Parker Hannifin Corporation reported results for the fourth quarter and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. These results mark all-time records for Parker in annual sales, earnings and cash flow from operating activities.

For the 2008 fiscal year, the company surpassed $12 billion in sales for the first time in its 90 year history. Sales reached a record $12.1 billion, an increase of 13.3 percent from the previous year, including 4.8 percent organic growth. Net Income increased 14.4 percent to $949.5 million, compared to $830.0 million a year ago, and earnings per diluted share increased 18.2 percent to $5.53, compared to $4.68 a year ago. Excluding a non-operating charge of 8 cents per diluted share, as a result of establishing a contingency reserve with respect to previously disclosed litigation, fiscal 2008 earnings per diluted share were $5.61, representing a 19.9 percent increase compared to the prior year.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, sales increased 16.4 percent to $3.3 billion, compared to $2.9 billion in the same period last year, including 6.4 percent organic growth. Fourth quarter net income increased 16.3 percent to $252.6 million, compared to $217.2 million a year ago, and fourth quarter earnings per diluted share increased 19.5 percent to $1.47 from $1.23 a year ago. Excluding the non-operating charge of 8 cents per diluted share, fiscal 2008 fourth quarter earnings per diluted share were $1.55, an increase of 26.0 percent compared to the prior year period.

"We are pleased that we have completed another record year of financial performance thanks to the dedication of Parker employees around the world," said Chairman, CEO and President Don Washkewicz. "Perhaps even more gratifying, as a company focused on long-term performance, we have been able to deliver strong performance year in and year out. Despite challenging economic conditions, our continued focus on the core goals of the Win Strategy has enabled us to consistently produce record results for our shareholders.

"Once again this year we achieved sales growth that exceeded our 10 percent annual goal, and reported record sales of more than $12 billion. Of the 13 percent growth this fiscal year, 5 percent was organic, 3 percent was from strategic acquisitions, and the remainder was from the effects of foreign currency exchange rates. Our sales growth also demonstrates the significant progress we have made in international operations, which helps mitigate the effects of regional economic cycles. In our Industrial International segment, fiscal 2008 revenues grew by 28 percent and operating income grew by 48 percent. Significantly, Industrial International operating margins exceeded margins in our Industrial North America segment and completed the year as our most profitable operating segment. This is primarily a result of executing our Win Strategy European initiatives when operating margins in the Industrial International segment were in the single digits.

"We also generated record annual cash flow from operating activities at more than $1.3 billion, or 10.8 percent of sales, which gives us the flexibility to invest for growth while simultaneously maintaining a strong balance sheet. Acquisitions continued to play a role in our growth strategy, as we strengthened our portfolio by adding 10 companies in fiscal 2008 with nearly $546 million in annualized revenues. We also invested $584 million to repurchase 7.9 million Parker common shares and we increased our dividend 21 percent, paying out approximately $142 million to shareholders, and extending our dividend increase record to 52 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index."

Tags: Parker Hannifin