Parker Posts Record Quarterly Sales and Earnings

Net income increased 134 percent to $132.8 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared with last year's quarterly net income of $56.7 million, or 48 cents per diluted share, on $1.59 billion in sales. In the current quarter, earnings were reduced by seven cents per diluted share for an investment write-down and a one-time pension adjustment resulting from a plan restructuring.

The company generated $160 million in cash from operations during the quarter, or 8.2 percent of sales, compared with $144 million, or 9.1 percent of sales a year ago. "Our balance sheet remains strong and we will continue to invest in growth opportunities, including acquisitions that are expected to be accretive to earnings such as our recent announcement welcoming Sporlan Valve Company to the Parker family," said Parker CEO Don Washkewicz.

"Thanks to our employees executing our Win Strategy, Parker is winning on many fronts. Outside of North America, we achieved operating profitability exceeding 10 percent this quarter, and our acquisitions are doing very well," added Washkewicz. "We're rapidly improving our financial performance, while focusing on four areas of growth: (1) Growing our market share in Total Parker Systems; (2) Growing globally with our customers in emerging markets; (3) Adding strategic acquisitions that bring great technology to our motion and control portfolio; and (4) Cultivating innovation to accelerate internal growth."

Operating Results

Parker's North American Industrial units posted first-quarter sales of $832.3 million, up 25 percent from last year. Operating income in the current quarter was $119.8 million, for an operating margin of 14.4 percent, compared with 6.4 percent last year.

The International Industrial businesses achieved first-quarter operating income of $66.5 million and an operating margin of 12.1 percent, compared with 7.4 percent last year. Sales increased 30 percent to $549 million, with acquisitions and currency translation contributing more than half of the increase.

Parker Aerospace sales increased 16 percent over the prior year to $331.1 million. First-quarter operating income improved to $51.3 million, for a 15.5-percent operating margin, compared with 13.2 percent a year ago.

The Climate & Industrial Controls business posted first-quarter operating income of $15.8 million on sales of $165.5 million, for an operating margin of 9.6 percent, compared with 11.2 percent last year.

In the "Other" unit, comprised of Wynn Specialty Chemicals and Astron metal buildings, quarterly operating income was $10 million on $69.3 million in sales, for an operating margin of 14.4 percent, compared with 10.1 percent a year ago.

Outlook

"We're encouraged by continued strength in the global economy and improvements we've seen in most segments of our business, including industrial international and the up tick in aerospace aftermarket," said Washkewicz. "Our main concerns at this point in the recovery are inflationary pressures from oil and raw material shortages and the prospects for higher interest rates."

The company raised its second quarter and full-year earnings estimates for fiscal year 2005, indicating it expects to earn between $.85 and $1.05 per diluted share in the second quarter. Full-year earnings are estimated to be between $4.30 and $4.70 per diluted share.

With annual sales of more than $7 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs more than 48,000 people in 46 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 48 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit the company's web site.

Forward-looking statements contained in this and other written and oral reports are made based on known events and circumstances at the time of release, and as such, are subject in the future to unforeseen uncertainties and risks. All statements regarding future performance, earnings projections, events or developments are forward-looking statements. It is possible that the future performance and earnings projections of the company and individual segments may differ materially from current expectations, depending on economic conditions within both its industrial and aerospace markets, and the company's ability to achieve anticipated benefits associated with announced realignment activities, strategic initiatives to improve operating margins, and growth initiatives. A change in economic conditions in individual markets may have a particularly volatile effect on segment projections. Among the other factors which may affect future performance are: changes in business relationships with and purchases by or from major customers or suppliers, including delays or cancellations in shipments; uncertainties surrounding timing, successful completion or integration of acquisitions; threats associated with and efforts to combat terrorism; competitive market conditions and resulting effects on sales and pricing; increases in raw-material costs that cannot be recovered in product pricing; and global economic factors, including currency exchange rates, difficulties entering new markets and general economic conditions such as inflation and interest rates. The company makes these statements as of the date of this disclosure, and undertakes no obligation to update them.