Polaris Reports 2009 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
Monday, 01 February 2010 – Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) today reported record net income of $1.31 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2009, an 18 percent increase from $1.11 per diluted share for the prior year period. Net income for the fourth quarter 2009 was $43.9 million, representing an increase of 21 percent from the prior year’s fourth quarter net income of $36.2 million. Sales for the quarter decreased 10 percent to $471.8 million, compared to last year’s fourth quarter sales of $523.6 million.For the full year ended December 31, 2009, Polaris reported net income of $101.0 million, or $3.05 per diluted share, compared to $117.4 million, or $3.50 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing a 13 percent decrease on a per diluted share basis. Sales for the full year 2009 totaled $1,565.9 million, a decrease of 20 percent compared to record sales of $1,948.3 million for the full year 2008.
“Our record fourth quarter earnings per share represent a fitting end to a challenging year for Polaris. Our team and businesses effectively balanced significant cost reductions with a relentless focus on innovation and winning the competitive battle, which enabled us to exceed expectations and position the business well for 2010. We are pleased with the retail sales and operational excellence momentum established during the fourth quarter 2009 and anticipate a return to growth in 2010,” commented Scott Wine, Chief Executive Officer of Polaris. “After a full year of weak retail sales demand across our business, we did experience improving trends throughout the second half and in the fourth quarter of 2009, largely driven by market share gains in our Off-Road Vehicle business. Our Victory motorcycle business also had strong retail sales growth and market share gains in the fourth quarter, demonstrating important progress in our plans to improve the Victory business.
“During 2009, we also expanded the gross profit margin percentage by 220 basis points despite a 20 percent decline in sales, and we were able to drive a 50 basis point improvement in net income margin to 6.5 percent for the year. Continued net margin expansion remains a key initiative for the Company for 2010 and going forward. Our fast reaction during the economic downturn and continued focus on operational excellence enabled us to support our dealers with reduced inventories and drive factory inventory down 19 percent.”
Wine continued, “Our strategic decision to drive aggressive cost reductions, while continuing to invest in the highest return opportunities, has positioned us well as for 2010. In the near-term, however, we do not anticipate a rapid recovery of the overall economic environment or the powersports industry. We expect consumer spending to remain weak throughout 2010 which will limit sales growth in both the U.S. and Europe. However, we have proven in the past that we can perform well in weak markets and difficult economies. In 2009, we again gained market share in most of our businesses, and we will continue to execute our global growth strategy and make growth happen in 2010 and beyond.”
2010 Business Outlook
Full year 2010 earnings are expected to be in the range of $3.15 to $3.30 per diluted share, an increase of three to eight percent compared to 2009 net income of $3.05 per diluted share. Full year 2010 net income is expected to increase in the range of seven to eleven percent over 2008 net income of $101.0 million. Net income is expected to increase at a higher percentage rate than diluted earnings per share as a result of an anticipated increase in the diluted shares outstanding throughout 2010 compared to 2009 due to the elimination of open market share repurchases in 2009, and the dilutive effect of an anticipated higher share price in 2010. Sales for the full year 2010 are expected to grow modestly, in the range of up one to up three percent. For the first quarter 2010, earnings are expected to be in the range of $0.45 to $0.47 per diluted share, compared to earnings of $0.26 per diluted share for the first quarter 2009, on projected sales of up one to three percent. First quarter 2009 earnings per share included a non-cash impairment charge of $9.0 million, pretax, or $0.18 per diluted share related to the Company’s investment in KTM.
Wine explained, “While our outlook reflects a steady, but muted economic recovery, Polaris has taken significant steps to position the Company well for 2010. Our balance sheet is strong with record cash balances and we continue to generate strong earnings and cash flow. Cost reduction initiatives are in place and we continue to realize significant benefits, which we believe will contribute to an expanded gross profit margin percentage and higher net income for full year 2010 over full year 2009. Our model year 2010 product introductions are being well received in the markets and, once again, the future product pipeline is full of exciting new products.”
Wine concluded, “A top priority for Polaris in 2010 will be to drive growth through the diversification of our business, while continuing to outperform and excel in our Off-Road Vehicle business. International growth will be a primary focus, as we allocate more focus and resources to our opportunities outside of the United States. We plan to expand our operational excellence initiatives, which will play a key role in our ongoing efforts to expand margins. In addition, 2010 will be an important year for our On-Road division as we accelerate our efforts to drive retail sales and profitable growth in our Victory motorcycle business. We will also accelerate growth in our new low emission vehicle product line. While we are prepared for another challenging year in the external environment, we have a solid foundation and strong momentum to deliver growth and improved results in 2010.”
Polaris RZR 4 - Robby Gordon Edition
Off-Road vehicles (“ORV”) sales during the fourth quarter 2009, which includes sales of both core ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and RANGER™ side-by-side vehicles, decreased 12 percent from the fourth quarter 2008. This decrease reflects the ongoing weakness in the consumer retail environment, more dealers operating under the new Max Velocity Program (“MVP”), which inherently requires lower dealer inventory levels, and Polaris’ continued commitment to helping our dealers reduce their core ATV inventory. North American dealer inventories of ATVs were down significantly at year end 2009, declining 35 percent when compared to 2008 levels. North American retail sales for ORVs increased in the single digits percentage range for the 2009 fourth quarter with side-by-side retail sales increasing in the mid-teens and core ATV retail sales decreasing in the mid-single digit range for the quarter. The improvement in the retail sales trends is an indication of the acceptance in the marketplace of the Company’s new product introductions in recent years and market share gains. An example of the Company’s continued aggressive new product development is the recent introduction of the world’s first 4-seat sport side-by-side, the new Robby Gordon Edition RZR 4 released in January 2010. Sales of ORV to customers outside of North America increased 21 percent in the fourth quarter 2009, when compared to the fourth quarter 2008, primarily due to the weak US dollar and positive mix benefit as more higher priced side-by-side vehicles were shipped during the 2009 fourth quarter compared to the prior year.
Snowmobile sales decreased 14 percent for the 2009 fourth quarter compared to the fourth quarter 2008. The decrease reflects the continued weakness in the consumer retail environment.
Sales of the On-Road division, which primarily consists of Victory motorcycles, decreased 12 percent during the fourth quarter of 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008. The decrease reflects the continued weak heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle industry and the Company’s continued planned reduction in shipments of Victory motorcycles to dealers in North America to assist their efforts to further reduce inventory levels. North American dealer inventory of Victory motorcycles is 27 percent lower at year end 2009 compared to 2008 levels. Victory motorcycles had strong retail sales during the fourth quarter, increasing in the low thirty percent range, a reflection of the initial acceptance of the new model year 2010 motorcycles and more focused attention on growing retail sales. During the 2009 fourth quarter, Polaris continued to ship its new electric powered low emission vehicle, the Polaris Breeze™, to its new neighborhood vehicle dealer channel in master planned communities in the Sunbelt region of the U.S.
Parts, Garments, and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales increased two percent during the fourth quarter 2009 compared to the same period last year due to increased snowmobile and RANGER™ side-by-side related PG&A sales.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 27.3 percent for the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase of 450 basis points from 22.8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2008. Gross profit dollars increased eight percent to $128.6 million for the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $119.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The increase in gross profit dollars and the 450 basis points increase in the gross profit margin percentage in the fourth quarter 2009 resulted primarily from continued product cost reduction efforts, lower commodity costs, higher selling prices and favorable currency movements.
Operating expenses for the fourth quarter 2009 decreased six percent to $63.9 million compared to $68.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Operating expenses in absolute dollars for the fourth quarter 2009 decreased $4.3 million primarily due to continued operating cost control measures, which were partially offset by increased incentive compensation plan expenses in part due to the higher price of Polaris’ stock as compared to the prior year. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales were 13.6 percent for the fourth quarter 2009, compared to 13.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. The increase in the operating expense percentage to sales is primarily due to the higher incentive compensation plan expenses in the fourth quarter 2009.
Income from financial services increased 20 percent to $4.8 million during fourth quarter 2009 from $4.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. The increase was primarily due to higher interest rates paid to Polaris Acceptance by both Polaris and its dealers during the 2009 fourth quarter.
Interest expense decreased to $0.9 million for the fourth quarter 2009, from $1.8 million for the fourth quarter 2008, due to lower interest rates and lower average borrowings on the Company’s credit facility during the 2009 fourth quarter as compared to the same period of 2008.
Non-operating other expense was $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, as compared to $2.8 million of income in the fourth quarter of 2008. The change in the 2009 fourth quarter was primarily due to the weakening U.S. dollar and the resulting effects on the Canadian dollar and other international currency hedging activities and foreign currency transactions related to the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.
The Income tax provision for the fourth quarter 2009 was recorded at a rate of 33.3 percent of pretax income compared to 35.3 percent of pretax income for the fourth quarter 2008. The lower income tax rate in the fourth quarter 2009 is primarily due to a higher amount of favorable tax events in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to the fourth quarter 2008.
About Polaris
With annual 2009 sales of $1.6 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER™, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use and has recently introduced a new on-road electric powered neighborhood vehicle.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are making in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.
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Category: Polaris
