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Harley-Davidson Announces First Quarter 2006 Results

Worldwide Retail Sales of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Increase 6.9 Percent

MILWAUKEE, April 12 -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 26, 2006. Revenue for the quarter was $1.29 billion compared with $1.24 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 4.0 percent increase. Net income for the quarter was $234.6 million compared to $227.2 million, an increase of 3.2 percent over the first quarter of 2005. First quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.86, an 11.7 percent increase compared with last year's $0.77.

"Harley-Davidson is off to an excellent start for 2006, having achieved record revenue and earnings," said Jim Ziemer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Harley-Davidson, Inc. "In addition, our dealers continued their retail sales growth momentum from the second half of 2005 as motorcycle sales increased by approximately 7 percent worldwide in the first quarter. With the increased seasonality in our business, we are pleased with this retail sales performance," said Ziemer.

Harley-Davidson's second quarter shipment plan is 78,000 2006 model year motorcycles. Production in the second quarter will also include approximately 13,000 2007 models to prepare for the new model introduction in mid July; however, these 2007 motorcycles will not be shipped until the third quarter.

The Company's wholesale shipment target for the calendar year 2006 remains between 348,000 and 352,000 Harley-Davidson(R) motorcycles. "We believe that the prospects for retail growth remain strong and support a wholesale unit growth rate in the range of 5 to 9 percent annually and an annual EPS growth rate of 11 to 17 percent," said Ziemer.

Motorcycles and Related Products Segment -- First Quarter Results

Revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $1.01 billion, an increase of $29.6 million, or 3.0 percent over the same period last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles totaled 79,506 units, an increase of 2,790 units, or 3.6 percent over last year's first quarter.

Revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $182.9 million, an increase of $6.0 million, or 3.4 percent over the year-ago quarter. Revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes(TM) apparel and collectibles, totaled $68.6 million, an increase of $9.1 million, or 15.3 percent.

For the long term, the Company expects the growth rate for P&A revenue to be slightly higher than Harley-Davidson's motorcycle shipment growth rate, and the General Merchandise growth rate is expected to be lower than the motorcycle shipment growth rate.

Gross margin for the first quarter of 2006 was 38.4 percent of revenue, up from 37.6 percent for the same period in 2005. Operating margin increased from 24.2 percent in the first quarter of 2005 to 24.3 percent in the first quarter of 2006.

Motorcycle Retail Sales Data

Worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles increased 6.9 percent for the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. In the U.S., retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles increased 5.8 percent for the quarter. The heavyweight motorcycle market in the U.S. increased 6.8 for the same period.

Retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 11.6 percent in international markets during the first quarter of 2006 compared with the first quarter of 2005. First quarter retail sales were up 16.3 percent in Japan and 6.6 percent in Europe.

  Data is listed in the accompanying tables.

  Financial Services Segment

Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS) reported first quarter operating income of $51.6 million, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 3.6 percent, compared to the year-ago quarter. This decrease was primarily due to a lower year-over-year gain on the current securitization.

The first quarter securitization of $730 million in motorcycle retail loans resulted in a gain of $8.6 million, compared to the first quarter 2005 gain of $19.2 million. The 1.2 percent gain as a percentage of loans sold is consistent with management's prior guidance for the first quarter of 2006 of 1.0 to 1.4 percent.

For the long term, the Company expects the HDFS operating income growth rate to be slightly higher than the growth rate of Harley-Davidson motorcycle shipments.

Income Tax Rate

The Company's first quarter effective income tax rate was 36.0 percent compared to 35.5 percent in the same quarter last year. This increase was due to the expiration of the federal research and development tax credit as of December 31, 2005. The Company expects its annual effective tax rate in 2006 to be 35.5 percent assuming the retroactive reinstatement of this tax credit.

Cash Flow

Cash and marketable securities totaled $1.11 billion as of March 26, 2006, an increase of $65.7 million during the first quarter. Cash flow from operations was $365.2 million and capital expenditures were $36.0 million during the first quarter.

Stock Repurchase

The Company repurchased 2.1 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $107.1 million during the first quarter of 2006. These shares were repurchased under an authorization from the Company's Board of Directors to buy back 20 million shares. A total of 17.9 million shares remain under this authorization.

Company Background

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles. Harley- Davidson Financial Services provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and their retail customers.

                          Harley-Davidson, Inc.
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                               (Unaudited)
                 (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                    Three months ended
                                                March 26,         March 27,
                                                  2006              2005

  Net revenue                                 $1,285,090        $1,235,464
  Gross profit                                   493,214           464,283
  Operating expenses                             180,902           165,426
    Operating income from motorcycles &
     related products                            312,312           298,857

  Financial services income                       95,901            88,812
  Financial services expense                      44,270            35,253
  Operating income from financial services        51,631            53,559

  Corporate expenses                               4,757             7,274
  Total operating income                         359,186           345,142
  Interest income and other, net                   7,317             7,129
  Income before provision for income taxes       366,503           352,271
  Provision for income taxes                     131,940           125,056
  Net income                                    $234,563          $227,215

  Earnings per common share:
    Basic                                          $0.86             $0.78
    Diluted                                        $0.86             $0.77

  Weighted-average common shares:
    Basic                                        272,966           293,148
    Diluted                                      273,623           294,161

  Cash dividends per common share                  $0.18            $0.125

                          Harley-Davidson, Inc.
                  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                              (In thousands)

                                       (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)
                                         March 26,  December 31,   March 27,
                                           2006        2005          2005
  ASSETS
  Current Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents            $196,464    $140,975      $200,379
    Marketable securities                 915,434     905,197     1,184,148
    Accounts receivable, net              148,561     122,087       146,199
    Finance receivables held for sale     131,389     299,373       222,802
    Finance receivables held for
     investment, net                    1,546,417   1,342,393     1,386,665
    Inventories                           256,788     221,418       246,875
    Other current assets                  103,953     113,794        93,216
  Total current assets                  3,299,006   3,145,237     3,480,284

  Finance receivables held for
   investment, net                        625,664     600,831       531,250
  Other long-term assets                1,475,177   1,509,141     1,294,239
                                       $5,399,847  $5,255,209    $5,305,773

  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable & accrued expenses  $841,676    $668,139      $801,525
    Current portion of finance debt        93,610     204,973       264,360
  Total current liabilities               935,286     873,112     1,065,885

  Finance debt                          1,000,000   1,000,000       800,000
  Postretirement healthcare benefits       64,573      60,975        51,297
  Other long-term liabilities             235,400     237,517       117,754

  Total shareholders' equity            3,164,588   3,083,605     3,270,837
                                       $5,399,847  $5,255,209    $5,305,773

                          Harley-Davidson, Inc.
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In thousands)

                                                  Three months ended
                                                 March 26,   March 27,
                                                   2006        2005
  Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income                                   $234,563    $227,215
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to
     net cash provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation                                 54,232      53,325
      Provision for long-term employee benefits    24,482      12,112
      Provision for share-based payments            5,289       7,020
      Gain on current year securitizations         (8,647)    (19,201)
      Net change in wholesale finance
       receivables                               (201,948)   (191,108)
      Origination of retail finance
       receivables held for sale                 (604,924)   (527,040)
      Collections on retail finance
       receivables held for sale                   25,749      30,754
      Proceeds from securitization
       of retail finance receivables              723,234     721,974
      Contributions to pension and
       postretirement plans                        (2,726)   (109,000)
      Other, net                                    1,553      (2,787)
      Net changes in current assets
       and current liabilities                    114,344      74,098
    Total adjustments                             130,638      50,147
  Net cash provided by operating activities       365,201     277,362

  Cash flows from investing activities:
    Capital expenditures                          (36,017)    (39,025)
    Finance receivables held for
     investment, net                              (19,837)    (76,850)
    Collection of retained
     securitization interests                       6,960      26,330
    Net change in marketable securities            (9,626)    149,845
    Other, net                                      4,373      (2,365)
  Net cash (used) provided by
   investing activities                           (54,147)     57,935

  Cash flows from financing activities:
    Net decrease in finance-credit
     facilities and commercial paper             (105,707)   (222,642)
    Dividends paid                                (48,955)    (36,541)
    Purchase of common stock for treasury        (107,065)   (175,796)
    Excess tax benefits from
     share-based payments                           1,098       5,699
    Issuance of common stock under
     employee stock option plans                    5,064      19,203
  Net cash (used) by financing activities        (255,565)   (410,077)

  Net increase (decrease) in cash and
   cash equivalents                                55,489     (74,780)

  Cash and cash equivalents:
    At beginning of period                        140,975     275,159
    At end of period                             $196,464    $200,379

                        Net Revenue and Motorcycle
                              Shipment Data
                               (unaudited)
                            Three Months Ended
                                                 March 26,    March 27,
                                                   2006         2005
  NET REVENUE (in thousands)
  Harley-Davidson(R) motorcycles                $1,008,542    $978,951
  Buell(R) motorcycles                              24,056      20,049
  Parts & Accessories                              182,949     176,904
  General Merchandise                               68,551      59,463
  Other                                                992          97
                                                $1,285,090  $1,235,464

  HARLEY-DAVIDSON UNITS
  Motorcycle shipments:
    United States                                   60,270      60,878
    Export                                          19,236      15,838
  Total                                             79,506      76,716

  Motorcycle product mix:
    Touring                                         27,537      25,071
    Custom                                          35,794      34,286
    Sportster(R)                                    16,175      17,359
  Total                                             79,506      76,716

  BUELL UNITS
  Motorcycle shipments:
    Buell                                            3,037       2,469

               Retail Sales of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
                            Year to Date March
                                                     2006        2005

  United States                                     56,805      53,707
  Europe*                                            6,910       6,485
  Japan                                              2,482       2,134
  Canada                                             1,796       1,934
  All other markets                                  3,497       2,601

  Total Harley-Davidson Retail Sales                71,490      66,861

  Data Source (subject to update)

Data source for all 2005 and 2006 retail sales figures shown above is sales warranty and registration information provided by Harley-Davidson dealers and compiled by the Company. The Company must rely on information that its dealers supply concerning retail sales, and this information is subject to revision.

* Data for Europe include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom

Only Harley-Davidson(R) motorcycles are included in the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Sales data.

                Heavyweight (651+ cc) Market Industry Data
                       Data Through Month Indicated

                                                         2006        2005

  United States (March)                                109,137     102,177
  Europe* (February)                                    33,278      31,820

  Data Source (subject to update)
  United States: Motorcycle Industry Council
  Europe: Giral S.A.

* Data for Europe include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom