible momentum from 2020 and delivering results that exceeded our expectations. Despite pandemic-related supply chain constraints, logistical challenges, and North American weather-related disruptions, sales across our business grew double-digits as we leveraged our capabilities and scale as the industry leader in powersports to deliver for our customers and dealers. Industry-leading innovation remains core to who we are, which was evident by the introduction of over 40 new or limited edition models during the quarter, including 22 new snowmobiles and a new turbocharged engine, 15 new and limited edition ORV models and three all-new Indian Chief motorcycles celebrating 100 years of one of the most historic and influential motorcycles of all time. We also announced plans to launch an all-new full-size electric RANGER by year-end, which further positions us to be the leader in powersports electrification. We will continue to swiftly navigate the challenges that may present themselves in the coming quarters while positioning Polaris for long-term growth and value-creation for all our stakeholders.

 

-- Mike Speetzen, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Inc

 

 

First Quarter Performance Summary (Reported)

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (April 27, 2021) - Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) (the "Company") today released first quarter 2021 results with reported sales of $1,951 million, up 39 percent from reported sales of $1,405 million for the first quarter of 2020. The Company reported first quarter 2021 net income of $134 million, or $2.11 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $5 million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, for the 2020 first quarter. Adjusted net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, was $146 million, or $2.30 per diluted share compared to $14 million, or $0.22 per diluted share in the 2020 first quarter.

 

Retail demand and industry tailwinds continued to be strong during the quarter driving higher Company performance as both new and existing customer growth accelerated across all segments and regions of the Company.

 

Gross profit increased 64 percent to $481 million for the first quarter of 2021 from $293 million in the first quarter of 2020. Reported gross profit margin was 24.6 percent of sales for the first quarter of 2021, up 378 basis points compared to 20.8 percent of sales for the first quarter of 2020. The improvement in gross profit was driven primarily by higher volumes and lower promotional costs during the quarter, partially offset by higher logistical costs and plant inefficiencies related to the supply-chain constraints. Adjusted gross profit for the first quarter 2021 was $483 million, or 24.7 percent of adjusted sales compared to the first quarter of 2020 adjusted gross profit of $298 million, or 21.2 percent of sales. Adjusted gross profit for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020 excludes the negative impact of $2 million and $5 million of restructuring and realignment costs, respectively

 

Operating expenses increased two percent for the first quarter of 2021 to $313 million from $307 million in the same period in 2020. Operating expenses were higher due to an increase in administrative expenses.

 

Income from financial services was $16 million for the first quarter of 2021, down 18 percent compared with $20 million for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in wholesale financing income during the quarter due to lower dealer inventory levels.

 

 

Non-Operating Expenses (Reported)

 

 

 

Interest expense was $12 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $16 million for the same period last year primarily due to lower debt levels. .

 

Other (income) expense, net, was $3 million of income in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $1 million of expense in the first quarter of 2020. Other (income) expense is the result of currency exchange rate movements and the corresponding effects on currency transactions related to the Company’s international subsidiaries.

 

The provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2021 was $41 million, or 23.4 percent of pretax income, compared with a tax benefit of $6 million, or 53.8 percent of pretax loss, for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in the effective income tax rate is primarily due to the impact of favorable excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation on pretax income in the first quarter of 2021 as compared to the tax benefit from the pretax loss and the release of tax reserves due to the expiration of certain statutes of limitations in the first quarter of 2020.

 

 

Product Segment Highlights (Reported)

 

 

Off-Road Vehicles (“ORV”) and Snowmobiles segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $1,232 million for the first quarter of 2021, up 50 percent compared to $824 million for the first quarter of 2020 driven by broad-based strength across  ATVs, side-by-sides and Snowmobile sales. PG&A sales for ORV and Snowmobiles combined increased 51 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter last year. Gross profit increased 62 percent to $327 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $202 million in the first quarter of 2020. Gross profit percentage increased 208 basis points during the 2021 first quarter compared to the prior year due to strong retail demand driving lower promotional and floor-plan finance spending, partially offset by supply chain constraints

 

ORV wholegood sales for the first quarter of 2021 increased 39 percent. Polaris North American ORV retail sales increased approximately 80 percent for the quarter with side-by-side vehicles up high sixty percent and ATV vehicles up about 100 percent. The North American ORV industry was up about sixty percent compared to the first quarter last year.

 

Snowmobile wholegood sales in the first quarter of 2021 were $75 million compared to $6 million in the first quarter last year. Polaris snowmobile retail sales were up low-twenty percent during the first quarter of 2021 and up mid-twenty percent for the twelve-month season ending March 2021. North American industry retail was up mid-single digits percent for the first quarter and up mid-teens percent for the season-ending March 2021.

 

Motorcycles segment sales, including PG&A, totaled $166 million, up 31 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020, driven primarily from increased sales of Slingshot, Indian Motorcycles, and related PG&A. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2021 was $8 million compared to a $1 million loss in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in gross profit margin was driven by volume and lower promotional costs offset somewhat by increased costs from supply chain constraints and negative product mix. 

 

North American consumer retail sales for Indian Motorcycles increased low sixty percent during the first quarter of 2021 in a mid-to-heavy-weight two-wheel motorcycle industry that was up mid-thirty percent.  North American consumer retail sales for Polaris' motorcycle segment, including both Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot, increased low-seventies percent during the first quarter of 2021.  North American consumer retail sales for the motorcycle industry including both two-wheel and three-wheel increased high thirties percent during the first quarter of 2021.

 

Global Adjacent Markets segment sales, including PG&A, increased 27 percent to $125 million in the 2021 first quarter compared to $98 million in the 2020 first quarter driven by increases in demand in North America and EMEA. Gross profit increased 22 percent to $33 million or 26.3 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $27 million or 27.4 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2020. Gross profit percentage decreased during the quarter primarily due to negative product mix offset somewhat by higher pricing.

 

Aftermarket segment sales of $230 million in the 2021 first quarter increased 14 percent compared to $202 million in the 2020 first quarter. Transamerican Auto Parts (TAP) sales of $193 million in the first quarter of 2021 increased nine percent compared to $177 million in the first quarter of 2020. The Company's other aftermarket brands sales were up 45 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020. Gross profit increased 32 percent to $61 million or 26.7 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $46 million or 22.9 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2020. Gross profit percentage improved during the quarter due to higher volume, improved product mix and higher pricing.

 

Boats segment sales increased 29 percent to $199 million in the 2021 first quarter compared to $155 million in the 2020 first quarter, driven by sales growth in all three brands, Bennington, Godfrey and Hurricane. Gross profit increased 56 percent to $46 million or 23.4 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $30 million or 19.2 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2020 due to increased volume and positive product mix partially offset by increased supply chain constraint costs.

 

Supplemental Data:

 

• Parts, Garments, and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales increased 49 percent for the 2021 first quarter with all categories and business segments growing sales during the quarter.

 

• International sales to customers outside of North America, including PG&A, totaled $288 million for the first quarter of 2021, up 59 percent from the same period in 2020.  All regions realized significant sales increases year over year.

 

 

Financial Position and Cash Flow

 

 

 

2021 Business Outlook

Given the 2021 first-quarter results, and the expected continued strong retail demand, the Company is increasing its full year sales and earnings guidance and now expects adjusted net income to be in the range of $9.00 to $9.25 per diluted share, compared with adjusted net income of $7.74 per diluted share for 2020 with full year 2021 sales now in the range of $8,300 to $8,500 million, up 18 to 21 percent.

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and our related earnings call contain certain non-GAAP financial measures, consisting of “adjusted"  sales, gross profit, income before taxes, net income and net income per diluted share as measures of our operating performance. Management believes these measures may be useful in performing meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results, to understand the performance of its ongoing operations and how management views the business. Reconciliations of reported GAAP measures to adjusted non-GAAP measures are included in the financial schedules contained in this press release. These measures, however, should not be construed as an alternative to any other measure of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. 

 

Earnings Conference Call and Webcast

Today at 9:00 AM (CT) Polaris Inc. will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the 2021 first quarter results released this morning. The call will be hosted by Mike Speetzen, Interim CEO; and Bob Mack, Interim CFO. The earnings presentation and link to the webcast will be posted on the Polaris Investor Relations website at ir.polaris.com. To listen to the conference call by phone, dial 1-877-883-0383 in the U.S., or 1-412-902-6506 internationally.  The Conference ID is 1811884.  A replay of the conference call will be available by accessing the same link on our website.

 

About Polaris

As the global leader in Powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. With annual 2020 sales of $7.0 billion, Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER^®, RZR^® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman^® all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle^® mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot^® moto-roadsters; snowmobiles; and deck, cruiser and pontoon boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments, and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com

 

 

Forward-looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this presentation, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on the Company’s business, supply chain, and the global economy; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its manufacturing operations expansion and supply chain initiatives; the Company’s ability to successfully source necessary parts and materials and the ability of the Company to manufacture and deliver products to dealers to meet increasing demand and to bring dealer inventory levels back to optimal levels; the continuation of the increasing consumer demand for the Company’s products; product offerings, promotional activities and pricing strategies by competitors; economic conditions that impact consumer spending; disruptions in manufacturing facilities; acquisition integration costs; product recalls and/or warranty expenses; product rework costs; impact of changes in Polaris stock price on incentive compensation plan costs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; environmental and product safety regulatory activity; effects of weather; commodity costs; freight and tariff costs (tariff relief or ability to mitigate tariffs); changes to international trade policies and agreements; uninsured product liability claims; uncertainty in the retail and wholesale credit markets; performance of affiliate partners; changes in tax policy; relationships with dealers and suppliers; and the general overall economic, social and political environment. Investors are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any duty to any person to provide updates to its forward-looking statements.

 

The data source for retail sales figures included in this release is registration information provided by Polaris dealers in North America compiled by the Company or Company estimates and other industry data sources. The Company must rely on information that its dealers supply concerning retail sales, and other retail sales data sources related to Polaris and the powersports industry, and this information is subject to revision. Retail sales references to total Company retail sales includes only ORV, snowmobiles and motorcycles in North America unless otherwise noted. (summarized financial data follows)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring, Realignment and Acquisition Related Costs

Polaris announced in 2017 that it was making changes to its network to consolidate production and distribution of like products and better leverage plant capacity and embarked on a multi-phase supply chain transformation initiative to continue to leverage its supply chain as a strategic asset. The Company is also executing certain corporate restructuring across the organization to increase efficiency and focus its business including the wind-down of the Rinker, Striper and Larson FX boat brands. For the first quarter of 2021, the Company has recorded combined costs totaling $2 million which was included as a NON-GAAP adjustment.

 

Intangible amortization related to acquisitions

The Company uses an adjusted net income metric that excludes intangible amortization from all historical business acquisitions. The Company believes this treatment provides transparency into the true, ongoing earnings performance of its business. For the first quarter of 2021, Polaris recorded $9 million of intangible amortization related to acquisitions as a NON-GAAP adjustment.

 

2021 Adjusted Guidance

2021 guidance excludes the pre-tax effect of supply chain transformation, restructuring and network realignment costs of approximately $5 million to $10 million, and approximately $5 million to $10 million for class action litigation-related expenses. Intangible amortization of approximately $35 million related to all acquisitions has also been excluded. The Company has not provided reconciliations of guidance for adjusted diluted net income per share, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The Company is unable, without unreasonable efforts, to forecast certain items required to develop meaningful comparable GAAP financial measures. These items include restructuring and realignment costs and acquisition integration costs that are difficult to predict in advance in order to include in a GAAP estimate.