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The parade of
Harley Davidson
The upgrades were joined on Thursday by Wedbush analyst James Hardiman, who changed his long-standing neutral rating to an outperform. The motorcycle maker’s new strategy of cutting its costs and reducing dealer inventories could increase inventory levels by more than 50%, Hardiman said in a note.
“We have long been some of the most vocal critics of Harley-Davidson,” wrote Hardiman. “In 2020, Harley was the worst performance yet by the major powersport companies.”
However, if new CEO Jochen Zeitz’s plans bear fruit, analyst Harley-Davidson could make more than $ 4 a share in 2022 and see a share price in the mid-1940s. Hardiman currently sets its 12-month price target at $ 36.
Harley stock (ticker: HOG) rose 1.5% Thursday morning to $ 29.29. The
Dow Jones industry average
was down 0.2%.
The bicycle manufacturer’s decision to drastically reduce shipments to its dealerships has led to an increase in the units available, according to Hardiman. That clears up the flood of used Harleys that has weighed on sales of new motorcycles. Traders’ inventories are at a low, say traders, and prices are firmer.
Harley-Davidson is properly adjusting its business to the shrinking market for its expensive products with large engines, the analyst said. Compared to other powersport manufacturers like
Polaris
(PII), Harley-Davidson has a high cost of ownership. The company announced layoffs last week and further savings could result.
The Wedbush analyst now expects Harley to make $ 1.61 per share this year (excluding restructuring charges), well above the consensus forecast of $ 1.07. His forecast for $ 3.35 per share in 2021 is nearly a dollar higher than the Street figure.
By 2022, Hardiman believes Harley could make $ 4.01. If investors bet a 12-fold multiple on that number, the bike maker’s stock could hit the mid-1940s.
Write to Bill Alpert at william.alpert@barrons.com
The post Harley-Davidson Inventory Will get a Kick-Begin After a Critic Comes Off the Fence first appeared on DECKS AND FENCES DAILY.