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Harley-Davidson, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter operating loss widened: Fourth-quarter operating loss was $361 million versus $193 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS loss was $2.44 against $0.93. Source
  • Global retail sales down 12%: Full-year worldwide retail sales were 132,535 units, down 12 percent from 151,229. Fourth-quarter worldwide retail was 25,287 units, down 1 percent. Source
  • KKR and PIMCO partnership closed: Company said the HDFS partnership with KKR and PIMCO closed, transforming HDFS into a capital-light, de-risked business with improved ROE. Source
  • HDMC gross margin fell to 24.2%: Full-year HDMC gross margin was 24.2 percent, down 3.8 points, on incremental tariffs, negative operating leverage and lower volumes. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross loss from tariffs: Fourth-quarter HDMC gross loss was $30 million versus a $3 million loss, from higher tariff costs and net pricing and incentive spend. Source

“As we close out a challenging year for the Company, we are taking deliberate actions to stabilize the business, restore dealer confidence, and align wholesale activity with retail demand.”

Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
HDMC global motorcycle retail sales Sourcefull year 2026130,000 to 135,000 unitsNew
HDMC global motorcycle wholesale shipments Sourcefull year 2026130,000 to 135,000 unitsNew
HDMC operating income Sourcefull year 2026a $40 million loss to a $10 million profitNew
HDFS operating income Sourcefull year 2026$45 to $60 millionNew
LiveWire operating loss Sourcefull year 2026$70 to $80 millionNew
Harley-Davidson, Inc. capital investments Sourcefull year 2026$175 to $200 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: HDFS transaction facilitated a $1 billion dividend from HDFS to HDI in Q4 2025. The prior release expected $1.2 to $1.25 billion of discretionary cash by end of Q1 2026. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter operating loss widened: Fourth-quarter operating loss was $361 million versus $193 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS loss was $2.44 against $0.93. Source
  • Full-year revenue fell 14%: Full-year revenue was $4,473 million, down 14 percent, with HDMC down 13 percent and HDFS down 16 percent. Full-year diluted EPS was $2.78 versus $3.44. Source
  • Full-year operating income down 7%: Consolidated operating income was $387 million. HDMC posted a $29 million operating loss, while HDFS operating income rose to $490 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $569 million: Full-year cash from operating activities was $569 million, with an effective tax rate of 28 percent and cash of $3.1 billion at year end. Source

Motorcycle sales and shipments by region

  • Global retail sales down 12%: Full-year worldwide retail sales were 132,535 units, down 12 percent from 151,229. Fourth-quarter worldwide retail was 25,287 units, down 1 percent. Source
  • North America up in fourth quarter: North America fourth-quarter retail sales rose 5 percent to 15,847 units, led by the Touring category, after a full-year decline of 13 percent. Source
  • EMEA fourth-quarter retail down 24%: EMEA fourth-quarter retail sales fell 24 percent to 3,625 units. The full-year EMEA decline was 11 percent. Source
  • Latin America sales rose: Latin America fourth-quarter retail sales rose 10 percent to 836 units, with Brazil and Mexico both positive. Source
  • Full-year shipments down 16%: HDMC global shipments were 124,477 units for the year, down 16 percent. Fourth-quarter shipments were 13,515, down 4 percent. Source

“While near-term results reflect these actions, the progress we are seeing reinforces our confidence in the reset underway and our ability to rebuild Harley-Davidson’s long-term earnings and cash-flow power.”

Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson

HDFS transaction and financial services

  • KKR and PIMCO partnership closed: Company said the HDFS partnership with KKR and PIMCO closed, transforming HDFS into a capital-light, de-risked business with improved ROE. Source
  • HDFS full-year operating income up: HDFS full-year operating income was $490 million, up from $248 million, helped by lower credit loss provision tied to the transaction and higher other income. Source
  • Fourth-quarter HDFS operating loss: Fourth-quarter HDFS revenue fell 59 percent to $106 million. Interest expense rose on discrete costs to retire debt tied to the transaction. Source
  • Receivables reduced by loan sales: Retail receivables declined after sale of loan assets under the transaction. Full-year HDFS revenue was $869 million, down 16 percent. Source

LiveWire results

  • Electric motorcycle units rose: Fourth-quarter LiveWire electric motorcycle shipments were 381 units, up 61 percent from 236. Full-year units were 653 versus 612. Source
  • Full-year loss in line with plan: Full-year LiveWire operating loss was $75 million, 32 percent less than 2024. Company said this was in line with its expectations. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 9%: Fourth-quarter LiveWire revenue rose 9 percent to $11 million on higher EV motorcycle and electric bike unit sales. Source

Costs, tariffs and margins

  • HDMC gross margin fell to 24.2%: Full-year HDMC gross margin was 24.2 percent, down 3.8 points, on incremental tariffs, negative operating leverage and lower volumes. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross loss from tariffs: Fourth-quarter HDMC gross loss was $30 million versus a $3 million loss, from higher tariff costs and net pricing and incentive spend. Source
  • Marketing raised operating expenses: Fourth-quarter HDMC operating expenses were $230 million, $19 million higher, mainly from higher marketing expense. Full-year operating expenses were $895 million. Source
  • HDMC full-year operating loss: HDMC operating loss was $29 million for 2025, against operating income of $278 million in 2024. Fourth-quarter HDMC operating loss was $260 million. Source

Dealer inventory and retail demand

  • Dealer inventory down 17%: Global dealer inventory of new motorcycles finished the year 17 percent below the end of fourth quarter 2024. Source
  • Traffic and affordability weighed on Touring: North America full-year retail was down 13 percent, driven by Touring weakness in the first half as customer traffic declined and affordability became a focus. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $434 million returned to shareholders: Company returned $434 million to shareholders in 2025: $347 million of discretionary repurchases and $86 million of dividends paid. Source
  • Cash balance of $3.1 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $3.1 billion at year end, up from $1.6 billion a year earlier. Source
  • ASR delivered 6.3 million shares: The $200 million accelerated share repurchase with Goldman Sachs delivered 6.3 million shares in 2025, included in the $347 million repurchased. Source

Reset and dealer actions

  • Reset to stabilize dealers: Management described actions to stabilize the business, restore dealer confidence and align wholesale activity with retail demand, with near-term results reflecting them. Source
  • Rebuilding earnings and cash flow: Company said it is confident in the reset underway and in its ability to rebuild long-term earnings and cash-flow power. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • New strategic plan due May 2026: Company said the new strategic plan is expected to be announced in May 2026 and may affect the 2026 figures. Source
  • ASR shares settled by Q2 2026: Final settlement of the ASR share difference is due no later than the second quarter of 2026, based on the repurchase period VWAP less a discount. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Tariff costs and incentive spend drove the fourth-quarter HDMC gross loss, and tariffs are cited as a driver of the full-year margin decline. Source
  • Demand: Company cited lower customer traffic and affordability concerns as drivers of the first-half decline in North American Touring retail sales. Source
  • Demand: Asia Pacific retail declined in the fourth quarter, with continued weakness in China cited, though the decline improved on the first half of 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Full-year LiveWire operating loss of $75 million was described as in line with the company's expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Prior release said the $200 million ASR was part of a previously announced $1 billion repurchase plan through 2026.
  • Not stated: Prior release expected $1.2 to $1.25 billion of discretionary cash from the HDFS transaction by end of Q1 2026. Current release reports a $1 billion dividend in Q4 2025.
  • Not stated: Prior release expected ASR transactions to finish by Q1 2026. Current release says final settlement is due no later than Q2 2026.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.