Harley-Davidson cuts dividend, halts buybacks to preserve cash

[BENGALURU] Harley-Davidson cut its quarterly dividend to just 2 cents and suspended share buybacks on Tuesday to boost its cash reserves as global lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic hit motorcycles sales in the first quarter.

The company, which has US$1.47 billion in cash, said it was in talks with big US banks to get an additional US$1.30 billion in loan to ride out the crisis.

The cash preservation plan lifted Harley shares, which have lost nearly half of its value so far this year, up 9 per cent in premarket trading.

Earlier this month, the motorcycle maker pulled its 2020 profit forecast and decided to temporarily lay off most of its global production employees as well as cut salaries of its leadership team in a bid to lower costs.

On Tuesday, Harley said it would cut cost to match the lower demand and focus more on sales efforts in the United States, its biggest market.

The company has been struggling with falling US sales as its baby-boomer fan base ages. To counter that, it has been trying to woo the next generation of younger riders with electric and more nimbler bikes.

But that has done little to boost sales. To make matters worse, the pandemic has further hit demand as Americans are forced to stay at home to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Retail sales fell 15.5 per cent in the United States in the quarter and 20.7 per cent internationally. "Global retail motorcycle sales in the first quarter were significantly impacted by Covid-19," the company said in statement.

Total motorcycle shipments to dealers fell 10 per cent to 52,973 units in the first-quarter ended March 29, while retail sales at its dealers declined nearly 18 per cent to 40,439 units.

Harley said it would expand its lineup of profitable "iconic" motorcycles, while also targeting to boost sales of some of its new products such as adventure touring, sport bike Streetfighter and electric motorcycles.

"These efforts will pave the way for...improved profitability and long-term growth," said acting Chief Executive Officer Jochen Zeitz, who took helm in February.

Mr Zeitz, who was a board member at Harley and best known for turning around the Puma brand's near-bankrupt business, replaced CEO Matt Levatich.

Harley's net income fell to US$69.7 million, or 45 cents per share in the quarter, from US$127.9 million, or 80 cents per share, a year earlier.

Motorcycles and related products revenue fell 8 per cent to US$1.10 billion. On an adjusted basis, it earned 51 cents, beating analysts' average estimate of 41 cents, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. 

REUTERS