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MINNEAPOLIS - Polaris Inc. (NYSE:PII) reported fourth quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations, but its shares tumbled 6% as investors focused on the company's cautious outlook for 2025.
The powersports vehicle manufacturer posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.92, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90. Revenue came in at $1.755 billion, topping expectations of $1.68 billion and representing a slight increase from the same quarter last year.
Despite the earnings beat, Polaris faced challenges in its retail segment. North American retail sales, excluding snow and youth products, declined 7% year-over-year. Off-road vehicle retail sales dropped 7%, while on-road vehicle sales decreased by mid-single digits. The company's marine segment also saw a low-single digit decline.
Polaris CEO Mike Speetzen commented on the results, stating, "Our fourth quarter performance demonstrated the resilience of our business model in a challenging market environment. While retail sales were softer than anticipated, we made significant progress in reducing dealer inventory levels."
Looking ahead to 2025, Polaris expects to achieve approximately $40 million in structural cost savings associated with lean initiatives. The company is targeting a 10% reduction in variable costs at its plants compared to 2024.
However, Polaris anticipates negative absorption due to lower year-over-year production, which appears to have concerned investors.
The company also plans to optimize inventory and localize its supply chain to lower working capital requirements. Despite these efforts, the market's negative reaction suggests investors were hoping for a more optimistic outlook for the coming year.
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