Originally published Monday, July 27, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
S&P downgrades ratings on Harley-Davidson
Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Monday cut its ratings on Harley-Davidson Inc., citing the decline in sales at the iconic motorcycle maker.
Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Monday cut its ratings on Harley-Davidson Inc., citing the decline in sales at the iconic motorcycle maker.
S&P cut Harley's corporate credit rating to BBB from BBB+. The rating remains investment grade.
S&P also affirmed the company's A-2 commercial paper rating.
"The downgrade is based on our concerns with deteriorating motorcycle demand," said S&P credit analyst Andy Liu.
Milwaukee-based Harley has been facing falling sales as pinched consumers cut back on purchases of its high-end, highly discretionary motorcycles. Earlier in July, the company said its second-quarter profit plummeted 91 percent, with U.S. retail sales falling 35 percent. Harley also announced another 1,000 job cuts.
"We believe that Harley-Davidson sales could be down as much as 30 percent in 2009," Liu said.
Shares of Harley rose 2 cents to close Monday at $21.76. The stock has traded from $7.99 to $48.05 in the last 52 weeks.
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 02:13 AM
EU nations' reality: Greece's woes are theirs, too
UPDATE - 02:51 AM
Greece leads markets higher amid EU rescue hopes
RealNetworks makes key play with Rhapsody spinoff
Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
Lots of Buzz over Google latest bid at social networking

nwautos
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Five reasons to stick with a job you hate -- for now
Post a comment
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
- Idol Confessions | "American Idol" hopeful from Seattle didn't make it to Hollywood afterall
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Nicole Brodeur | Chrisceda Clemmons' house wasn't the only casualty
- Brier Dudley's Blog | Google rolls its own Facebook & Twitter with Gmail "Buzz"
- Sex, drug rumors swirl about N.Y. Gov. Paterson
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit
278 - State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
250 - Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
249 - Lee undergoes foot surgery
231 - Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth
210 - Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water
193 - Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters
143 - Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
128 - Bus-tunnel attack while guards watched prompts review of Metro security
120 - White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium
92
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- How clean are those pre-washed salad greens?
- Answers to biggest Olympic TV questions
- Brier Dudley's Blog | Google rolls its own Facebook & Twitter with Gmail "Buzz"
- Jerry Brewer | Huskies softball pitcher Danielle Lawrie: A star on the field, not in her mind





