Quarterly performances for OEMs show growth
Honda, Yamaha, Arctic Cat all on the rise
Honda’s wholesale unit sales of powersports vehicles, including motorcycles, scooters and ATVs, increased 20 percent in the company’s 2012 fiscal second quarter over the year-ago period.
The wholesale unit sales rose in each region where the vehicles are sold, with a 547,000 unit increase to more than 3 million units sold worldwide — a record high for a quarter. North America saw a 10,000 unit increase over 2011’s fiscal second quarter to 53,000 for the 2012 fiscal second quarter. That jump was credited to the positive impact of the introduction of CBR250R, increased sales of CRF250R motocross bikes and increased sales of the Fourtrax Rancher and Fourtrax Foreman. Net sales in the motorcycle segment increased 14 percent over the year-ago quarter to ¥357 billion ($4.5 billion).
Despite the success in the motorcycle and power products markets, Honda Motor Co. saw a 16.3 percent decrease in overall net sales due mainly to the impact on the automobile market caused by parts shortages after the March earthquake in Japan. The company saw net sales of ¥1.8 trillion ($22.9 billion) during the second quarter.
Net income for the company dropped 55.5 percent to ¥60 billion ($766 million), and operating income slid 67.9 percent to ¥52 billion ($664 million). Though these numbers are decreases from a year ago, they exceed Honda’s previous guidance of ¥18.2 billion ($232.4 million) of net income and ¥27.4 billion ($349.9 million) of operating income.
Yamaha sees bike sales rise in Q3
Yamaha Motors saw a 7.1 percent increase in net sales of motorcycles in its third quarter compared to the year-ago period, but sales remained mostly stable for the first nine months of 2011.
Net sales through Sept. 30 decreased 0.4 percent from the same nine-month period in 2010 due in part to a sales decrease in Europe and negative exchange rates, the company reported. The quarterly success was attributed to increased sales in the U.S., as well as in Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil. Third quarter net sales were ¥229 billion ($2.9 billion).
Net sales in the marine segment are also up for the quarter to ¥38.3 billion ($489.8 million), a 1.7 percent increase as compared to the year-ago period. Increased sales of outboard motors in the U.S., Russia, Central and South America and other markets contributed to the hike, according to the company. Net sales for marine through Sept. 30 increased 5.1 percent over the same 2010 period to ¥140 billion ($1.8 billion) due to a recovery in demand for PWC and outboard motors, the company reported.
Yamaha Motors’ power products segment saw a decrease of 13.9 percent from the 2010 third quarter. Net sales were ¥26.4 billion ($337.5 million) due to a decrease in sales of ATVs in North America and because of negative exchange rates, the company reported.
Overall, the OEM saw a 3.7 percent increase in consolidated net sales to ¥322 billion ($4.1 billion), despite a ¥15 billion ($191.7 million) negative impact due to exchange rates. Operating income increased 40 percent to ¥19.2 billion ($245.5 million).
Snow sales boost cat
Arctic Cat Inc. officials announced during the company’s second quarter earnings call that its snowmobile sales rose 25 percent to $114.7 million in the fiscal 2012 second quarter, up from $91.5 million in the prior-year quarter.
Company officials said sales were fueled by Arctic Cat’s new 2012 model lineup of 23 all-new snowmobiles that represent 75 percent of the company’s current offerings.
In addition, Arctic Cat’s net sales increased by 17 percent to $204.8 million on higher sales across all product lines in the company’s second quarter, compared to the second quarter in 2011.
Arctic Cat also raised its fiscal 2012 sales and earnings guidance to a range of $1.10-$1.15 earnings per share, a 57-64 percent increase over fiscal 2011, on expected full-year sales growth of 14-17 percent.
Arctic Cat’s net earnings increased to $21.4 million on net sales of $204.8 million for the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30. In the prior-year second quarter, Arctic Cat reported net earnings of $17.8 million on net sales of $175.8 million.
“We are very pleased to report double-digit sales and earnings gains in the second quarter,” Arctic Cat president and CEO Claude Jordan said. “Once again, revenue grew across all product lines. Sales in the quarter benefited from particularly strong snowmobile sales, driven by the introduction of our extensive new 2012 snowmobile model lineup. We also continued to improve profitability through operational excellence and a lower cost structure.”
