HOG - Just How Bad Will Harley-Davidson's Third Quarter Be?
Because Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) has invested so much time, money, and effort into its electric motorcycle future, it may have forgotten that its gas- and grease-driven bikes are still the ones that make money.
An analyst at Wedbush Securities says that though the new Livewire electric bike is generating some optimism among dealers, many are grumbling that the rest of the motorcycle lineup Harley introduced for the 2020 model year is uninspiring because it consists mostly of minor updates to existing bikes.
If Harley-Davidson can't spark a turnaround before an inevitable economic slow down -- they do happen, folks -- consumer spending on discretionary items like motorcycles may evaporate further and call into question the viability of the bike maker.