Polaris Reports Record Second Quarter 2013 Results; EPS Increased 15% to $1.13 With Sales Growth of 12%

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Second Quarter Highlights:

 

• Net income increased 15% to $80.0 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, with sales increasing 12% to $844.8 million, setting records for second quarter sales and earnings.
• North American retail sales improved, rising 11% year-over-year in the second quarter.
• Gross profit margin percentage increased 120 basis points to 29.9% primarily due to higher selling prices and lower product costs.
• Raising guidance for full year 2013 earnings to a range of $5.20 to $5.30 per diluted share, up 18% to 20% over 2012 based on expected full year 2013 sales growth of 13% to 15%.

 

Minneapolis, MN (July 23, 2013) – Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today reported record second quarter net income of $80.0 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, up 15 percent from the prior year’s second quarter net income of $69.8 million, or $0.98 per diluted share. Sales for the second quarter 2013 totaled a record $844.8 million, an increase of 12 percent over last year’s second quarter sales of $755.4 million.

 

Scott Wine, Polaris’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are pleased with the strength of our brands and the performance of our team, as they overcame unusually wet weather conditions across North America and sluggish international consumer demand to once again deliver record results. Retail sales to consumers in North America rose 11 percent in the second quarter, accelerating from softer first quarter results and sequentially reducing dealer inventory ahead of perhaps the most eagerly anticipated new product launch in the Company’s history. We also gained market share in our Off-Road Vehicle business, despite increasing competitive pressure. In addition, we expanded gross margin by 120 basis points, driven in large part by increased selling prices and continued product cost reduction efforts.”

 

Wine continued, “The second half of 2013 will be a momentous time for Polaris. In the coming weeks we will introduce some of the most exciting products in our history, which we expect will accelerate retail growth for the remainder of the year and beyond. The much anticipated re-launch of Indian Motorcycles has finally arrived, just a few short years after we purchased the brand in 2011. The motorcycles are gorgeous, the distribution channel is developing nicely and on August 3^rd at the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, we will officially bring choice, in the form of the oldest American motorcycle company, back to the motorcycle riding community. While we are extremely enthusiastic about our future in motorcycles, we are equally excited to unveil some of the most innovative Off-Road Vehicles the Company has ever developed at our upcoming Dealer Meeting next week. Given continued share gains, and the actual performance of the Company in the second quarter, we are again confident in raising our earnings expectations for the full year 2013.”

 

 

2013 Business Outlook

For the full year 2013, the Company is increasing its earnings guidance and now expects earnings to be in the range of $5.20 to $5.30 per diluted share, an increase of 18 to 20 percent over full year 2012 earnings of $4.40 per diluted share. Full year 2013 sales are expected to grow in the range of 13 percent to 15 percent from 2012. We currently anticipate the overall economic environment around the world to remain relatively unchanged from the first half of 2013.

 

 

Off-Road Vehicle (“ORV”) sales increased 7 percent from the second quarter 2012 to $619.2 million. This increase reflects continued North American market share gains for both ATVs and side-by-side vehicles. Polaris North American ORV unit retail sales were up low double digits percent from the second quarter last year, with consumer purchases of side-by-side vehicles climbing double digits percent and ATV retail sales up mid-single digits percent. The Company estimates the North American industry ORV retail sales increased mid-single-digits percent from the second quarter of 2012. North American ORV dealer inventories were up mid-teens percent from the second quarter of 2012 primarily to support new ORV product segments, but down sequentially from the 2013 first quarter, as anticipated.

 

Snowmobile sales totaled $8.5 million for the 2013 second quarter compared to $8.9 million for the second quarter of 2012. Second quarter snowmobile sales are routinely low for the Company as it is the off-season for snowmobile retail sales and shipments.

 

Sales for the Motorcycles division, which includes both Victory and Indian motorcycle sales, decreased six percent to $49.9 million in the 2013 second quarter compared to same period last year. The decline in the 2013 second quarter sales is due to the timing of shipments under the current order taking process called retail flow management (“RFM”) which is closely tied to retail sales compared to the second quarter last year wherein shipments were made based on annual dealer orders and timing of production. North American industry heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle retail sales increased low single digits percent during the 2013 second quarter as compared to the prior year’s second quarter. Over the same period, Victory North American consumer unit retail sales also increased in the low single digits percent range. North American Victory dealer inventory increased over 2012 levels due to increased segment stocking as part the RFM order taking process and an increase in the dealer count, as expected.

 

Sales of the Small Vehicles division, which is comprised of our GEM and Goupil electric vehicles as well as Aixam, which the Company acquired in the second quarter of 2013, increased 190 percent compared to the second quarter 2012 to $33.7 million. While the Aixam Mega acquisition contributed a substantial portion of Small Vehicles’ 2013 second quarter sales growth, both the GEM and Goupil brands experienced an increase in sales during the quarter compared to the same period last year.

 

Parts, Garments, and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales increased 33 percent during the second quarter 2013 compared to the same period last year to $133.5 million. In addition to continued double digits percent sales growth in all product lines and product categories during the quarter, the 2013 second quarter sales increase includes the additional PG&A related sales from the recent acquisitions of Klim and Aixam. Sales of PG&A to customers outside of North America also increased 33 percent during the 2013 second quarter compared to the same period last year.

 

International sales totaled $135.5 million for the 2013 second quarter, which represents a 22 percent increase over the same period in 2012. The increase in the second quarter sales included the recent acquisition of Aixam Mega, which accounted for essentially all of the increase. While PG&A sales were strong, wholegood ORV and motorcycle sales remained weak outside North America during the 2013 second quarter, due to continued sluggish economic and industry conditions primarily in Europe and Australia. However, the Company continued to gain market share during the 2013 second quarter in both ORV and motorcycles.

 

Gross profit was 29.9 percent of sales for the second quarter of 2013, an increase of 120 basis points from the 2012 second quarter. Gross profit dollars increased 16 percent to $252.3 million for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $216.7 million for the second quarter of 2012. The increase in gross profit dollars and percentage of sales was primarily due to continued product cost reduction efforts, higher selling prices and higher PG&A sales, offset somewhat by higher promotional costs and increased warranty costs.

 

Operating expenses for the second quarter 2013 increased 21 percent to $138.3 million or 16.4 percent of sales compared to $114.5 million or 15.2 percent of sales for the second quarter of 2012. Operating expenses in absolute dollars and as a percentage of sales for the second quarter of 2013 increased primarily due to higher sales and marketing costs partially related to the upcoming Indian Motorcycles re-launch, increased general and administrative expenses which include additional expenses related to the recent Aixam acquisition and continued infrastructure investments being made to support growth initiatives.

 

Income from financial services increased 40 percent to $11.5 million during second quarter 2013 compared to $8.2 million in the second quarter of 2012, primarily a consequence of increased profitability generated from the retail credit portfolios with Sheffield, GE and Capital One and higher income from the dealer inventory financing through Polaris Acceptance.

 

Equity in income (loss) of affiliates was $0.6 million of loss for the second quarter 2013, which represents the Company’s portion of the start-up costs related to the Polaris/Eicher joint venture in India established in 2012.

 

Non-operating other (income) expense was $1.2 million of income in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $0.2 million expense in the second quarter of 2012. The change is the result of foreign currency exchange rate movements and the resulting effects on foreign currency transactions related to the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

 

 

Financial Position and Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities increased 32 percent to $103.5 million for the year-to-date period ended June 30, 2013 compared to $78.4 million for the first half of 2012. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities for the 2013 period was largely due to increased net income, partially offset by a higher investment in working capital, primarily due to higher factory inventory compared to the same period in 2012. Total debt at the end of the second quarter was $107.6 million. The Company’s debt-to-total capital ratio was 12 percent at June 30, 2013, compared to 16 percent at the same period in 2012. Cash and cash equivalents were $217.7 million at June 30, 2013 compared to $289.3 million for the same period in 2012.

 

Conference Call and Webcast Presentation

Today at 9:00 AM (CT) Polaris Industries Inc. will host a conference call and webcast to discuss Polaris’ 2013 second quarter earnings results released this morning. The call will be hosted by Scott Wine, Chairman and CEO, Bennett Morgan, President and COO, and Mike Malone, Vice President―Finance and CFO. A slide presentation and link to the audio webcast will be posted on the Investor Relations page of the Polaris web site at ir.polaris.com.

 

To listen to the conference call by phone, dial 877-706-7543 in the U.S. and Canada, or 973-200-3967 internationally. The Conference ID is # 48224988.

 

A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call for a one-week period by accessing the same link on our website, or by dialing 855-859-2056 in the U.S. and Canada, or 404-537-3406 internationally.

 

 

Polaris Industries Inc. to Host and Webcast Analyst & Investor Meeting

Polaris Industries Inc. also announced today that the executive management team of Polaris will host an Analyst / Investor Meeting in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the annual dealer meeting. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Eastern Time. Management will be discussing its future strategy to drive growth and profitability including a first look at some exciting new model year 2014 products.

 

Presenters at the meeting will include Scott Wine, Chairman and CEO; Bennett Morgan, President and COO and Mike Malone, Chief Financial Officer in addition to other members of the Polaris management team. The meeting agenda is posted under the “presentations” tab on the Polaris Investor Relations website ir.polaris.com.

 

A live webcast of the meeting including audio and a slide presentation will be available by accessing our website at ir.polaris.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on our website for one week following the event.

 

For more information about the Analyst Meeting please contact Peggy James at 763-542-0502.

 

 

About Polaris

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER^® and RZR^® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and small vehicles.

 

Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts.

 

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.

 

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.

 

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including management’s expectations regarding 2013 sales, shipments, net income, net income per share, new manufacturing operations initiatives, joint venture projects and savings in logistical and production costs, 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 Company’s ability to successfully implement its manufacturing operations initiatives, product offerings, promotional activities and pricing strategies by competitors; acquisition integration costs; joint venture projects; warranty expenses; 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; uninsured product liability claims; uncertainty in the retail and wholesale credit markets; changes in tax policy and overall economic conditions, including inflation, consumer confidence and spending and relationships with dealers and suppliers. 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.

 

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