Harley-Davidson, Inc. Q2 FY2025 Earnings Call

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, Jochen Zeitz; also, Chief Financial Officer, Jonathan Root, and we have LiveWire's Chief Executive Officer, Karim Donnez. With that, let me turn it over to our CEO, Jochen Zeitz. Jochen?

Thank you, Shawn. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining today's call. This morning, we're going to start with details on our HDFS transaction that were announced earlier today before moving on to the Q2 results. We're very pleased to share that we've entered into strategic partnerships with both KKR and PIMCO for HDFS after completing a rigorous selection process, with over a dozen parties bidding for the HDFS business over three rounds. We've consistently spoken about the strategic and financial value of the HDFS business, and we are very excited to announce this transaction that clearly reinforces our view. On our first quarter call, we laid out four key objectives that any transaction involving HDFS would need to achieve, and I'm pleased to say that we are checking the box on all of them, providing the business with a lot of flexibility in the future. First, we said it would have to reflect the significant value HDFS represents to Harley-Davidson and its shareholders. The investment in HDFS equity at approximately 1.75 times post-transaction book valuation for these two world-class investors clearly achieved that goal, illustrating HDFS's class-leading returns and corresponding significantly higher valuation to book value. Second, the transaction would have to create value over the long term with a strategic partner. We expect this transaction will accomplish that across a range of fronts. Our new strategic partners will purchase about two-thirds of HDFS future retail loan originations at a premium on an annual basis for five years. Going forward, HDFS will retain one-third of new consumer loans. And when combined with new fee streams, we expect it will significantly increase HDFS's go-forward ROE to the high 20s. And with a minority equity ownership of HDFS, KKR and PIMCO are in it for the long term. Third, a transaction would have to allow us to maintain or lower our overall cost of funding. With this transaction, we are reducing our overall leverage and the perceived risk highlighted every time the business environment deteriorates, freeing up significant equity on the balance sheet and creating a long-term stable funding mechanism, all of which we believe will contribute to greater funding flexibility and lower borrowing costs. We expect this transaction to boost HDFS earnings substantially this year by $275 million to $300 million in operating income. On top of the strong HDFS operating result expected this year, we believe there's a clear path to growing HDFS operating income quickly towards pre-transaction levels in an asset-light manner in future years. We plan to achieve this through the retention of only or approximately one-third of annual consumer originations as well as through new fee streams from loan originations and servicing fees and organic growth, along with the commercial finance, insurance, car products, and international partnerships that we retain. Lastly, but importantly, we were clear that the transaction could not have a negative impact on our customers or dealers. For customers, this transaction will be transparent, with HDFS continuing to originate and service both new and existing retail loans. And for our dealers, HDFS will be able to continue providing dealers with service, benefits, and flexibility commensurate with what HDFS currently provides. Most importantly, this transaction will free up cash and allow additional flexibility to support demand-driving initiatives. Overall, we believe the new partnership is a big win on all levels. In addition to other significant future benefits, this transaction is expected to generate cash that will allow HDFS to pay a distribution of approximately $1.25 billion to HDI and leave HDFS well positioned to continue to serve our customers and dealers in the best possible ways. With the cash generated from this transaction, we are planning to reduce our debt by about $450 million and to accelerate our $1 billion share buyback program announced last year, with the intention to purchase $500 million in the second half of '25. Also, we expect this will give us the flexibility to invest up to $300 million of additional funds into future growth opportunities. The post-transaction book value multiple realized in this transaction is a significant valuation for HDFS and, we believe, will serve as a major value unlock over time, as it clearly highlights the substantial undervaluation of HDMC relative to other comparable companies. To summarize, the post-transaction HDFS business equity has been valued by our partners at around $500 million or approximately 1.75 times post-transaction book value. As a result of this transaction, HDFS intends to distribute $1.25 billion of cash to HDI, representing around 40% of our current market cap. The combined $1.75 billion of HDFS driven value compares to Harley-Davidson's current market cap of approximately $3 billion. In addition, HDI was holding $1.6 billion of cash and equivalents at the end of Q2. This transaction implies that HDFS is trading at around 8 times consensus operating income compared to peers at around 14 times. Turning to HDMC and Q2. In the face of a continuously challenging commercial environment for discretionary products in particular, consolidated revenue for the second quarter declined 19%, driven primarily by a planned reduction in motorcycle shipments and soft demand. Global motorcycle retail sales were down 15% year-over-year, reflecting the continued impact of elevated interest rates and customer purchasing behavior, product demand softness, and overall economic uncertainty. In response to the ongoing uncertainty and persistently higher-than-expected interest rates, the company will look to introduce a new efficiency program and enhance and, where possible, accelerate its existing productivity initiatives. Any efforts will leverage technology, including AI, which we expect will deliver substantial cost savings and drive further productivity gains across the business. Across our portfolio, performance was mixed depending on the segment. Touring continued to face headwinds as we left a strong model year '24 launch of the redesigned Touring platform. That said, through the quarter, we remained disciplined in motor company-led promotions, even as competitors leaned heavily on promotional activity, an area where we have exercised greater restraint, including on our '25 models. The newly refreshed Softail lineup is performing better in the market. Additionally, our RevMax platform, including both Adventure Touring and Sportster models, grew 16% year-over-year in North America. This growth was driven by several factors, including the strategic repricing of Nightster to below $10,000 and increasing consumer appreciation for the platform. Overall, in the U.S., while market share for Touring declined, we saw an increase in our overall Cruiser business as well as a modest increase in our Adventure Touring offering in a challenging overall market. As promised during the quarter, we continued to reduce dealer inventory, with global levels down 28% compared to Q2 '24. This aligns with our ongoing commitment to rightsize inventory and better match demand. The fluid global tariff environment and negative consumer sentiment remains a challenge for the business. However, our ongoing engagement with various governments gives us cautious optimism that future trade agreements may help limit the overall impact on our operations. The EU agreement announced this past weekend looks to be a positive step forward. In the meantime, our teams are working diligently to manage the near-term effects on '25, while also implementing longer-term mitigation strategies to minimize potential impacts on the business. Additionally, following productive engagement with the U.S. administration, we are pleased that Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been included in the recently signed automotive tax reduction legislation, part of the broader economic bill. Under the new law, interest paid on loans for new U.S. built motorcycle purchases up to $10,000 annually is tax-deductible when all vehicle and customer eligibility criteria are met. We believe this will have a positive effect and stimulate demand as the tax incentive takes hold in the market. Turning to racing. Since '21, we've leaned into our racing heritage, both through product development and the revival of Harley-Davidson Factory Racing, competing at the highest level in both the King of the Baggers and Hooligan series, where we are proud to be leading both this year. Drawing inspiration from the track to the street, in March, we introduced our first limited production race replica inspired by our King of the Baggers raised bikes, the CVO Road Glide RR. This model blends elite performance with the signature craftsmanship of Harley-Davidson's CVO lineup. As expected, the 131 motorcycles priced at $110,000 generated an oversubscribed wait list and preorders, underscoring the growing excitement around our racing-inspired offerings, including P&A and racing experiences, highlighting new opportunities in the future. We remain energized by the power of racing to ignite passion and are committed to leveraging it as a strategic catalyst for brand and product innovation. In that spirit, this May, we announced a landmark partnership with MotoGP, the leading global motorcycle racing championship in the world, to launch a new racing series in '26 featuring Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles. The 12 race championship would span 6 Grands Prix across Europe and North America, with each round showcasing two races on race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles. The grid will feature six to eight teams, each fielding two riders, and will be supported by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing. I'm pleased to say that we're in advanced stages of signing various teams following a very strong interest from many race teams. With this new series, we will be bringing a bold, high-performance expression of the Harley-Davidson brand to the global stage, celebrating our storied racing legacy while redefining its future. It promises to be a thrilling addition to the world's premier motorcycle racing landscape. Stay tuned for more. Our race team's home will soon be located at Juneau Avenue, where we're making substantial investments into our historic headquarters to ensure the site is workforce ready by year-end, complementing our already remodeled HDU building and newly built Harley-Davidson Park. As mentioned in our previous earnings call, we are planning to introduce new entry-level products in smaller displacements as well as an iconic classic starting next year. Today, I'm pleased to confirm the launch of our first small displacement motorcycle for the U.S. and international markets, which has been in development since '21. Inspired by our heritage and the spirit of the iconic Harley-Davidson Springer motorcycle, this new bike embodies boldness, irreverence, and fun, capturing the rebellious energy that defines the Harley-Davidson experience. Scheduled for release in the first half of '26 and for presentation to our global dealer network in October of this year, I'm pleased to share that we are targeting an entry price below $6,000. We believe this motorcycle will not only be highly accessible but also profitable, marking a significant step forward in driving Harley-Davidson's future profitable growth and opening up a new path and motorcycle segment for the company in future years for its key markets. The new Harley-Davidson Springer motorcycle will be complemented by an additional, and for the first time in an expected profitable iconic entry price point motorcycle in our traditional Cruiser segment planned to follow soon after. All of this will be in addition to other new and exciting products we will be launching next year. Lastly, a few words about LiveWire. The company remains committed to significantly reducing cash burn and operating losses, and the LiveWire team has worked diligently to manage operating expenses across the business. In Q2, LiveWire delivered a 34% improvement in consolidated operating loss compared to Q2 '24 and reduced its use of cash and cash equivalents for the six months ended June 30 by 36% compared to the same period in '24. We're encouraged by the progress made, and there is more to come. LiveWire continues to focus on its strategic pivot, maintaining market presence amid ongoing industry challenges, while staying at the forefront of innovation, adding new high-volume segments. Today, we can confirm that LiveWire intends to launch production versions of its two latest concept models that were showcased at Harley-Davidson Homecoming earlier this month. These new mini models represent a strategic refocus in LiveWire's product portfolio, aligning with evolving customer expectations, broader EV adoption trends, given the significantly changed consumer and incentive environment since we launched the brand and fast-growing global demand for lightweight, off-road and urban-friendly mobility solutions. These products mark an early step into new segments, with more developments expected in the coming months. LiveWire has seen a tremendous response to these bikes over the past few weeks, and we look forward to formally launching them at EICMA in November.

Thank you, Jochen, and good morning to all. While Jochen touched on many of the benefits of our new strategic partnership with KKR and PIMCO, I wanted to provide a transaction overview before I go into the Q2 results of Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson has agreed to sell a common equity interest in HDFS at approximately 1.75 times book value, with each partner acquiring a 4.9% stake. As part of this transaction, HDFS has agreed to sell over $5 billion of existing gross consumer retail loan receivables and residual interest in securitized consumer loan receivables at a premium to par value. As a result, we will have a benefit from the release of loan loss reserve and sale of consumer loan receivables at a premium to par value. We expect this to contribute $275 million to $300 million incremental to HDFS operating income in fiscal year 2025. This will allow us to execute on our expectations to reduce approximately $4 billion in HDFS debt associated with consumer retail loan receivables. In addition, going forward, on an annual basis, we expect the strategic partners to purchase around two-thirds of HDFS future retail loan originations annually for five years, also at a premium to par value. The partners will pay a fixed servicing fee of 1% and 2.5% for prime and subprime receivables purchased from HDFS, respectively. Of note, in this transaction, we are not selling any wholesale receivables. There is no direct impact on commercial lending, card products, insurance and protection products, or international beyond the equity stake mentioned. And Harley-Davidson retains a controlling interest in HDFS with over 90% ownership. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year. In summary, we are excited to unlock significant value of HDFS for our shareholders through the sale of a minority stake, while transforming HDFS into a capital-light financing business. In addition, following 2026, it is creating a path that we believe will grow HDFS operating income in the future through new loan origination fees and loan servicing fees. Naturally, we welcome that with the transaction, we will generate $1.25 billion of discretionary cash for Harley-Davidson to use, while we retain full control and majority ownership of HDFS. Now I will turn to the Q2 results at Harley-Davidson. I plan to start on Page 7 of the presentation, where I will briefly summarize the consolidated financial results for the second quarter of 2025. And subsequently, I will go into further detail on each business segment. Consolidated revenue in the second quarter was down 19%, largely in line with our expectations across HDMC and HDFS, while revenue also decreased at LiveWire. Consolidated operating income in the second quarter was $112 million, driven by a decline of 69% at HDMC. Operating income at HDFS came in at down 2% relative to prior year. At the LiveWire segment, the operating loss came in at $19 million. Consolidated operating income margin in the second quarter came in at 8.6% relative to 14.9% in the second quarter a year ago, representing a 629 basis point decline, primarily due to the impacts associated with lower volume as we deliver on our commitment to help bring down dealer inventories. I plan to go into further detail on each business segment's profit and loss drivers in the next section. Second quarter earnings per share was $0.88. As said previously, in Q2, global retail was down 15%, with the North American market being down 17% and international markets down 12%. Broadly speaking, customers are continuing to seemingly take a pause or wait-and-see approach to some extent based on higher interest rates and overall macro uncertainty, both factors having a meaningful impact on our specific customer profile buying patterns. In North America, the market continued to experience lower customer traffic coming into Harley-Davidson dealerships. We also experienced this in the first quarter, even though traffic trends improved in Q2. Our conversion rates actually remain fairly solid relative to recent history. Starting in April, as greater global tariff uncertainty was introduced, it added to the overall economic uncertainty that we experienced in Q1 and has stayed with us through most of Q2. North America performance for Q2 saw a year-over-year decline, but was an improvement from the decline experienced in Q1. As we get through July, we are seeing some signs of improvement in customer traffic in dealerships in North America based on some of our most recent go-to-market initiatives, such as new marketing initiatives, targeted promotional activity, our renewed approach to strategic price changes in each family and amplified and more creative rider testing initiatives. We are also seeing our new Marketing Development Fund truly being embraced by our North American dealers, with impacts now showing up in market. In EMEA, retail is down 5% and experienced overall volatility due to the global tariff situation. Softail motorcycle retail was positive in Q2, up 4%, as the redesigned model year '25 Softails hit the market. From a country perspective, we witnessed growth in the German region and the Benelux and Nordic region. These were offset by declines in France and the U.K. In Asia Pacific, retail continued to be soft and was down 21%. This was due to intense competition in the lightweight and smaller motorcycle segments. From a product perspective, our refreshed Softail model year '25 lineup performed fine as it hit the market in Q2, but we are optimistic for a stronger performance in the second half of the year. From a country perspective, the sharpest declines were in Japan and in China due to continued economic uncertainty. In Q2, in the total Cruiser category, we experienced plus 6% volume growth in the U.S. and gained 3 points of share in the total Cruiser segment, growing to 53% market share in Q2 of '25 from 50% market share in Q2 of '24. Moving on to dealer inventory. We believe current dealer inventory and product availability are in an improving and healthier position overall as we are now in the midst of the 2025 riding season. Global dealer motorcycle inventories were down 28% at the end of Q2 compared to the end of Q2 of '24. We are committed to supporting a significant year-over-year dealer inventory reduction by year-end. We are well on our way to this, as already demonstrated in the first quarter and again in the second quarter, which marks our third consecutive quarter of decreasing dealer inventory on an equivalent year-over-year basis. Looking at revenue. HDMC revenue decreased by 23% in Q2. Focusing on the key drivers for the quarter, 23 points of decline came from decreased wholesale volume at HDMC, where motorcycle shipments in the quarter were down 28%, coming in at 36,000 units compared to 50,000 units in the year-ago period. This level balances our need to be prepared for the ongoing riding season and balance against any changes in the demand environment, given the recent macro headlines and uncertainty; 1 point of growth came from favorable year-over-year pricing net of sales incentives for 2025 model year product; 1 point of decline came from mix as we balanced out the delivery of motorcycle models and markets. And finally, foreign exchange impacts resulted in 1 point of growth to Q2 revenue relative to prior year. In Q2, HDMC gross margin was 28.6%, which compares to 32.1% in the prior year. The decrease of 350 basis points was driven by the revenue factors I just spoke about and lower operating leverage, which includes modest cost inflation of less than 1%. In order to deliver on our commitment to help bring down dealer inventory, production volumes were down commensurate with the lower wholesale shipments in Q2 of 2025. The lower production volumes resulted in a higher fixed cost per unit on motorcycles shipped in Q2 of 2025. The unfavorable impact of lower operating leverage was modestly offset by other productivity savings related primarily to supply management during the quarter. In addition, the cost of new or increased tariffs implemented in 2025 resulted in $13 million of incremental cost in the Q2 period, creating a headwind of 125 basis points to the Q2 2025 operating income margin. Operating expenses in Q2 came in $2 million higher than prior year at $237 million, which resulted in an HDMC operating margin of 5.9%, which compares to 14.7% in the prior year period. This higher OpEx was primarily driven by the planned spend for the Marketing Development Fund I spoke of earlier and was partially offset by lower people costs, which we achieved through robust cost discipline. Turning to Slide 12. In the year-to-date period, HDMC gross margin was 28.9%, which compares to 31.7% in the prior year. The decrease of 280 basis points was driven by lower volumes and lower operating leverage, partially offset by the positive impact of pricing, mix and foreign currency. The year-to-date results include modest cost inflation of less than 1%. In addition, the cost of new or increased tariffs implemented in 2025 resulted in $17 million of incremental cost in the year-to-date period, creating a headwind of 80 basis points to the year-to-date operating income margin. This excludes costs of $7 million to mitigate tariff impacts. Operating expenses in the year-to-date period came in $21 million lower than prior year at $436 million, which resulted in an HDMC operating margin of 8.4%, which compares to 15.4% in the prior year period. Before we turn to the next slide, I would like to update on our ongoing productivity cost program where we were expecting to drive a $400 million improvement in productivity by 2025. As a reminder, for the cumulative three-year period of 2022 through 2024, we have achieved unlevered productivity savings of $257 million. We continue to expect to achieve another $100 million for all of 2025 and again in 2026, exceeding our Hardwire dollar target by over 10%, as mentioned in February. In the first half of 2025, we achieved $48 million of unlevered productivity, split evenly by quarter, primarily from logistics and supply chain initiatives. Turning to Slide 13. The global tariff environment remains uncertain, but we wanted to provide an update. In the first half of 2025, the cost of new or increased tariffs was $17 million. This includes direct tariff exposure, Harley-Davidson importing and exporting product, as well as indirect tariff exposure from our suppliers. This excludes pricing mitigation actions as well as any expenses to accelerate product deliveries ahead of tariffs. We do expect that the direct tariff costs will increase in the second half of the year, but the environment remains volatile. Harley-Davidson is a business very centered in and around the U.S. Three of four manufacturing plants are U.S.-based, including final assembly in York, Pennsylvania and powertrain operations and injection molding with class-leading paint application, each in Wisconsin. We also have a U.S.-centric approach to sourcing, with approximately 75% of component purchasing coming from the U.S. And all of our core products sold in the U.S. are proudly assembled in the U.S. With that in mind, we estimate our full year 2025 impact from the direct cost of new or increased tariffs to be in the range of $50 million to $85 million. This has been reduced from $130 million to $175 million at Q1 release on May 1. We have a number of actions underway to mitigate the impact, and we expect this situation will remain fluid given the uncertainty that still exists. Turning back to HDFS and its performance. At Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Q2 revenue came in at $257 million, a decrease of only 2%, driven by modestly lower retail receivables and commercial receivables. HDFS operating income was $70 million, down less than $2 million or 2% compared to last year. The small Q2 decrease was driven by lower net interest income and higher operating expenses, partially offset by lower provision for credit losses and higher other income. The provision for credit loss expense was $6 million lower as a result of a favorable reserve change, partially offset by higher credit losses. The reserve change was $7 million favorable as compared to Q2 2024, primarily driven by a smaller increase in retail receivables during Q2 '25 compared to Q2 of 2024. In Q2, HDFS's annualized retail credit loss ratio was 3.25%, which compares to 3.12% in the year-ago period. Retail credit losses were $1 million higher than a year ago. In addition to the small increase in credit losses, the June 2025 annualized retail credit loss ratio was further negatively impacted by a decline in retail receivables, while delinquencies remained elevated as customers continue to be impacted by higher bike payments and general inflationary pressures. The retail credit loss is moderated, thanks to improved repossession success rates and stabilizing recovery values at auction. There were no commercial finance credit losses during Q2 2025. In addition, the retail allowance for credit losses for the second quarter remained flat at 5.7% from Q1 of 2025. Total retail loan originations in Q2 were down 15%, while commercial financing activities were also down, decreasing 20% to $1.1 billion as a result of the significant reduction in motorcycle inventories at our Harley-Davidson dealerships. Total quarter-end net financing receivables, including both retail loans and commercial financing, was $7.3 billion, which was down 9% versus prior year. For the LiveWire segment, which is on Page 17, electric motorcycles revenue decreased in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the prior year period, driven by lower unit sales of LiveWire electric motorcycles. Selling, administrative and engineering expenses were $8 million lower compared to the prior year. LiveWire operating loss of $19 million in Q2 of 2025 was in line with expectations and compares to an operating loss of $28 million in the prior Q2. We now expect LiveWire's full year operating loss to come in between $59 million and $69 million. On a unit basis, LiveWire reported sales of 55 units in Q2 compared to 158 units sold in the prior Q2. The uncertain macro environment and the lack of any incentive continued to weigh on the consumers' discretionary appetite for bigger motorcycles and early-stage EV products. Wrapping up with consolidated Harley-Davidson Q2 financial results. We delivered $509 million of operating cash flow, which was down $68 million from the prior period. The decrease in operating cash flow was due to lower net income and due to working capital activity, partially offset by lower net cash outflows related to wholesale finance receivables in the first six months of 2025 as compared to the same period last year. Total cash and cash equivalents ended at $1.6 billion, which was $261 million lower than at the end of Q2 prior year. This consolidated cash number includes $29 million at LiveWire. Additionally, as part of our capital allocation strategy, we remain committed to returning capital to shareholders. Given the unexpected operating environment since early April due to the sudden and unpredictable changes in global tariff policy, we moved to the sidelines in Q2 and did not buy back any Harley-Davidson shares during Q2. We did buy back 3.4 million shares of our stock at a value of $87 million in Q1 of 2025. Given that the global tariff situation remains ongoing and uncertain, we continue to withhold our full year 2025 financial outlook for HDMC and HDI. Following today's announcement, we expect HDFS should come in at approximately $525 million to $550 million of operating income for 2025. As we move into the second half of 2025, and with the noted closing of the HDFS transaction, I will again summarize the intended uses of proceeds. We plan to increase the pace of buybacks and are working hard to deliver on our $1 billion commitment in share repurchases we announced in July of 2024. Our plan is to purchase $500 million of shares during the second half of the year, as mentioned earlier. We also plan to reduce our debt by $450 million and have a meaningful balance remaining to invest into the business. We expect this will give us the flexibility to invest up to $300 million of additional funds into future growth opportunities. And with that, we will open it up to Q&A.

Our first question comes from Craig Kennison from Baird.

One on the HDFS transaction. What are the components you are using to calculate that 1.75x book value marker? I'm just not seeing it clearly in the numbers.

Sure. Craig, it's Jonathan. Great question. So as we look at where the 1.75x lands, it's actually the derivative of the proceeds that come in from KKR and PIMCO for their equity investment in the business. And as you would flow through and you would take a look at kind of where the book value of the business would come in and then how the equity is associated with that book value, it kind of lines up to a 1.75x multiple. So we'll have more disclosures in our Ks and Qs that are coming that will kind of help outline all of this, but it's effectively the relationship between the premium that they pay versus the post-transaction book value of HDFS.

Our next question comes from Joe Altobello from Raymond James.

So a couple of questions on HDFS. I guess, first, the underlying profitability of that business looks like it got better than you guys originally anticipated. What's driving that? And then post-transaction, I know you mentioned that you expect that business to grow and get back to its normal profitability over time. But what is the normalized profitability for that business under this new arrangement in 2026, for example?

Okay. In response to your questions, regarding HDFS and looking ahead to 2025, we’ve observed some positive trends in delinquency rates. We discussed the factors contributing to loss characteristics, and overall, we are encouraged by the stabilization and slight improvement in used values. The most reliable source for these values has been Black Book data, which supports our view of this positive trend. We are also pleased with dealer participation at our auctions, which is beneficial when we need to repossess a unit. This participation not only helps with value but also provides additional contact points with customers when used motorcycles are sold through our Harley-Davidson dealers. We have noticed a solid stabilization in dealer control over used inventory and a slight increase in used values. Additionally, the HDFS team has effectively managed repossession rates, steering them in a favorable direction. Overall, these factors have contributed to a positive performance trend in our business, which has improved as the year has progressed. We are satisfied with where we stand. Please continue, Jochen.

Yes. No, just to add to what Jonathan said, it's not just the stabilization of used values or a slight improvement, it's also that the used motorcycle business actually grew in Q2 compared to the new business. And obviously, HDFS finances both used and new. So that's an additional factor.

Okay. Thanks, Jochen. And then one last point, Joe, on your question around kind of normalized earnings. If you take a look at what we've provided on Page 24 of our earnings deck, so we have a little longer earnings deck this quarter to try to cover details of the transaction, but if you would walk through that, it starts to tell you kind of the time that things take from a normalization standpoint. And we think of normalized HDFS earnings, to answer your question directly, of about $240 million, $250 million a year in operating income.

Next question comes from Tristan Thomas-Martin from BMO Capital Markets.

I know you mentioned that consumer traffic picked up in July, but has that translated to improved retail performance?

Yes. Tristan, I can't give you the final number for July yet, but we've seen a sequential significant improvement if you look at the North American figures. In fact, if you look back all the way from February, retail trends for new motorcycle unit sales improved every month, and we expect that to continue in July as well, significant improvement expected. And then going forward for the rest of the year, we believe we can actually comp positive, given the measures that we've taken in the market and easier comps compared to last year and some of the measures we've taken, as Jonathan has already highlighted. So July, another improvement in the U.S., and we expect that to continue until the end of the year.

Our next question comes from Alex Perry from Bank of America.

Just a 2-part question. Can you just talk through about how you feel about current dealer inventories and sort of what the target is for year-end? And then the timing of the model launch shift, can you just talk about how you're going to sort of sequence that in? Are you planning to launch bikes this fall? Just wanted to get more color on how you're thinking about new model launch timing.

I'll address the first question. Regarding dealer inventory, we have made a commitment earlier this year to significantly reduce dealer inventory, and this has occurred globally, including in the U.S., amid the market decline mentioned earlier. As Jonathan pointed out, we anticipate this trend to continue with a significant reduction. It’s hard to specify exactly how much at this point, as it also relies on retail sales. However, aiming for a double-digit decline seems reasonable, especially since we observed about a 4% decline in dealer inventory in the last quarter of last year, which accelerated in the first and second quarters. Overall, we believe we are concluding the year with very healthy dealer inventory levels.

I'll address the topic of model year shift. We are still finalizing some details with our dealer network regarding the implications and timing of this shift. There are notable differences between the model year launch in North America and other regions, particularly in terms of where we have significant manufacturing. As we consider the upcoming model year, we're looking at refreshing our Touring bikes and Softails starting this fall. We plan to introduce exciting new products throughout the year, similar to what we have done in previous years. A prime example is our Gray Ghost Softail, which has been very successful and has generated significant interest and enthusiasm among our dealers. You can expect to see special versions and new vehicles released throughout the year, which will maintain excitement and freshness among our dealers. We're pleased to advance the model year shift into the fall, as this helps us manage our throughput and ensures our dealers are prepared for the upcoming season. Additionally, it extends our sales season by creating ongoing excitement in our dealerships as we approach the end of the calendar year. We are working on the full details with our dealer partners, and you can look forward to this excitement in the fall. Thank you.

Our next question comes from Stephen Grambling from Morgan Stanley.

This is a bit of a multi-parter on the HDFS transaction. Why was the 4.9% equity sale the right level sold? Are there any tax ramifications to think through that are incorporating to that $1.25 billion in cash unlocked? Or is that a gross number? And then also how is the exchange rate in the HOG stock set that's in the presentation?

Thank you, Stephen. I'll address your question about the 4.9%. It's a good question. The HDFS business is quite complex, and we're proud of its performance within Harley-Davidson. A key factor in our approach to HDFS is our industrial loan corporation, Eaglemark Savings Bank, which is regulated by the FDIC. Because of FDIC regulations, there are limits on ownership and investment levels, and the 4.9% threshold is one that the FDIC is comfortable with. This is why we've set the limit at that level, as going beyond it would involve more regulatory complexities. KKR and PIMCO both hold 4.9% stakes, aligning with this rationale. Regarding the $1.25 billion, that figure represents a pretax amount coming from HDFS to the parent company, and we will have to address it in our usual tax planning. Recently, our effective tax rate has been in the low 20s. For your last question about the exchange rate for HOG stock mentioned in the presentation, we should have a follow-up discussion to clarify your inquiry, as I’m not fully sure what you’re asking.

The business we are discussing is mainly focused on the U.S., so there shouldn't be any notable exchange effects. We'll follow up on that, Stephen. Additionally, the reasons you pointed out are significant in explaining why we've capped the sale at 4.9% from both our perspective and that of our partners. We received over a dozen bids, varying from long-term committed purchases of loan receivables to an outright sale of the majority of the business. In fact, we could have sold the majority or even all of it at a substantial premium to book value. However, considering the four key objectives I outlined earlier this year that any transaction involving HDFS needs to meet, we believe this outcome represents the best option, minimizing complexity while being a considerable win on all these fronts.

Our next question comes from Robin Farley from UBS.

I also wanted to ask about the HDFS transaction, which is a two-part question. First, is the transaction based on any expected growth in Harley retail sales and receivables? Are there any guarantees regarding this aspect that could affect the terms if certain sales, receivables, or operating income targets are not met? Additionally, considering what you are giving up for the $1.25 billion, historically, financial services have accounted for over 40% of total company earnings last year, and potentially over 50% this year. While I understand there is no guidance for the full year, can you help us quantify what portion of future earnings will be derived from the proceeds of this transaction?

Thank you, Robin. Let's begin with the topic of guarantees. Both KKR and PIMCO are reputable and experienced investors, and there are no guarantees regarding specific growth rates or loss levels. While we examined this process, we initially considered a broad range of interested parties and eventually narrowed it down to about a dozen for serious negotiations, ultimately selecting KKR and PIMCO as our final partners. They are extremely confident in how we operate the business and the careful approach our team takes in underwriting and collections. This reflects the strong leadership at HDFS and the efficient operation of the business. Although we cannot guarantee performance amid risk, we are confident in continuing to operate profitably through various cycles. We are very pleased to have KKR and PIMCO as partners, especially considering their impact on liquidity and funding for the business moving forward. In terms of what we're giving up, we've determined that we will retain about one-third of the annual originations for the retail business, compared to the total we had previously. KKR and PIMCO will take one-third each, providing us with a premium to par for the retail loans we originate and covering the servicing fees mentioned. You'll notice a slight curve to the earnings, as we expect significant benefits from an earnings perspective outlined for 2025. If you refer to Page 24 of our earnings presentation, you will see the projected earnings trajectory on the right side and the significantly lower capital levels on the left as we progress. This transition is what contributes to the return on equity benefits that Jochen mentioned.

Our next question comes from James Hardiman from Citi.

So just a quick clarification. Jochen, I think you said that you expected retail to be positive in the second half. Just maybe clarify that and how do we get there. But my bigger picture question, the small displacement bike, right? There was some discussion of that in the prepared remarks. Obviously, there's a lot that you guys are working through today. That seems like a really big deal, particularly as we think about of what's been elusive to Harley historically, right? An entry-level bike that's both popular and profitable. And so if you're successful with that, that could really move the needle, but maybe speak a little bit more about how that's possible, right? That profitability component in particular, how have you been able to accomplish that, whereas previous generations of Harley management has not and what that profitability should look like going forward?

Thank you, James. Looking ahead, we anticipate positive retail sales in North America for the reasons we've discussed. The trend has improved since February, and achieving this will be easier given the more favorable comparisons starting in August. Regarding the small displacement bike, I completely agree that this represents a significant advancement for the company. We are also excited about the Cruiser we are developing, which we plan to launch afterward. We believe we can profit from both models for the first time. The starting price is set at $6,000, with additional price points to follow in subsequent years. This will enable us to penetrate a segment that has seen growth due to affordability issues for our core customers. This bike has been in development since 2021, and while it's taken time, we are confident it can generate a profitable margin. This will allow us to establish a profitable business in segments where we have not previously competed, particularly the Cruiser segment, which has historically not been profitable for decades. We believe the way we engineered this product will lead to profitability, which is why we've highlighted it. We plan to present the small displacement vehicle to our dealers in early October, and we wanted to give you advance notice. We have worked diligently over an extended period to make this possible, and we have gained valuable insights over the past five years that make us confident in achieving this goal for the company. Therefore, this is indeed a significant opportunity for the business, especially in the current market landscape. If we eventually see a rebound in the big bike segment, which has faced challenges for almost two years, along with the new offerings we are introducing over the next few years and upcoming product developments, I believe this all points to positive news.

Our last question comes from Jaime Katz from Morningstar.

Just a clarification to start. The $300 million that's going into HDFS, should we dump that into 3Q or 4Q? Because it's going to swing earnings pretty significantly whenever it goes in, I suppose. And the other thing you guys talked about that wasn't mentioned was a new efficiency program. Is there any intel on the magnitude of that impact? Are you in the early stages? And what might you be focusing on?

Thank you, Jaime. Regarding the $300 million increase related to HDFS, we expect to finalize the closure in the latter half of the year due to the complexities involved in finalizing various aspects of the transaction. Some components are likely to close in Q3, while others will close in Q4. As we categorize the different loans into various groups, it appears they will be divided between these two quarters. We will ensure we are effectively collaborating with our partners, KKR and PIMCO, on settling each part of the deal. More updates will follow on that matter. Jochen, I'll pass it to you to discuss efficiency.

Yes. Jonathan mentioned our commitment to achieving a $400 million productivity gain, which we expect to exceed by about 10%. We have discovered new avenues to enhance productivity and increase those gains, and we see a significant opportunity in a new efficiency program, details of which will be shared in future earnings calls. We believe that technology, particularly AI, will play a crucial role in driving substantial cost savings and will impact the overall business structure moving forward to boost productivity gains across the organization. Rest assured, the decisions we are making in this area are closely aligned with the Board and the incoming CEO, ensuring full alignment during the handover and transition process related to this efficiency program. While we won't go into specifics now, we are confident that there are several initiatives we can begin immediately, with many more to follow by the end of the year, to significantly transform the model, aided by AI.

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