I guess more financial mags are zeroing in on Harley-Davidson’s plans to introduce an electric motorcycle. You saw our post a week or so ago about The Motley Fool and their thoughts on the Livewire. Barron’s, another financial newspaper/advisory service, similarly reported on Harley’s woes but with a twist. This most recent Barron’s article strongly recommended that either Harley move into manufacturing pickup trucks, or allow itself to be acquired by Ford. Yeah, that’s right. Ford. The car company.
Ford has already produced F-150 pickups with Harley trim packages (seriously, I can’t make up stuff this good) and they are reintroducing a $100K Harley-themed truck for 2019…
Barron’s reasons that Harley’s brand recognition could help Ford (a company who’s stock price has been tanking for years). The Barron’s article actually recommends Harley as a buy (the stock, not the motorcycle), with a target price of $50 per share if such an acquisition occur (i.e., Ford buying Harley). Seeing as Harley stock (symbol HOG) is currently about $35 per share, Barron’s reasons that could be a wise investment if Ford acquires Harley (which I don’t think will ever happen).
I’m watching all of this in stunned silence. Well, nearly stunned silence, except for the tapping of my laptop’s keyboard as I whip out this blog. $35,000 electric motorcycles. Harley-badged $100,000+ Ford pickup trucks, which presumably will sell to folks whose judgement, common sense, and sobriety has to be questioned. Financial advisors recommending buying Harley stock because if Ford (a company with terrible stock performance) buys Harley (another company with terrible stock performance), the Harley stock price will go up (while Harley’s business has been tanking in a dive so steep they may not be able to pull out of it). Got it. Right.
My take on all of this? It’s hard to take it all in, let alone understand most of it. Your thoughts? Let’s hear them!
Never miss an ExNotes blog…just sign up for our automatic email notifications. We’ll never give your email to anyone else, and you’ll automatically be entered in our quarterly adventure moto book giveaway drawing!
It will happen so that a select few will reap in gazillions via the stock deal, the the Harley-bubble from it will burst like housing did a while back and both firms will be left out to dry. Bwahahaha…
Fred, I couldn’t agree with you more. Could you imagine the number of suicides if Harley was ever bought by a Chinese or Indian company.
Harley Davidson is not the same as it was 20 yrs ago !!! Dam Millinunals jaja
I had a 92 Softail and I thought it was a pretty good bike. For a T-shirt company, they made a good motorcycle.
EVO 80 cid great motor