Polaris : Reports Record Third Quarter 2014 Results; EPS from Continuing Operations Increased 26% to $2.06 on 18% Sales Growth

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) today reported record third quarter net income from continuing operations of $140.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, an increase of 20 percent from the prior year’s third quarter net income from continuing operations of $116.9 million. Earnings per share from continuing operations was also a record at $2.06 per diluted share for the 2014 third quarter, up 26 percent from the prior year’s third quarter of $1.64 per diluted share from continuing operations. Sales for the third quarter 2014 totaled a record $1,302.3 million, an increase of 18 percent over last year’s third quarter sales of $1,102.6 million.

“Our strong third quarter results reflect the continued execution of our long-term strategy and broad strength across our industry-leading portfolio,” commented Scott Wine, Polaris’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Amid heightened competition we garnered strong retail sales in all categories, even as we introduced more than 20 new off-road vehicles and motorcycles and over 300 new complementary accessories for our consumers.”

Wine continued, “Along with industry-leading innovation, we remain focused on improving our operations as part of our evolution into a highly profitable, customer-centric global Lean enterprise. We recently made significant progress toward this goal with the hiring of Ken Pucel to fill the newly formed position of Executive Vice President of Operations, Engineering and Lean. This move was preceded by the grand opening of our manufacturing facility in Poland, which will provide a timely capacity increase, enable us to deliver superior customer service, and ultimately serve as a growth catalyst in the EMEA region. These initiatives are important pieces of the infrastructure we are creating to support our continued growth toward becoming an $8.0 billion company.”

2014 Business Outlook

For the full year 2014, the Company is increasing its guidance and now expects earnings from continuing operations to be in the range of $6.55 to $6.65 per diluted share, an increase of 21 percent to 23 percent over full year 2013 earnings from continuing operations of $5.40 per diluted share. Full year 2014 sales are expected to grow in the range of 17 percent to 18 percent when compared to 2013.

Off-Road Vehicle (“ORV”) sales in the third quarter of 2014 increased 17 percent from the third quarter 2013 to $823.2 million. This increase is the result of strong demand for both ATV and side-by-side vehicles along with continued market share gains. Polaris’ North American ORV unit retail sales increased high-single digits percent notwithstanding the strong low-teens percent increase realized in the third quarter of last year. Consumer purchases of Polaris side-by-side vehicles climbed double digits percent during the 2014 third quarter while ATV retail sales were down slightly during the quarter. The Sportsman ACE™ product category continued to receive heightened consumer interest during the quarter. The Company estimates that North American industry ORV retail sales increased mid-single-digits percent from the third quarter of 2013 with side-by-sides up about ten percent and ATVs down low-single digits percent. As expected, North American Polaris ORV dealer inventories were up mid-teens percent from the third quarter of 2013 as the Company began shipping most of the 18 new model year 2015 products recently introduced. Sales of Polaris ORVs outside of North America increased 18 percent in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the year-ago period driven by continued market share gains in both side-by-side vehicles and ATVs.

Snowmobile sales increased 13 percent to $162.7 million for third quarter of 2014 as compared to $143.6 million in the third quarter of 2013. The increase is due to a higher number of snowmobiles shipped in the 2014 third quarter in preparation for the upcoming selling season as dealer snowmobile inventories are low coming off good snowfall and colder weather in most of the North American snowbelt this past snowmobile riding season. While less than ten percent of the snowmobile retail selling season has occurred, year-to-date industry retail sales in North America for the season ending March 2015 are up over 30 percent. This early season performance is largely driven by Polaris' retail performance of up well over 50 percent for the year-to-date season, due to high early season sales of our model year 2015 snowmobiles with the new Axys™ chassis. Sales of snowmobiles outside of North America decreased 29 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared to a year ago due to poor snowfall in the previous riding season.

Sales for the Motorcycles division increased 28 percent to $63.3 million in the 2014 third quarter compared to the same period last year due to continued strong demand for the new Indian motorcycles. Consumer retail demand for Polaris motorcycles, driven by Indian Motorcycle retail sales, were up nearly 30 percent during the 2014 third quarter, while third quarter North American industry heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle retail sales were up low-single digits percent versus the 2013 third quarter. During the quarter, the Company added two new models to the 2015 Indian Motorcycle line-up with the addition of the Roadmaster^®, a luxury touring motorcycle, and the return of the Scout^®, one of motorcycling’s most famous and coveted mid-sized motorcycles. In addition, two-tone paint schemes were added for the three Indian Chief models introduced last year. Victory motorcycles retail sales in the 2014 third quarter were down mid-teens percent impacted by timing delays of shipments of the 2015 Victory Magnum, a new custom bagger, and the prior year’s tough comparison as Victory retail sales were up over 30 percent in the 2013 third quarter. Sales of Polaris motorcycles outside of North America were up over 80 percent in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the year-ago period driven by strong demand for Indian motorcycles.

Sales of the Small Vehicles division in the third quarter of 2014 increased eight percent to $34.2 million compared to the third quarter of 2013. Both GEM and Aixam Mega experienced increased sales during the 2014 third quarter compared to the same period last year. Goupil sales decreased during the 2014 third quarter due to the soft European economy, particularly in France, and its impact on business and government sales.

Parts, Garments, and Accessories (“PG&A”) sales increased 24 percent to $219.1 million during the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period last year. ORV, motorcycles and snowmobile related PG&A experienced sales growth during the quarter. Sales of PG&A to customers outside of North America increased eight percent during the 2014 third quarter compared to the same period last year. Innovation remains a driving factor in delivering continued growth with over 300 new model year 2015 accessories added to the PG&A product line-up. Additionally, the accessory dollars sold per unit has increased compared to this time last year driven by customer focused solutions like the PRO-FIT storage systems for snowmobiles and additional Lock and Ride^® accessories for ORVs and motorcycles.

International sales totaled $151.6 million for the 2014 third quarter, a nine percent increase over the same period in 2013. The increase in third quarter sales resulted from strong sales growth in ORV and Motorcycles, offset somewhat by lower snowmobile shipments due to the poor snowfall last winter in the Scandinavian and Russian regions. Asia Pacific sales for the third quarter of 2014 were up 37 percent and Latin America sales increased 48 percent while Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) sales were about flat in spite of the weak Euro and lower snowmobiles sales. Both ORV and motorcycles gained retail market share outside of North America during the 2014 third quarter.

Gross profit increased 16 percent to $388.3 million compared to $334.8 million in the third quarter of 2013. As a percentage of sales, gross profit margin decreased 55 basis points to 29.8 percent of sales for the third quarter of 2014, compared to 30.4 percent of sales for the same period last year. The gross margin percentage declined during the quarter, as expected, due principally to pressures from negative currency movements, offset somewhat by the benefit of lower product costs and higher pricing.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2014 declined 95 basis points, as a percentage of sales, to 14.0 percent compared to 15.0 percent of sales in the 2013 third quarter. Operating expenses in dollars increased 11 percent to $182.7 million in the 2014 third quarter compared to $165.2 million for the third quarter of 2013. Operating expenses as a percent of sales for the 2014 third quarter declined due to lower long-term incentive compensation expenses partially offset by higher marketing and advertising expenses related to the launch of various new model year 2015 products and the continued roll-out of Indian Motorcycle.

Income from financial services increased 46 percent to $17.0 million during the third quarter of 2014 compared to $11.7 million in the third quarter of 2013, due to higher income from Polaris Acceptance’s dealer inventory financing as well as increased profitability of the retail credit portfolio.

Equity in loss of other affiliates was $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $0.6 million in the third quarter last year, which represents the Company’s portion of the start-up costs related to the Polaris/Eicher joint venture in India established in 2012.

Non-operating other expense (income), which primarily relates to foreign currency exchange rate movements and the corresponding effects on foreign currency transactions related to the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, was $0.3 million of expense in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $2.6 million of income in the third quarter of 2013.

The provision for income taxes for the third quarter of 2014 was $77.6 million or 35.5 percent of pretax income compared to $64.8 million or 35.7 percent of pretax income for the third quarter 2013. The income tax provision for the third quarter of 2014 was negatively impacted from the United States Congress not yet extending the research and development income tax credit for 2014, offset by net tax benefits related to finalizing the United States federal tax return for calendar year 2013.

The weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2014 decreased four percent to 68.3 million shares compared to 71.2 million shares in the third quarter of last year. The decrease in the weighted average diluted shares outstanding is primarily due to the Company’s purchase of 3.96 million shares of Polaris stock previously held by FHI Heavy Industries Ltd. (“Fuji”) in November 2013.

Loss from Discontinued Operations in the Third Quarter of 2013

In the third quarter of 2013 Polaris recorded a non-recurring loss from discontinued operations of $3.8 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted share resulting from a jury verdict in connection with a personal watercraft accident. Reported net income for the third quarter of 2013, including both continuing and discontinued operations, was $113.1 million, or $1.59 per diluted share. The Company ceased manufacturing marine products in September 2004 and substantially completed the exit of the business in 2007.

Financial Position and Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $380.4 million for the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2014, approximately flat with the net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2013 of $381.8 million. Higher net income for the 2014 year-to-date period was offset primarily by higher factory inventory to support the new manufacturing plant in Poland and increased demand for Polaris products, and timing of estimated income tax payments. Total debt, including capital lease obligations, at the end of the third quarter of 2014 was $228.0 million. The Company’s debt-to-total-capital ratio increased to 22 percent at September 30, 2014 compared to ten percent at September 30, 2013 due to the significant share repurchase transaction completed in November of 2013. Cash and cash equivalents were $169.0 million at September 30, 2014 compared to $387.8 million at September 30, 2013.

Conference Call and Webcast Presentation

Today at 8:00 AM central time Polaris Industries Inc. will host a conference call and webcast to discuss Polaris’ 2014 third quarter earnings results released this morning. The call will be hosted by Scott Wine, Chairman and CEO, Bennett Morgan, President and COO, and Mike Malone, Vice President―Finance and CFO. A slide presentation and link to the audio webcast will be posted on the Investor Relations page of the Polaris web site at www.polaris.com/irhome.

To listen to the conference call by phone, dial 877-706-7543 in the U.S. and Canada, or 973-200-3967 internationally. The Conference ID is # 24525990.

A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call for a one-week period by accessing the same link on our website, or by dialing 855-859-2056 in the U.S. and Canada, or 404-537-3406 internationally.

About Polaris

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2013 sales of $3.8 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER^® and RZR^® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.

Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory, Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small electric/hybrid powered vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris Engineered Parts, Accessories and Apparel, Klim branded apparel and ORV accessories under the Kolpin and Cycle Country brands.

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including management’s expectations regarding 2014 sales, shipments, net income, and net income per share are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as the Company’s ability to successfully implement its manufacturing operations realignment initiatives, product offerings, promotional activities and pricing strategies by competitors; acquisition integration costs; warranty expenses; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; environmental and product safety regulatory activity; effects of weather; commodity costs; uninsured product liability claims; uncertainty in the retail and wholesale credit markets; performance of affiliate partners; changes in tax policy and overall economic conditions, including inflation, consumer confidence and spending and relationships with dealers and suppliers. Investors are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any duty to any person to provide updates to its forward-looking statements.

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