Harley-Davidson reports a 45 percent jump in first quarter profits

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Harley-Davidson reports a 45-percent jump in its first-quarter profits, due mainly to stronger U-S motorcycle sales. The Milwaukee-based company said its net income was 172-million dollars from January-through-March, up from 119-million in the same period a year ago. Earnings jumped from 51-cents a share to 74-cents – two-cents more than what outside analysts projected. As a result, Harley’s stock rose by three-percent in pre-market trading this morning. On Monday, Harley confirmed an industry report that its U-S motorcycle sales jumped by 25-and-a-half percent from the year before. Its worldwide sales rose by just over 20-percent for the quarter. Harley also said this morning it would ship five-thousand more bikes to its dealers than it originally projected, for a total of 245-thousand to a quarter million. Harley C-E-O Keith Wandell said his company is pleased with its first quarter numbers – and it’s more focused than ever on carrying out its business strategy and tapping new global opportunities.

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