PREVIEW Hit the Road, Zack: Millennials Discover RVs
November 25, 2017
Road Trip: Recreational-vehicle sales have been growing rapidly and have
already surpassed their mid-2000s peak. (.. )
“Everyone knew about retiring baby boomers, but this is the incremental
consumer that has been driving the market,” says BMO Capital Markets
analyst Gerrick Johnson, who notes a similar trend with boat sales.
Buying a $15,000 trailer and parking it at a campground all summer is a
lot cheaper than renting a lake house year after year, he notes.
Families are even bringing them to weekend soccer tournaments.
RV sales have been growing rapidly and have already surpassed their
mid-2000s peak. RV dealer Camping World Holdings
http://barrons.com/quote/stock/CWH could be the biggest beneficiary of
the trend. The company “not only sells the units, but also can capture
high-margin service revenue,” Johnson says. Young adults who are buying
their first RVs or trailers often finance their purchases and are more
likely to pay for servicing, rather than doing it themselves.
Shares of Thor Industries http://barrons.com/quote/THO, which makes
entry-level RVs and trailers, have risen 37% this year on strong sales
growth. Winnebago Industries http://barrons.com/quote/WGO, whose stock
is also up sharply, designs more-upscale products and is poised to
benefit as RV owners trade up. Johnson says that 70% of first-time
buyers opt for a second unit. (.. )
November 25, 2017
Road Trip: Recreational-vehicle sales have been growing rapidly and have
already surpassed their mid-2000s peak. (.. )
“Everyone knew about retiring baby boomers, but this is the incremental
consumer that has been driving the market,” says BMO Capital Markets
analyst Gerrick Johnson, who notes a similar trend with boat sales.
Buying a $15,000 trailer and parking it at a campground all summer is a
lot cheaper than renting a lake house year after year, he notes.
Families are even bringing them to weekend soccer tournaments.
RV sales have been growing rapidly and have already surpassed their
mid-2000s peak. RV dealer Camping World Holdings
http://barrons.com/quote/stock/CWH could be the biggest beneficiary of
the trend. The company “not only sells the units, but also can capture
high-margin service revenue,” Johnson says. Young adults who are buying
their first RVs or trailers often finance their purchases and are more
likely to pay for servicing, rather than doing it themselves.
Shares of Thor Industries http://barrons.com/quote/THO, which makes
entry-level RVs and trailers, have risen 37% this year on strong sales
growth. Winnebago Industries http://barrons.com/quote/WGO, whose stock
is also up sharply, designs more-upscale products and is poised to
benefit as RV owners trade up. Johnson says that 70% of first-time
buyers opt for a second unit. (.. )