FUJIMO

Harley-Davidson Fights Back from Negative Analysis

WINDSUN: AMF SAVED HARLEY TRUE HISTORY
Harley-Davidson did not have to choose which company would be best to "take over". There were no other companies in the United States that wanted Harley-Davidson. AMF offered to take over to save the company..
Another lie, perpetuated by Willie G. Davidson, is that the quality of the bikes decreased while AMF owned the company. EXCUSE ME! Some of the best bikes, shovelheads, came out in the '70's. Willie G. should be grateful that AMF was willing to continue his employment through the 70's despite his egocentric attitude.
Oh, and just to clarify one thing also falsely stated. Harley-Davidsons have leaked oil from the first bikes onward. The worst oil-leakers were made from 1947 through 1969 (coincidentally, the same year AMF saved Harley-Davidson). I lived this era ,know first hand. 49 PAN.
AMF nearly bankrupted itself trying to keep Harley-Davidson alive. Willie G. tries to make it sound like his taking back the company was his doing and he "saved" the company from AMF. WRONG. AMF asked him to find a way to take back the company because they couldn't keep it going any longer. They were losing too much money, but they wanted to see the company continue. remember one thing ,the Davidson family sold the Co for failure on their part So don't blame others
This is a quote from a harley history buff. Not me SO WHEN WE BLOW THE HORN make sure we know the truth not the heart felt stuff.

Harley-Davidson Fights Back from Negative Analysis

Is true that Harley Davidson loaded up their dealers in the first QTR = units sold for a good showing on the bottom line, did they hope for the second QTR " strongest sales months " to bail them out for a good bottom line for the second QTR

Events have happened. Not only did sales slump since the fall of last year but a double punch of several dealers small and large closing their doors leaving Harley Davidson's financial arm " no pun intended" holding unsold floor plans worth millions of dollars. Roeder Harley-Davidson in Ohio closes

www.examiner.com/x-470...~y2009m5d20-Roeder-Har...

S&P 500: May's Biggest Movers

HOG: Insight on 2nd QTR

With 63% of the dealerships polled in the Baird survey reporting sales were worse than expected in April and early May and only 16% expecting sales to improve this year, many on the front lines of the motorcycle market are facing a rough road in 2009.

Dealers with the extra large, overpriced stores are starting to panic and do just the opposite of what they need to do to make it through this mess. They are dropping their prices to no-profit levels, just making things worse," one Harley dealership was quoted as saying in the Baird survey

TALF Funding Harley Purchases, High-Interest Credit Cards

Sad but true Harley be showing their colors again. Screw it lets ride, to hell with the man and the people that pay thier taxes so we may survive.

NYT Butchers HOG

Now we understand how Harley does it.


On Mar 26 03:51 PM HarleyBadBoy wrote:

> Say what you will, riding/owning a Harley is different from any other
> brand. As they say, how many people do you see walking around with
> Honda tattoos? People who own Harleys will keep them if humanly possible.
> And once the economy turns around, they'll continue to buy new ones.
> HD has made some significant improvements in their line over the
> past few years - 6-speed trans, bigger engine, ABS option, bigger
> fuel tank. Not that it's on the forefront, as other brands had these
> options before HD. But the loyalty of Harley riders is impressive,
> and the company does an excellent job of making money in new ways
> - sponsored rides and rallies, clothing, factory "customized" models.
> Their marketing people are among the best. I expect a short term
> stagnation due to no one having much disposable cash, but a long
> tern growth due to customer loyalty and an aggressive and effective
> marketing division.

NYT Butchers HOG

So well put . Thank you for expressing my sentiment.
Buying at the improper time is like twisting the throttle for some , they do it with their ego. "or with out thought "
Remember the Old Wall street saying " Bulls make money, Bears make money but PIGS never do.
The shorters that stayed to long got burned on the pit during the rally but the bull may be roast beef again. to many extremes makes me nervous.


On Mar 24 10:03 AM high yield bonds wrote:

> I think as a long you are doing virtually the same thing that you
> are accusing the Times of doing. Focusing on your perceived positives
> vs. the reality of the negatives. Hopes and wishes are not very prudent
> strategies for investing in stocks. Look at the facts, starting in
> Q4 not all of 2008. That is your reality today. Past performance
> is not guarantee of future results!

NYT Butchers HOG

Tell it like it is . Did i see you in tampa LOL. A real motorcyclist . True form and fashion.


On Mar 24 12:35 PM tallguy wrote:

> Honey, I know our stock portfolio has lost 60% this last two years,
> and I didn't expect to get laid off either, but I think now would
> be a great time to buy a new Harley, especially since I am only 10-15
> years from retirement, and we aren't that far behind on our mortgate
> yet........
>
> Disclosure Short and own a BMW, you know, the ones you see people
> actually riding.

Coca-Cola, J&J Remain Atop ‘Power Brands’ List; GM Biggest Loser

My big beef is that they kiss your behind to buy their product but once you sign the bottom line , game is off.


On Mar 20 05:40 PM Mister Jimmy wrote:

> Fujimo, I leased a 2004 Toyota Sienna that suffered a range of electro
> mechanical and electronic reliability failures while still new, so
> I can sympathize with you. So happy you didn't add how superior the
> Japanese products are.

Coca-Cola, J&J Remain Atop ‘Power Brands’ List; GM Biggest Loser

Having a Ford van and a Cadillac CTS in our stable I assume makes us American buyers, But! lets face it American auto makers deserve a thumbs up, for that is what they have been sitting on until they got Diarrhea.
Then it splattered every where and all they could say was that oh ! we were sick and could you "taxpayers make us feel better with some medication.
It was to obvious that they were headed the wrong direction for some time but gee how great the bonuses are and our blue collar children aren't crying, so lets not change a thing and the future will take care of itself.
The time has come for an ajustment this includes [ hog ] greed was spread far and wide now symapthy is in order with a little guilt .

BTW our new caddy was less than a week old and the windshield leaked so bad that it stained the head liner and the driver got soaked plus it took over three days with the car in service before they looked at it. Quality control called us from corporate wanting to know if we were pleased with our purchase. another story. Then came the issue with the rear differential having to be replaed. SO DON'T GIVE ME A GUILT TRIP!




On Mar 20 09:32 AM Thadeus Thornton III wrote:

> "Mister Jimmy":
>
> Isn't that the truth! Most , if not all, of the writers here like
> to bash GM constantly. Either they drive foreign brand cars or have
> stock in those brands. I know one writer here, initials "M. L.",
> who insists he has no axe to grind with GM, but "only prefers a "certain
> " German made car " for his tastes.
> It's interesting, GM and Buick in particular, has had cars in the
> top 10 of the J.D. Power ratings for at least the last 3 years. And
> it gets ignored or derided. Now GM has a Buick tied for #1, and these
> critics still want to bash or ignore. If the U.S economy continues
> to suffer and go under, it's elitist attitudes of people like this
> that are self defeating for this country and self fulfilling in their
> desire to see domestic auto companies fail.

Should You Follow Warren Buffett’s Latest Moves?

There enlies the misunderstanding of the Great Depression.
For those who have never lived in that time frame it is hard to understand the hardships of every day life.
The little emenitys that we take for granted would then have been a luxury. Every company would have to restructure and make conseccions.


On Feb 24 03:42 AM Dividend Growth Investor wrote:

> Jason,
>
> Most of JNJ and PG's products are things people use on a daily basis.
> Even a great depression shouldn't hit these companies too hard.
>
>
> City Desk,
>
> Buffett took a 3 billion francs in convertible preferred shares in
> Swiss Re that pay an annual interest rate of 12% and will be convertible
> into common stock after three years at a price of 25 francs a share,
> subject to anti-dilution adjustments.
> If the entire investment of 3 billion francs were converted into
> shares, Buffett could end up holding more than a fifth of Swiss Re
>

Harley Davidson's Yield No Longer Brings Home the Bacon

How can you say that Harley Davidson is a well run company.
The down turn in the economy disclosed [ EXPOSED ] the fact that hog was not in good standing with their loyals by over stretching their budgets.
Come on catch up with us here or do you walk to the Pide Piper HD.


On Feb 15 11:43 AM skifly05 wrote:

> Watch for Obama riding a Harley to Milwaukee. Mark my words, he will
> do anything/say anything to continue campaigning. Nothing to do with
> Harley, mind you. Harley is a well run company suffering from the
> same ills most others are. Until we deleverage and Barney Frank disappears,
> America will struggle along with Harley. Needs trump wants for the
> time being. Hopefully this will pass and we'll have some fun again.

Riding High on the HOG: Another Win/Win for Buffett

Buffett drives the golden nail in the preverbial coffin. More and more people everyday are starting to pay for their investment.



On Feb 10 03:06 AM Joseph Sherman wrote:

> Investors beware. CNBC notes that Warren Buffett poses on a motorcycle
> at the Burlington Hathaway annual meeting in May, 2008. Berkshire's
> Geico subsidiary was promoting its motorcycle insurance. Buffett
> understands how to cut costs and how to get funding. He does not
> understand investing in the brand. Harley-Davidson is not Geico Gecko.
> The Geico Gecko is cute everywhere, even in public. Kids like it
> and adults remember the green gecko. Harley is different. Most people
> buy a Harley and its accessories to experience the dream of the certified
> tough guy. This dream builds the brand. Buffet on a Harley destroys
> the brand and shareholder value.

Buffett Saddles Up His HOG: Stay Away

I agree on the effort put into the articles. Reality has set in on hogs performance.

The CFO's performance was put on the chopping block and the CEO goes unscathed. RETIREMENT BONUS TIME! Was that a scapegoat maneuver? The whole reality is that it all started five years ago and the CFO was only in his seat for two years.

Hogs buy-back program was a disaster to say the least as stated earlier by VRDrew

I will agree that it is one icon supporting another but it will be Buffett who is on the receiving end not HOG at 15% payback. The average investor will pay for this decision.

Hogs stock buy-back has come back to haunt. As I remember was it back in 2007, July when the stock spiked and top management sold many of their own shares? Could that have been a self induced spike?

If one believes that buy "only American" can save all is very misleading. World trade is here and at the best should be balanced out but not eliminated for a healthy economy.


On Feb 04 02:33 PM PROXIMO wrote:

> Author-----Both your articles on SA have been well researched and
> informative. Please keep posting.

Earnings Preview: Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson has applied to have Harley-Davidson Credit Corp. and Eaglemark Savings Bank declared eligible for TLGP (Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program).




On Jan 21 12:38 PM David White wrote:

> Even if retail sales are better than expected in Q4, that will likely
> be offset by the financial services problems. If GM's financial services
> are having problems, so are HOG's. HOG didn't get government help
> that I know of. Likely the finance arm is in extremely bad shape.
> I don't see an upside in the near term. As the automakers make more
> fuel efficient cars, I see significant downside to HOG, which is
> not known for fuel efficiency. Eventually that will be an "in" thing.
> In the shorter term, the sales outlook for HOG for 2009 has to be
> atrocious. If F and GM can go to the low single digits. HOG can go
> to the high single digits easily. It can't really be that far behind
> the automakers.

Raw Data Report: Harley Davidson, Nintendo, Macy's

let me just say that I'am sorry. Sorry that you could not put forth how many dealers that you surveyed, number of units in stock, past sales in the qtr, location, population and avg income per household in those areas plus other stats. This is usable data " information" for making decisions. Using your methods you would make politicians look honest.

Try looking at your own procedures and how your raw data is accumulated or cooked. Pecentages of what?

Information is critical in any business but it must be a lot more accurate than what you have presented to us. You have my apology! For reading your raw data twice.

On Jan 12 01:51 PM User 171852 wrote:

> Hi Fujimo and BlueOkie,
>
> Once again your welcome for our early and insightful call on HOG.
> Didn't Goldman just downgrade HOG to a Sell today (1/12)? Jeez two
> weeks ago you could have gotten an inkling things like this were
> going to happen if you would have accepted good field data from TickerMine.
>
> Maybe field/survey data is valuable for more than just print filler.
>
>
> Feel free to post a public apology here too since we've been extremely
> open and transparent in our work and opinions.