Company figures show weaknesses
With a market capitalization of just over US$1 billion (around €919 million) and a share price close to the 50-day average of US$3.89 (approx. €3.58), the situation appears stable at first glance. The long-term 200-day average of US$3.04 (approx. €2.79) continues to be exceeded. However, these figures conceal a much more critical development: particularly striking is the frequency with which members of top management are selling shares.
CEO and directors sell large shares
According to the financial portal MarketBeat, CEO Karim Donnez sold 54,661 shares in mid-June at an average price of $5.50 (approx. €5.05) per share. This generated proceeds of over $300,000 (approx. €276,000) and reduced his stake in the company by more than five percent. He now holds less than one million shares. A few days earlier, director John L. Garcia also sold over 56,000 shares at a price of $6.47 (approx. €5.94) per share, reducing his holdings by around two percent. In total, nearly 277,000 shares were sold by insiders in the last three months – a total value of just under $2 million (approx. €1.84 million).
Annual report shows significant loss
The first quarter of 2024 brought significant losses for LiveWire. The current annual report shows a net margin of -367 percent. For every dollar of revenue generated, more than three dollars were lost. Return on equity was -70 percent. Quarterly revenue amounted to only $2.74 million (approx. €2.52 million). In view of these figures, the company’s profitability remains questionable. The price-earnings ratio (P/E) is also clearly in negative territory at -11.78, indicating a tense earnings situation. The beta value of 1.71 also points to high volatility and thus an increased risk for investors.
Products and market environment: light and shadow
The current S2 Del Mar, Mullholland, and Alpinista models have received mostly positive reviews in the trade press, particularly with regard to design and performance. Nevertheless, the market for electric motorcycles remains challenging overall: high purchase prices, a patchy charging network, and a hesitant buyer base continue to slow growth.
Strategic direction remains unclear
Harley-Davidson spun off LiveWire as a separate brand to create more room for innovation. The new S2 platform formed the foundation for several independent models. The S2 Del Mar in particular is considered one of the most promising electric motorcycles of recent years. Nevertheless, it remains questionable whether the strategic realignment will be sufficient to overcome the ongoing losses and current uncertainty – especially in light of the recent sale of shares by management.
Outlook: Will the next few quarters decide the future?
Whether LiveWire will reach a phase of maturity and be able to hold its own in the market in the long term remains uncertain. The coming quarters will be decisive: a noticeable increase in sales or relevant technological advances could turn the tide. Until then, the outlook for the company remains cautious and wait-and-see.
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