Harley-Davidson Industries (HDI) Stock

Harley-Davidson Industries (HDI) stock has seen a real upsurge in its value recently, largely due to the popularity of its products not only in America but also worldwide. The Harley-Davidson insignia is a symbol for rebellion and free spiritedness worldwide, and the premium-quality motorcycles they manufacture are in high demand, with as much as a two year wait for certain models. In addition, Harley-Davidson manufactures police, fire, and rescue motorcycles, and engages in providing financial services for the purchase of its motorcycles in the US, Europe, and Canada, and brokeraging motorcycle insurance policies and warranties. HDI stock has been sold for about a quarter of a century, and has proven to be a popular commodity. Not only does it have a decent income-earnings potential, it also is very stable and has a certain panache when one talks about the stocks one owns. It’s one thing to own IBM stock, and quite another to own Harley-Davidson stock. However – and this is a big however – according to resources like the Motley Fool, HDI stock may not be the great investment it’s made out to be. They made their last quarter’s earnings by buying back a large portion of their own shares. And the recreational vehicle market they depend on may have leveled out on growth, which means no new Harleys being bought for a while. Though it looked like Harleys might be a popular purchase in Europe in the next few years, the surprise

strength of the US dollar against the Euro may have nixed that prediction. Besides this, you should look at that financial services arm. Harley-Davidson does a lot of its own financing, and with bankruptcies up, that may mean their profits will take a hit as people stop paying their bills. Besides which, who’s going to buy all those used repossessed bikes? If you’re considering purchasing Harley stock, take a very good look at their financial information first, and think carefully about where they say their sales are coming from. Unless, of course, you’re buying the cool printed share to frame and put up on your wall above your sports trophies and motorcycle helmet rack.