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Harley-Davidson, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and operating income declined: Consolidated revenue was $1,230 million, down 6 percent, and operating income was $76 million, down 32 percent. HDFS was the largest driver of the revenue decline. Source
  • Retail sales edged up one percent: Worldwide retail sales were 42,467 units, up 1 percent. North America grew, while international results were soft. Source
  • Gross margin fell 108 basis points: HDMC gross margin was 27.5 percent, down 1.1 points. Manufacturing costs and a tariff recovery helped gross profit, while product mix and pricing offset it. Source
  • HDMC Adjusted EBITDA margin improved: HDMC Adjusted EBITDA was $115 million, up 18 percent, and its margin was 10.4 percent against 9.3 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Dealer inventory cut 17 percent: Global dealer inventory of new motorcycles at quarter end was down 17 percent from a year earlier. Management said dealer inventory management remains a top priority. Source
  • Operating cash use in first half: Operating activities used $60 million of cash in the six months to June 30, 2026, against cash provided a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised: Management raised full-year ranges for HDMC retail and wholesale, HDMC operating income and HDFS operating income, citing first-half results and market share gains. Source
  • Back to the Bricks progress cited: Management said it made progress on its Back to the Bricks strategic initiatives, which it linked to improved profitability. Source

“Our second-quarter performance reflects strength in our domestic retail business, continued focus on healthy dealer inventory levels and the exceptional commitment of our dealer network.”

Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
HDMC global motorcycle retail sales Sourcefull year 2026133,500 to 138,500 unitsRaised from 130,000 to 135,000 units
HDMC global motorcycle wholesale shipments Sourcefull year 2026133,500 to 138,500 unitsRaised from 130,000 to 135,000 units
HDMC operating income Sourcefull year 2026$10 million to $50 millionRaised from a $40 million loss to a $10 million profit
HDFS operating income Sourcefull year 2026$55 million to $65 millionRaised from $45 million to $60 million
LiveWire operating loss Sourcefull year 2026$70 to $80 millionKept
Harley-Davidson, Inc. capital investments Sourcefull year 2026$175 million to $200 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Four full-year ranges were raised: HDMC retail sales, HDMC wholesale shipments, HDMC operating income and HDFS operating income. Source
  • Guidance kept: The LiveWire operating loss and capital investment ranges were continued from the prior release. Source
  • New: An acquisition of Dust Motorcycles, Inc. appears as a transaction cost in a LiveWire reconciliation footnote; the release gives no other terms. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and operating income declined: Consolidated revenue was $1,230 million, down 6 percent, and operating income was $76 million, down 32 percent. HDFS was the largest driver of the revenue decline. Source
  • Retail sales edged up one percent: Worldwide retail sales were 42,467 units, up 1 percent. North America grew, while international results were soft. Source
  • Net income fell on HDFS model change: Net income attributable to HDI was $80 million, down 26 percent, and diluted EPS was $0.75, down 15 percent. HDMC improvement partly offset the HDFS effect. Source
  • Operating margin narrowed to 6.2 percent: Consolidated operating income margin was 6.2 percent, against 8.6 percent a year earlier. The LiveWire operating loss improved by $1 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • HDMC operating income rose 18 percent: HDMC revenue was $1.1 billion, up 6 percent. HDMC operating income was $72 million, up 18 percent, with operating margin at 6.6 percent. Source
  • HDFS revenue and income fell sharply: HDFS revenue was $117 million, down 55 percent, and operating income was $22 million, down 69 percent, after the second-half 2025 sale of loan assets. Source
  • HDFS interest and credit costs fell: Interest expense and credit loss provisions both fell with the smaller retail portfolio. HDFS operating expenses rose $3 million, and new servicing fees added to other income. Source
  • LiveWire revenue rose 52 percent: LiveWire revenue was $9 million, on higher electric motorcycle unit sales and STACYC electric balance bike sales. Source

“Given this progress, our first-half results, and our market share gains, we are raising our full-year guidance and remain confident in our ability to create long-term value for shareholders”

Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson

Products and customers

  • New 2026 line-up drew response: North American retail was up 3 percent, on Touring and Sport categories and a positive response to the new '26 motorcycle line-up. Source
  • Parts and apparel revenue mixed: Parts & Accessories revenue was $177 million, down 5 percent. Apparel & Licensing revenue was $62 million, up 2 percent. Source
  • Shipments lifted HDMC revenue: HDMC revenue rose 6 percent, with motorcycle revenue up 9 percent. Favorable foreign exchange added to the increase, partly offset by net pricing. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell 108 basis points: HDMC gross margin was 27.5 percent, down 1.1 points. Manufacturing costs and a tariff recovery helped gross profit, while product mix and pricing offset it. Source
  • Tariff recovery supported gross profit: The gross profit bridge showed manufacturing and other costs adding $30 million and shipment mix subtracting $27 million in the quarter. Source
  • Operating expenses fell $6 million: Operating expenses were $232 million, $6 million lower than a year earlier, including $3 million of restructuring expense. Source
  • HDMC Adjusted EBITDA margin improved: HDMC Adjusted EBITDA was $115 million, up 18 percent, and its margin was 10.4 percent against 9.3 percent a year earlier. Source

“We also made meaningful progress against our Back to the Bricks strategic initiatives, strengthening execution across the business and driving improved profitability.”

Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson

Demand and dealer inventory

  • Dealer inventory cut 17 percent: Global dealer inventory of new motorcycles at quarter end was down 17 percent from a year earlier. Management said dealer inventory management remains a top priority. Source
  • Wholesale trailed retail units: Wholesale unit shipments were lower than retail unit sales in the quarter, while global motorcycle shipments rose nine percent. Source
  • Asia Pacific and Latin America retail: Asia Pacific retail was slightly positive, led by Australia and New Zealand. Latin America retail rose 4 percent, with gains in Mexico and a modest decline in Brazil. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash use in first half: Operating activities used $60 million of cash in the six months to June 30, 2026, against cash provided a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance at June 30: Cash and cash equivalents were $1.9 billion at the end of the second quarter, down from $3.1 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends in first half: Discretionary share repurchases were $158 million for 7.9 million shares in the first half. Cash dividends paid were $41 million. Source

Strategy and guidance

  • Full-year guidance raised: Management raised full-year ranges for HDMC retail and wholesale, HDMC operating income and HDFS operating income, citing first-half results and market share gains. Source
  • Back to the Bricks progress cited: Management said it made progress on its Back to the Bricks strategic initiatives, which it linked to improved profitability. Source
  • Dust Motorcycles acquisition costs recorded: Transaction costs for the acquisition of Dust Motorcycles, Inc. were excluded from LiveWire Adjusted EBITDA, along with LiveWire at-the-market program expenses. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
North American retail motorcycle sales Source29,751 units, up 3%
Worldwide retail motorcycle sales Source42,467 units
HDMC global motorcycle shipments Source39,209 units, up 9%
Global dealer inventory of new motorcycles Sourcedown 17% vs. end Q2 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: EMEA retail fell 9 percent, with the German region declining; management described international results as soft. Source
  • Financial: Gross profit favorability was offset by product mix, net pricing, raw materials and foreign exchange effects. Source
  • Financial: The LiveWire operating loss narrowed slightly year over year but remained a drag on segment results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said wholesale below retail is aligned with company plans, with dealer inventory management a top priority. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the LiveWire operating loss and capital investment ranges that it gave earlier in the year. Source

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.