{"id":437555,"date":"2020-12-29T04:39:26","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T09:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/?p=437555"},"modified":"2020-12-01T22:02:52","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T03:02:52","slug":"is-winnebago-stock-a-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/investing\/is-winnebago-stock-a-buy","title":{"rendered":"Is Winnebago Stock A Buy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><em>Is Winnebago Stock A Buy?<\/em> It\u2019s a huge, magnificent world out there, and adventurers have a choice: fly over it or travel through it, taking in sights and experiences along the way. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Winnebago caters to explorers who prefer the open road and the great outdoors &#8211; and there are a lot of them. <strong>An estimated one million people in the United States choose to live in RVs full-time<\/strong>, and nationwide, more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewanderingrv.com\/rv-industry-statistics-trends-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nine million households own and use an RV<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">At last count, <strong>40 million Americans travel by RV on a regular basis<\/strong> &#8211; perhaps because pets are welcome on these sorts of road trips. <\/span><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Roughly 50 percent of RV journeys include dogs, cats, and other critters. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">It is common for RV enthusiasts to spend up to four weeks living in these vehicles, often at one of the nation\u2019s 16,000-plus parking facilities and campgrounds with RV-friendly facilities.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>More Women Are Choosing RVs Than Ever Before<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">While an RV adventure sounds like it could be lonely, there is a massive community that travelers can tap into no matter where they go. Winnebago offers scheduled events, a network of guides, and an online forum to support RV-ers in making connections while on the road. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">For a large number of RV owners, it\u2019s more than a vacation &#8211; it\u2019s a lifestyle. This is apparent in the millions and millions of social media posts that include hashtag <em>#vanlife<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">For years, recreational vehicles &#8211; and Winnebago in particular &#8211; have catered to their primary demographic: men between the age of 38 and 55. However, that\u2019s starting to change, and the industry is catching up. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><strong>Women are choosing RV exploration more frequently, both on their own and with female companions<\/strong>. Millennials are also choosing RV travel over other options. Today, this group makes up <strong>38 percent<\/strong> of all RV owners in the US.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Certainly, COVID-19 has had an impact on all sorts of travel, and RV travel has gone through its own downturn. However, most analysts expect the RV industry to recover more quickly than airlines, cruise lines, and hospitality for the simple reason that RVs are self-contained. Social distancing is part of the experience, with or without a pandemic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">With that said, investors interested in adding this type of&nbsp;company to their portfolios want to know, is Winnebago stock a buy?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Winnebago Has An Extensive RV Product Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Since 1958, <a href=\"https:\/\/winnebago.gcs-web.com\/investor-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Winnebago<\/a> has built some of the most popular recreational vehicles in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Product lines include Winnebago Motor Homes, Winnebago Towables, Winnebago Specialty Vehicles, Grand Design Towables, Chris-Craft Marine, and Newmar MotorHomes. This wide selection ranges from temporary living quarters that can be towed by pickup trucks to self-contained motorized vehicles that all but replace traditional houses.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/widget\/charts\/WGO\" width=\"720\" height=\"400\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Most Winnebago products are intended for outdoor enthusiasts, but the Specialty Vehicle division serves another purpose. This group works on mobile health clinics, mobile law enforcement command centers, and mobile office spaces. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Unlike mobile homes, which can technically be moved though the cost to do so is quite high, <strong>RVs are easy to relocate. This makes them ideal for emergencies in which a rapid response is required.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">In one recent example, Winnebago partnered with community organizations to deploy six mobile opioid centers to rural Colorado towns. The vehicles are specially designed to bring care and treatment to underserved populations at high risk of experiencing the negative effects of substance misuse.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Winnebago\u2019s main market might be traditional outdoor enthusiasts, but the company is always focused on enhancing its product line to meet the needs of niche populations. One of the company\u2019s values is this:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/winnebago.com\/about-us\/who-we-are\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>We understand and care deeply about their unmet needs. Our drive to elevate their ownership experience is pervasive in every area of our business.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">To that end, <strong>Winnebago recently released an updated line of accessible RVs that include features like platform wheelchair lifts, larger bathrooms, wider hallways, and wheelchair tie-downs.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">In short, Winnebago doesn\u2019t settle for simply&nbsp;building on its long tradition of standard recreational vehicles. The company consistently innovates and designs new ways to get all sorts of people outdoors.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Is Winnebago Stock A Buy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><strong>The truth is that investors and analysts were worried about Winnebago in the spring. COVID-19 decimated sales, and revenues were down significantly.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Some wondered whether the company would recover quickly, as most consumers put large discretionary purchases on the back burner given the uncertainty of the market.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/widget\/stock-score\/WGO\" width=\"720\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">However, Winnebago was optimistic going into the summer months &#8211; historically its most lucrative sales period. As it happens, that optimism was well-placed, and <strong>when Winnebago ended its fiscal year 2020 on August 29th, both the quarterly and the full-year results were solid.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><strong>Revenues for the quarter came in at <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iowa-earnings-ef29f8187058aa9483605b6a9518b9fc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$737.8 million<\/a>, which represents an increase of 39.1 percent year-over-year<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Pent-up demand from the previous quarter proved helpful in turning financial results around. Winnebago reported gross profit of $122.5 million &#8211; a substantial increase over the previous year\u2019s $83.2 million.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><strong>Net income totaled $42.5 million &#8211; a gain of 33.2 percent year-over-year &#8211; and diluted earnings per share reached $1.25.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Adjusted earnings per diluted share were reported at $1.45 for the quarter, which is an increase of 45 percent as compared to the same period in 2019. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">All in all, both investors and analysts were pleased with the company\u2019s progress &#8211; and its clear resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Based on this turnaround and the company\u2019s signals that further growth may come over the next year, most agree that Winnebago stock is a buy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Risks Of Buying Winnebago Stock<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Winnebago has been a stable, steadily growing stock for years, and despite COVID-related challenges, the consensus is that the company will continue to be successful for the foreseeable future. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">At the moment, <strong>the biggest risk facing shareholders is a temporary drop in stock prices due to the on-going pandemic-related economic volatility.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/widget\/fundamentals\/WGO\" width=\"720\" height=\"400\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Fiscal fourth quarter 2020 came in strong, making up for the previous quarter\u2019s decline. <strong>Consumers have made it clear they are far more comfortable with self-contained road trips and camping trips than they are with traditional travel. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Of course, another market crash is likely to disrupt the RV industry, as RVs are costly and not strictly essential. If the current economic recovery slows or reverses, sales may go back down.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Again, though, such a decline is expected to be temporary, as RVs are more popular than ever. This was a clear trend pre-pandemic, and it is likely to be even more pronounced in a post-COVID world.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Can Winnebago Competitors Win?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">There are dozens of RV manufacturers operating in the United States, and many of them are in direct competition with Winnebago. The three biggest competitors include Forest River, <strong>Thor Industries (<a href=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/search\/charts\/THO\">THO<\/a>)<\/strong>, and REV Group.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Forest River is owned by the <strong>Berkshire Hathaway (<a href=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/search\/fundamentals\/BRK.B\">BRK.B<\/a>)<\/strong> holding company, and it boasts more than 100 manufacturing plants. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><strong>In terms of production capacity, Forest River is far and away the largest RV company, though it is in second place in terms of revenue<\/strong>. Some of Forest River\u2019s subsidiaries include Coachmen RV, Dynamax luxury motorhomes, Palomino travel trailers, and Shasta RVs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/widget\/stock-score\/BRK.B\" width=\"720\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\"><strong>Thor Industries (<a href=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/search\/valuation\/THO\">THO<\/a>) is widely considered the largest RV company in the world, both by revenue ($7.25 billion in 2019) and by market share<\/strong>. It controls more than a third of the entire RV industry, including subsidiaries Airstream, Dutchmen, Keystone, and Jayco.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">REV Group was launched in 2010 as a merger of four companies: Collins Industries, Halcore Group, E-One, and Fleetwood Enterprises. The combined organization has had far more success than its individual companies did, thanks to shared resources and economies of scale.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/financhill.com\/widget\/fundamentals\/THO\" width=\"720\" height=\"400\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">While each of these three companies competes with Winnebago, there isn\u2019t much concern that they will push Winnebago out of the market. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Among other things, <strong>Winnebago can\u2019t keep up with demand for its vehicles, so it is already working at maximum capacity. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">The company could easily justify adding manufacturing capacity and still leave potential revenue on the table. In other words, demand is so high &#8211; and expected to move higher &#8211; that there is more than enough to go around. Winnebago\u2019s reputation and brand recognition has it well-positioned to take full advantage of the expected RV boom.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">Is Winnebago Stock A Buy? The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: transparent; color: #000000;\">The bottom line is that Winnebago stock is a buy, though new investors should consider it a medium or long-term addition to their portfolios. Short-term, there may be some gains, but a sudden, temporary drop in share prices is certainly&nbsp;possible&nbsp;given the complexities presented by COVID-19.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is Winnebago Stock A Buy? It\u2019s a huge, magnificent world out there, and adventurers have a choice: fly over it or travel through it, taking in sights and experiences along the way. Winnebago caters to explorers who prefer the open road and the great outdoors &#8211; and there are a lot of them. An estimated [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":437556,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-437555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-investing"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/is-winnebago-stock-a-buy.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9czeV-1PPl","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=437555"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":437570,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437555\/revisions\/437570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/437556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=437555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=437555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financhill.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=437555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}