I don't see what all the hype is about. These companies (Thor, Winnebago, Forest River, etc.) are all dealing with complex financial strategies that likely confuse most of us. Heck, I own a fairly prolific business and even I struggle to understand the maneuvering that takes place at companies like this.
Keep in mind that this is nothing more than a blip on the map for financial readings. A one quarter or one year period isn't how any prudent investor judges the long term viability of any particular market.
There are new tax laws that went into place last year and this year. The strategies for behemoth corporations like this have to change in order to guarantee maximum profit for the stakeholders. The quote about Thor having an 80% drop in pre-tax profits (actually an oxymoron because corporations judge true profit as what's left over after taxes) may seem monumental to most people, but that might actually meant that they stand to make the same or more profit at year end due to tax strategies.
All I'm saying here is...nothing to see, move along.
