Harley-Davidson Loss Narrows on Financial Unit Gain

Harley-Davidson Inc., the biggest U.S. motorcycle maker, said its fourth-quarter loss narrowed to $46.8 million as its financial-services unit earned a profit.

The net loss of 20 cents a share compares with a loss of $218.7 million, or 94 cents, a year earlier, Milwaukee-based Harley said today in a statement. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was for a net loss of 30 cents. The financial services unit had an operating income of $43.5 million compared with a loss of $7.1 million a year ago.