Bennett Morgan
Analyst · Greg Badishkanian with Citigroup. Your line is open
Thanks, Scott. Good morning, everyone. Polaris retail sales in North America decreased 6% in the fourth quarter. The North American power sports industry was weaker, declining 7%, so Polaris again gained market share. For the full year 2015, Polaris further extended our number one market share leadership position with Polaris North American retail sales increasing 5% with the industry flat. North American dealer inventory was up 5% versus 2014, driven by elevated levels of snowmobiles and improved availability of motorcycles and Slingshots. Specially, ORV inventory levels are now down mid-single digits with ATVs down low double-digits and side-by-side's up just slightly. Existing models at side-by-side's are down low teens percent, offset by model year '16 RZR XP Turbo and GENERAL additions. Snowmobile levels are higher than we would like, due in part to the fourth quarter snowfall up over 25%. Motorcycle levels are improved, now up over 50% including Slingshot. Order backlogs while not eliminated, will reduce significantly in all brands for Q4. Victory inventory remains down low double-digits. Now moving on to business unit performance. Off-road vehicles. Fourth quarter ORV revenue decreased 20% with declines in all product lines as we prioritize dealer inventory health. For calendar year 2015 ORV revenue decreased 2% with modest side-by-side growth more than offset by reductions in ATVs and international sales. Polaris ORV market share performance Polaris ORV market share performance in 2015 remained strong. Polaris extended our market share lead in the North American ATV industry in both the fourth quarter and in 2015 for the fifth consecutive year. 2015 retail sales were up low single digits in an industry that declined low-single digits for the fourth quarter and the full year. We did lose a bit of side-by-side share in the fourth quarter. Facing double digit percent growth comparables, Polaris fourth quarter North American side-by-side retail declined mid-single digits in an industry that grew slightly. The GENERAL began shipping in limited quantities in December and has received positive initial dealer and consumer response. To give you some more color on the impact of oil, Polaris ORV retail in oil producing states and provinces was down about 10% for 2015 while the balance of our North American retail was up mid-single digits. For the fourth quarter, oil areas weakened further, down upper teens percent. For the full year 2015, Polaris again grew side-by-side market share. Side-by-side retail sales increased mid-single digits in a side-by-side industry that we estimated grew slightly slower. For 2016, we expect the ORV industry to be flattish and Polaris to hold share in a tougher more competitive marketplace. But remember, just like in 2014, last year Polaris gained share in spite of significant new competitive product introductions and increased competitive promotional spending. Our new product innovation pipeline remains the industry's broadest and fastest to market as witnessed by the new RZR XP Turbo 4 and GENERAL launches in November and a handful of new limited editions and colors that we announced earlier this month. Camp RZR in Glamis, California had an all-time record attendance, over 17,000 strong, which was up 45% with participants from over 30 states and four countries and well over 5 million impressions, demonstrating the expanding reach of our powerful lifestyle ORV brands. So we remain confident in our long-term ability to deliver both growth and share in ORV. Snowmobiles. Fourth quarter snowmobile revenue decreased 25% as expected, due entirely to early and improved shipment timing to our dealers throughout the year. For calendar year 2015, snowmobiles sales were flat with low single digit declines in snowmobiles offset by Timbersled revenue. Polaris has gained the most share season-to-date in a challenging industry environment due to the poor snow conditions. Polaris fourth quarter North American retail sales were down upper teens percent and season-to-date are down mid-teens percent in an industry that is down over 20% for the quarter and season-to-date. Elevated industry dealer inventory positions will require reductions to our model year 2017 build, dampening our snowmobile outlook but there are some reasons for optimism. Snow conditions have improved in the first quarter and for Polaris our new AXYS RMK models have moved back to the top share position in the mountain segment. Motorcycles, Polaris fourth quarter sales increased 43% with solid contributions from all of our brands with the full year 2015 motorcycle sales which include Slingshot, increased 74%. We continue to gain motorcycles share. Polaris fourth quarter motorcycle retail grew low single-digits as we encountered very tough comparables from the launch of our Roadmaster and pre-deposit retail sales for both Scout and Slingshot last year in what is typically a low seasonality quarter. The fourth quarter North America mid-size and heavy weight motorcycle industry declined upper single-digits percent. For 2015, the industry increased slightly with Polaris significantly outperforming with retail sales up over 60%. Q4 Indian retail increased mid-teens percent with share gains in both heavyweight and mid-sized segments for the quarter and for the year. Full year 2015 Indian retail increased approximately 80%. We began initial shipments of our Scout Sixty during the quarter with our most appealing price point yet at just $8,999. Indian dealer distribution continues to expand right on plan. We are now at 180 dealers retailing and our per store retail performance is very strong. The new Victory Empulse electric bike began initial shipments but Q4 Victory retail sales declined mid-teens due mostly to low inventory levels. Q4 Slingshot retail increased upper single-digits against last year's pre-deposit comparables and low seasonality. With our overall state and provincial regulation position much stronger versus a year ago, aggressive 2016 marketing and product investments, improved quality and our dealer count right on plan, we are looking forward to a strong second year of Slingshot growth. We expect the 2016 motorcycle industry to remain flattish but with product availability greatly improved on existing motorcycle products, new product introductions just like you saw with Scout Sixty, can begin in earnest and we are confident we will continue to grow and expand market share. Global adjacent markets. Global adjacent fourth quarter revenues decreased 21%. For the full year 2015, revenues decreased 4%. On a constant currency basis, 2015 revenues increased 6%. Q4 North American work and transportation revenue decreased low 20s percent as we came up against our Ariens partners launch comparables, and GEM sales declined due to our new transition to a completely redesigned GEM product platform during the quarter. Initial orders for our first new GEM platform in over 15 years are solid and we are looking forward to a strong 2016. Fourth quarter European Work and Transportation revenue declined low single-digits percent due primarily to currency weakness and some softness in Goupil and Mega. Aixam sales grew high single digits and the European quadricycle industry grew in both fourth quarter and for full year 2015, up low single-digits with Aixam retail up slightly more building on our number one market share position. Fourth quarter defense revenue decreased over 50% as Congress's stop gas government funding measures stalled the Department of Defense's ability to purchase resulting in delayed Dagger and GSA sales to key customers. Entering 2016, our order backlog is healthy but based on the fourth quarter delays 2015 defense revenue declined single digits for the year. Parts, garments and accessories. PG&A fourth quarter revenue decreased 7% with weakness in snow and motorcycle related businesses offset by modest growth in ORVs. All geographic regions declined. We recently added 509, a leading brand for snowmobile helmets and goggles to our aftermarket brand portfolio. 509 is expected to add 1% to 2% to PG&A revenues and be slightly accretive to our earnings in 2016. For 2015 PG&A revenue increased 5%. International. International revenue declined 8% in the fourth quarter as weakness in ORVs, adjacent markets and snowmobiles more than offset growth in motorcycles. For 2015, international sales decreased 5% and on a constant currency basis, we actually increased 10%. EMEA fourth quarter revenue declined 13% due to weakness in snow and ORV products and weak Russian and middle eastern markets. The European ORV industry grew mid-single digits in the fourth quarter and for the year. Polaris gained share in the fourth quarter, our retail was up mid-teens percent and for the full year retail increased mid-single digits. Polaris fourth quarter motorcycle retail sales grew over 150% and for 2015 we are up in excess of 70% in a European industry that declined mid-single digits for the year. So we are gaining a lot of motorcycle share and with Slingshot now shipping this should help further in 2016. European snow retail is off to a very good start with the exception of Russia with season to date retail up over 30% in Scandinavia and Polaris up well over 60%. Asia Pacific revenue increased 3% in the fourth quarter and 6% for 2015, driven by strength in both India and China. Multix, our three-in-one personal transportation vehicle from our joint venture in India is retailing vehicles. Customers are satisfied although currently our retail ramp remains well below our expectations. We expect to accelerate in 2016 with key product improvements and further distribution expansion. Latin America regional revenue continues to be a bright spot with fourth quarter revenue up 26% in Q4 and 43% for 2015. Our Mexican subsidiary sales are very strong and recently we have added Indian and Slingshot which should further increase our great momentum in Mexico. And with that, I will turn it over to our Executive Vice President of Operations, Engineering & Lean, Ken Pucel.