Polaris Industries Inc. announced the declaration of a regular quarterly $0.58 per share cash dividend payable on June 15, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2017.
Following setting a new coast-to-coast record for crossing the United States, Californian Carl Reese has been at it again. Riding a BMW K1000 on Continental Tires’ 8.5-mile test track at Uvalde, Texas, in February he set a new record of 2,119 miles for the total distance ridden on a motorcycle in 24 hours.
Harley continues to hold 5th spot in Germany with a 7.92 percent market share for the first four months of the year (3,324 units sold through April 2017), which is actually down on their share for the same period last year, when they sold 4,464 units for a 9.49 percent share – reflecting the worldwide decision to short dealers of M8s and other 2017 models and the stampede to Euro 3 pre-registrations before the December 31st deadline. Harley’s top sellers so far this year are the Breakout, the XL 1200 X and the Dyna Street Bob.
MAG continues to refine its structure under group CEO Andy Graves with its various off-road businesses being consolidated into an off-road specific division. Based out of Chandler, Arizona, former Arctic Cat and Honda Motor Company executive Chris Lindstrom will be President of a MAG Off-Road Group that will combine MAG acquisitions DragonFire Racing (Mesa, Az.) and Renthal (UK), with former Tucker Rocky brands QuadBoss, ProTaper and MSR Hard Parts.
Indian Motorcycle sold 205 units in Germany in the first four months of 2017, which is some 21 percent down on 2016 for a 14th spot, 0.49 percent market share; some 170 Victory models are reported as sold in the same period.
Harley recorded 6th spot in market share terms in the UK for April, ahead of some notable scalps (in European terms) including Suzuki, Ducati and KTM. They also scored 6th place in the small but custom-friendly Austrian market for the first quarter – only 215 bikes, but up on 2016 in a country where there is quality and strength among the aftermarket shop and builder community despite the strict regulations there.
Last month we reported how Polaris CEO Scott Wine’s annual compensation had fluctuated in-line with the company’s financial fortunes – dropping from $8.8m in 2014, to $7.1m in 2015 to $5.46m last year. Meanwhile Harley CEO Matt Levatich’s “compensation” package has gone the other way according to the Milwaukee board, from $5.4m in 2014, to $6.5m in 2015 to a whopping $9.3m in 2016.