When most folks see a financial report from one of the major manufacturers, they usually just gloss over it.
In the latest Fiscal 2014 Third Quarter Results report from Arctic Cat, one thing definitely jumped out at us. There were the usual sales figures for the company’s snowmobiles and ATV/side-by-sides but about half-way down the Business Wire story, there was this: “North American retail sales increased 15 percent from the prior-year quarter, with double digit retail sales gains in ATVs, Wildcat side-by-sides and snowmobiles. Year to date, these retail gains have allowed Arctic Cat’s ATV business to gain market share for the 2014 fiscal year.”
That is impressive indeed, but this is what really caught our attention: “Arctic Cat remains focused on further increasing its ATV/side-by-side business as a percent of total sales. The company anticipates that this business will be approximately 50 percent of total company sales for the fiscal 2014 full year. During fiscal year 2013, 45 percent of sales were in the ATV/side-by-side segment, up from 39 percent the previous year. The company continues to advance its growth strategy through new product introductions and international expansion.”
That is quite a statement for a company that built its business on sleds.
