Harley-Davidson profit falls 23% on slowing sales, shares tumble

By Kannaki Deka

(Reuters) -Harley-Davidson on Thursday reported a 23% decline in first-quarter profit, hurt by slowing motorcycle sales as high borrowing costs deter potential buyers from making expensive purchases, sending its shares down 18% in afternoon trade.

The company also reaffirmed its full-year revenue growth forecast of flat to down 9% for its motorcycle business and an operating income margin of between 12.6% and 13.6%, the top end of which was in line with the year-earlier number.

"We're really just entering the riding season ... and a lot depends on the second quarter, which is why we have not changed our guidance at this point in time," Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz said on a call with analysts.

Despite Harley's attempt to spruce up its offerings with electric and low-cost options, the 120-year-old motorcycle maker has not been highly successful in attracting the younger generation, forcing it to rely on its tried-and-tested customer base of boomers to drive sales.

During the first quarter, North American motorcycle retail rose 6%, helped by sales of its new Touring motorcycles. But that figure came in below an estimate of 9% by Raymond James analyst Joe Altobello.

"With growing pressure on consumer discretionary spending, we think HOG's unchanged guidance despite a significantly better-than-expected Q1 reflects caution as it pertains to its motorcycle sales and margins for the balance of the year," CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson said.

Sales in the EMEA region fell 11% due to weakness in Germany and France, while sales in the APAC region were down 12% due to weakness in China.

The company reported an adjusted profit of $1.72 per share for the first quarter, above average analysts' expectations of $1.51 per share, according to LSEG data.

Revenue for the quarter fell 5% to $1.48 billion, beating estimates of $1.34 billion.

(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)