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LiveWire Group, Inc. (LVWR)

Q4 2025 Earnings Call· Tue, Feb 10, 2026

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Thank you for standing by. And welcome to the Harley Davidson 2025 Fourth Quarter Investor and Analyst Conference Call. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to Shawn Collins. Thank you. Please go ahead.

Shawn Collins

Management

Thank you. Good morning. This is Shawn Collins, the Director of Investor Relations at Harley Davidson. You can access the slides supporting today's call on the Internet at the Harley Davidson Investor Relations website. As you might expect, our comments will include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks that could cause actual results to be materially different. Those risks include, among others, matters we have noted in today's earnings release and in our latest filings with the SEC. Joining me for this morning's call are Harley Davidson, Chief Executive Officer, Arty Scars, and Chief Financial and Commercial Officer, Jonathan Root. With that, let me turn it over to Harley Davidson CEO, Arty Stars.

Arty Scars

Management

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for our Q4 and full year 2025 results. Before we get into it, I'd like to thank our Harley Davidson employees, the HD dealer network, and our riders that are listening in this morning. Thank you for all you do every day for the company, living and leading our brand and culture. This marks my first full quarter as CEO. I've spent this time focused on understanding the core of our business, our people, our dealers, our riders, and the realities of the marketplace. Through extensive time on the ground, I've confirmed many of the early observations I shared last quarter. I'm confident there's a clear path to put Harley Davidson back on the right trajectory. I now have a sharper view of what it will take to reset the business and get to a more stable operating and financial future in '26 and beyond. This morning, we will provide more detail on the themes you heard from us on our last call, as we work towards our expected strategic plan announcement in May. Turning to our fourth quarter results, which we do not believe reflect the full potential of this company. 2025 was a challenging year. And while some of the pressures we are facing are macro-driven, others are firmly within our control. And we are moving with urgency, focus, and discipline to address them. Wholesale shipments and associated margins were negatively impacted by intentional actions to address elevated dealer inventory, particularly touring inventory in North America, through interventions on both the supply and demand sides. During the quarter, we reduced wholesale shipments and implemented targeted promotion to accelerate the return to balanced retail inventory levels. These actions are beginning to deliver results. Rider response has been positive, with…

Jonathan Root

Management

Thank you, Arty, and good morning to all. I plan to start on page four and five of the presentation where I will briefly summarize the financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025. Subsequently, I will go into further detail on each business segment. As a reminder, we closed what we call the HDFS transaction in Q4 at the October. The HDFS transaction is a strategic partnership with KKR and TIMCO, that we expect will transform Harley Davidson Financial Services into a capital light derisked business model. It also changes the financial profile of HDFS starting in '25. And affords a high degree of optionality in how we fund and run that business. As already cited earlier, the financial results in 2025 have come under pressure in the current challenging operating environment. We have moved immediately to make inventory management and discipline central focus to resetting the business. This is evident in Q4 results and will continue to be a central priority we move forward. Let me start with consolidated financial results for the 2025. Consolidated revenue in the fourth quarter was down 28% driven by both HDMC revenue being down 10% and by HDFS revenue being down 59%. Consolidated operating income in the fourth quarter came in at a loss of $361 million compared to an operating loss of $193 million in 2024. This was driven by an operating loss of $260 million at HDMC and an operating loss of $82 million at HDFS. The loss at HDFS was driven by cost associated with liability management activities related to the HDFS transaction where we retired a significant portion of HDFS debt in '25. The operating loss at LiveWire was $18 million which was in line with our expectations and $8 million favorable to a year…

Operator

Operator

Please press 1 on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, press 1 again. We also ask you to limit yourself to one question and return to the queue for additional questions. Thank you. Your first question comes from Craig Kennison with Baird.

Craig Kennison

Analyst

Hey, good morning. Thank you for taking my question on HDFS. Just, you know, based on the message that came out of the HDFS transaction last year, I think the expectation was that HDFS operating income could be maybe half of what it used to be, so at least a $100 million. Granted, that was just an expectation that came out of the presentation materials, but you're looking to be about half of that. Maybe help us unpack what's going on with the math behind HDFS and what the long-term profitability of that business should look like?

Jonathan Root

Management

Alright. Greg. How are you doing? Thank you for your question today. So obviously, from an HDFS standpoint, as we take a look at what we're guiding to, as you say, for 2026, we have a guide for the HDFS business to come in between $45 and $60 million as we flow forward and look to kind of a standard run rate for this business, which will probably take a, you know, two and a half, three years to get to that point. We would view kind of at the midpoint that HDFS would be would be on a standardized basis, making approximately triple the midpoint. So that's where we think the business goes long term. As we think about some of the short-term related impacts and where is there a difference versus what we envision? We obviously have a cautious outlook relative to what we're looking at overall volume standpoint. And so we're being careful and considered there. And then in addition with what you saw with our Q4 year-end result, with dealer inventory down significantly. And more than what we envisioned. Obviously, we have lower wholesale assets too, so that pressures earnings power of that. Hopefully, that explains what you're looking for and provides the perspective.

Craig Kennison

Analyst

Do you need more retail and more wholesale stock units in order to triple that income, or are there other adjustments? Kind of thing?

Jonathan Root

Management

Yeah. No. Just time for those time for the retail assets to kind of flow their way in. So, obviously, we need multiple years of building, kind of rebuilding the balance sheet in order to drive what we need for an income statement standpoint in that business. And then as we got wholesale, wholesale levels are lower than what we envisioned with our focus on how we really maintain tight and disciplined inventory with our dealers.

Craig Kennison

Analyst

That makes sense. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from Noah Zatzkin with KeyBanc Capital Markets.

Noah Zatzkin

Analyst · KeyBanc Capital Markets.

Hi. Thanks for taking my question. I guess just on kind of the wholesale guidance, you know, you kind of talked about a one-for-one dynamic. Obviously, the implication is, you know, shipment growth in '26. So I guess in terms of cadence, how should we think about that building through the year? And then on inventory levels, like, I guess, is the implication that you're kind of more comfortable now with where you're sitting at the end of the year? Thanks.

Jonathan Root

Management

Sure. So why don't I start a little bit with cadence, and then maybe we'll have Arty talk through total inventory levels and provide a little bit of commentary around that. So from a cadence standpoint, as we think about wholesale shipments and the way that will look on a year-over-year basis, again, we're being, what I would define as, you know, careful and considered in what we're sending into the dealer network. So Q1 of 2026 will probably be down from a wholesale shipment perspective, down a little bit versus where we were in Q1 of prior year. We think that we'll end up kind of popping up a little bit higher in early Q2. So making sure that we have dealers who are well-positioned for when the season is starting. So we're not asking them to carry that inventory in the January, February time frame. But we do want them to be appropriately positioned from an inventory standpoint. So Q2 wholesale shipments will be a little bit higher than prior year. Then as we take a look at how we walk into Q3, Q3, again, probably just a little bit lower as we work through some timing elements within the portfolio and some things that occur from that standpoint. And then as we end up ending Q4, obviously, we were pretty measured in what we shipped into the dealer network in '25. So there's room for a pretty material change in what we're sending in in 2026. So, certainly, if you kind of take all of those different factors, a little bit more back-loaded from a shipment cadence in the second half of the year, versus the first half. And even with that, sort of a little bit more towards Q4. Yeah. And then, Arty, you can talk.

Arty Scars

Management

Yeah. No. Just broadly on inventory, you know, the focus is on supporting our dealers and selling through the touring inventory. We remain pleased with the progress there. There's still support there and will continue to be. And we're also pleased with the '26 model year launch. A lot of enthusiasm in the market. So, you know, we'll be monitoring that closely, but you know? And in my script and in these comments, just want to be abundantly clear. We're hyperfocused on healthy inventory levels, and the focus is on the model year '25 touring right now.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from Robin Farley with UBS.

Robin Farley

Analyst · UBS.

Great. Thank you. I wanted to ask a little bit about your expectation for retail to be flat globally. Just wondering what that counts on for U.S. retail. And then also just kind of, you know, what's behind the expectation of flat, you know, just how you're thinking that how you're coming to that expectation. Then if I could just also, by the way, just squeeze in a quick clarifying point on LiveWire. I think previously, expectation had been that you were limiting the kind of losses you would underwrite and is it fair to say based on the guidance you're giving for '26 that you are willing to continue to invest or see LiveWire maybe lose more than kind of the commentary last year? Thank you.

Arty Scars

Management

Hey, Robin. It's Arty. Thank you for the question. I'll take the LiveWire one, and then Jonathan will walk through the retail forecast. Yeah. On LiveWire, we, you know, we extended the $75 million loan, which is originally $100 million. So we worked through that with them, and they're actioning, you know, other sources of capital at this point in time. So in terms of funding the operating losses or so on, we've extended our commitment on the loan and that's it. So, Jonathan, you can walk through the retail piece.

Jonathan Root

Management

Okay. Sounds good. Thanks, Arty. Hi, Robin. So on the, I think you asked about US specifically from a retail standpoint. So as we flow through and take a look at it, we're obviously really, really excited about what's happening with the introduction of the new limit. So as we take a look at where we are from an overall retail sales perspective, we do envision that we have a little bit of upside in terms of 26 versus 25. From a touring standpoint for a couple of reasons. You heard Arty talk about our focus on '25 model year sell down and how that was focused around touring. So at retail, that actually really helps us in terms of moving through the 25 touring bikes and what we have. Stacked on top of that is the new limited, and the new limited has been hit. And we're really excited about those and the initial reception to that. So a lot of enthusiasm from our dealer network around sold orders and what they're seeing on that front. As we move along the retail side, we also have the introduction of the new trike. Again, as we look at dealer enthusiasm, customer feedback around what those look like, we're really proud of what our engineering team has done from a suspension. So if you think through handling and the way that that motorcycle performs, some real positives, I think, in terms of how customers will feel and enjoy that motorcycle. So a little bit of enthusiasm in terms of where we sit from a trike perspective. And then just a couple more pieces that I'll touch on quickly. As we take a look, we are being careful and considered in what CDO retail and CDO wholesale shipment looks like. We do want to make sure that those bikes really are put up on a pedestal and we're being thoughtful about what we're shipping in, which obviously will challenge retail a little bit within that particular family. And then overall, we have the full year of soft sales. So really, really excited that we have dealers who are well-positioned. We kind of moved some price points in a way that are pretty customer-friendly. And so, overall, feeling good about where that is. So those are many of the puts and takes for 2020.

Operator

Operator

Great. Your next question comes from Tristan Thomas with BMO Capital Markets.

Tristan Thomas

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets.

Hey, good morning. Can you give the $150 million of annual run rate savings in 2027 and beyond that you guys called out? Is that spread among all three segments? And then also, is there any way to anything you can provide us kind of with cadence of that? Thanks. Next year specifically would be very helpful as we build out our models.

Arty Scars

Management

Yeah. Hey, Tristan. I'll take that. The $150 million would not incorporate anything at LiveWire. That would just be the motor company and HDFS. And in terms of cadence, you know, we would expect to realize some of those savings, you know, beginning in the back half of this year. We've not incorporated any restructuring charge in the guidance. So that would, you know, complement that. But we've been clear in saying we expect those savings to be realized on an annual basis starting in 2027.

Tristan Thomas

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets.

Great. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from James Hardiman with Citi.

James Hardiman

Analyst · Citi.

So, any help you could give us sort of bridging what I think is about 4% to 8% wholesale growth if I sort of use the wholesale guide to where you ultimately land in terms of operating income still being, you know, a modest loss on the ACMC side. Obviously, there's some tariffs in there. Sounds like there's some deleverage as we think about sort production versus wholesale. And then I guess I'm also curious on the ASP side or the mix side. I think what I'm hearing is that even though inventories for the year will be flat, touring will be down. So you're gonna be undershipping touring. Just curious what impact that might have on ASP and or Bix.

Jonathan Root

Management

Thanks. Okay. Yeah. Great question. Thank you, James. Hope you're doing well. As we take a look at where we are, we certainly have a number of factors that come into play as we look at motor company operating income in 26 versus 25. So you're right. If you kind of look at where we land from a midpoint perspective, really, really close to flat. We have a number of factors that come into play. So we have full year of tariff exposure. So that adds about a $25 million headwind year over year again, going back to the tariff update page that we included within the deck, you can see some of the details there. Obviously, as we complete our final year of getting this back into the operating environment in terms of balancing out wholesale and production, that poses a little bit of a deleverage challenge. And then we certainly have some associated buy chain impact. We're contemplating. As you talked about, we do have a broadly one-to-one relationship between retail and wholesale, which does have an offsetting positive. And then as we look, there's some non-motorcycle implications around P&A and A&L. So all in, as we look at where we are, if you do a midpoint comparison, just effectively sitting right on top, obviously, an improved setup for out-year performance as we work through our final issues in '20.

James Hardiman

Analyst · Citi.

Got it.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from Brandon Rolle with Loop Capital.

Brandon Rolle

Analyst · Loop Capital.

Good morning. Thank you for taking my question. I just had a question around the used versus new pricing spread. How do you feel about where that spread is right now? And, you know, obviously, with all this promotional activity, do you see that spread tightening as you kind of pull away the promotional activity, or is this something that the spread gonna keep expanding as maybe prices go higher? And it seems like people are digging in lower and lower, you know, into the used value. So for a deal. Just any comments there on the spread? Thank you.

Jonathan Root

Management

Okay. Thanks, Brandon. I'll start with a couple of numbers, and then maybe Arty provide some perspective in addition. So I think from a couple of different factors that you speak about. So as we think about where we're sitting today from a Q1 standpoint, we were, you know, forthcoming in terms of the charge that we took in Q4 of twenty-five in order to make sure that we were positioned to clear through touring in the way that Arty has talked about. So relative to the factor on the new as we think about affordability, monthly payments, and impacts for consumers. We recognize that we're doing we're putting some programs in market at the moment that are helping drive a reduction in the gap between new and used motorcycles. So we have some stimulus that we think is helping drive a really nice value equation for our customers. I think what's really exciting is that in addition to that, as we take a look at what we're seeing on used values, we have seen sort of stabilization of some nice improvement in used values and what we're seeing come through at both auction and retail on the used side. So I think that that dynamic is also helping us from an overall consumer standpoint. So a couple of nice factors to bring that together.

Arty Scars

Management

And I think one of the insights we're seeing is that some of the parts of our portfolio that we walked away from in recent years, the used values have jumped. So it's informing some of our product development work. So it's encouraging to see core equities that we've been known for a long time really responding quite well in the used market. And it's informing some of the innovation that you're gonna be seeing from us.

Brandon Rolle

Analyst · Loop Capital.

Great. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from Jamie Katz with Morningstar. Jamie, your line is open.

Jamie Katz

Analyst · Morningstar. Jamie, your line is open.

Hi. Sorry. I'm hoping that you guys can talk about maybe what you envision as the potential for the motor company operating margin beyond 26. Like, do we go back to a high single-digit rate? Do you guys see more to expand margin, if maybe we can get some volume improvement to take hold and just sort of what you see as the potential for that segment over time.

Arty Scars

Management

Yeah. Jamie, that's a great question and something we're gonna clearly call out in our May, you know, investor meeting and strategy discussion and earnings. So if you, you know, tune in then, I'll give you more detail. Obviously, we don't think the current results reflect the full potential of the company. So a lot of upside and look forward to updating you in May.

Jamie Katz

Analyst · Morningstar. Jamie, your line is open.

Okay. And then do you have a target for leverage metrics at the 2026 given that you're still paying down some debt?

Jonathan Root

Management

Yeah. I think, you know, everything from an overall capital perspective is already talked about in our Q1 earnings call that we do in May, we'll make sure that we walk through strategy, overall capital allocation, our approach to the way that we're running the business on leverage for HDFC as well as HDFS, and then what we look at on a go-forward basis. We will be sure that we cover all of that then.

Jamie Katz

Analyst · Morningstar. Jamie, your line is open.

K. So no big target yet. But thanks.

Jonathan Root

Management

So target the one thing I'd just remind is the, the €700 million note we're going to be, you know, paying off. That's the one thing that we we've called out.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. There are no further questions at this time. This concludes today's conference call. Thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect.