Parker Hannifin sales soar nearly 27 percent

Company also raises its outlook for year

Diversified industrial manufacturer Parker Hannifin Corp reported today that its net income tripled in the first quarter and it also achieved record profit margins. The Cleveland-based company also raised its full-year profit forecast.
The company said orders jumped in every segment. It expects fiscal-year earnings of $5.20 to $5.80 per share up from $3.60 to $4.40 per share.

With annual sales of $10 billion in fiscal year 2010, Parker Hannifin is a leading manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets.
The company employs approximately 55,000 people in 46 countries around the world.

Fiscal 2011 first quarter sales were $2.8 billion, an increase of 26.5 percent from $2.2 billion in the same quarter a year ago. Net income was $249.0 million compared with $74.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Earnings per diluted share for the quarter were $1.51, which is a quarterly record and compares with $0.45 in last year's first quarter

"Demand levels continued to improve across many markets as reflected in a significant increase in sales for the first quarter," said Chairman, CEO and President Don Washkewicz. "Sales improved in every segment, with total sales increasing 27 percent organically, while foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales by 1 percent. Order rates also increased in all segments.

"We are particularly pleased with our ability to leverage improved top line performance into record level operating margins and earnings. Our total segment operating margin performance was at an all-time record level of 15.5 percent, led by record Industrial North America segment margins of 17.8 percent and record Industrial International segment margins of 16.8 percent. We also continued to deliver strong operating cash flow, which gave us the flexibility to make a discretionary contribution to our pension plan."

In the Industrial North America segment, first-quarter sales increased 36.0 percent to $1.1 billion, and operating income was $189.4 million compared with $76.2 million in the same period a year ago.

In the Industrial International segment, first-quarter sales increased 28.5 percent to $1.1 billion, and operating income was $183.8 million compared with $61.8 million in the same period a year ago.
In the Aerospace segment, first-quarter sales increased 4.8 percent to $436.7 million, and operating income was $43.8 million compared with $53.1 million in the same period a year ago.

In the Climate and Industrial Controls segment, first-quarter sales increased 25.5 percent to $234.7 million, and operating income was $21.6 million compared with $10.5 million in the same period a year ago.

Orders increased 31 percent in the Industrial North America segment, compared with the same quarter a year ago.