Form 8-K, Second Quarter 2007 Earnings

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 25, 2007


  Graco Inc.  
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 


Minnesota   001-9249   41-0285640

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission
File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)


88-11th Avenue Northeast
Minneapolis, Minnesota
  55413

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 623-6000



  Not Applicable  
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule-425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02.     Results of Operations and Financial Condition

        On July 25, 2007, Graco Inc. issued a press release to report the Company’s results of operations and financial condition for the quarter ended June 29, 2007. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits  
 
  99.1 Press Release dated July 25, 2007.

Signature

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



       
    GRACO INC.






Date: July 26, 2007 By: /s/Karen P. Gallivan
     
Karen P. Gallivan
    Its: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Exhibit 99.1, Earnings Release

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Mark W. Sheahan (612) 623-6656

GRACO REPORTS RECORD SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
SALES INCREASE 6 PERCENT
EARNINGS PER SHARE UP 10 PERCENT
RECORD OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN
NET PROFIT MARGIN TOPS 19 PERCENT

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (July 25, 2007) — Graco Inc. (NYSE: GGG) today announced its results for the quarter ended June 29, 2007. Sales increased 6 percent and net earnings increased 7 percent. Diluted net earnings per share were 66 cents versus 60 cents last year, a 10 percent increase.

Second Quarter Highlights

   • Sales for the quarter were $231 million, a 6 percent increase from last year. The impact of the Lubriquip acquisition and foreign currency translations added 4 percentage points of sales growth.

   • Sales in Europe and Asia were up 29 percent and 8 percent, respectively, which more than offset a 2 percent decline in sales in the Americas.

   • Second quarter operating profit margin was a record 29.3 percent.

   • Second quarter net profit margin was 19.1 percent.

   • Share repurchases totaled approximately 1.4 million in the second quarter for $57 million.

“We are pleased to report record sales and net earnings this quarter,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick J. McHale. “Our second quarter sales in the Americas improved from the first quarter and our international business remained strong. These gains, along with modest spending increases and share repurchases, led to higher net earnings and earnings per share.”

Consolidated Results

Sales of $231.4 million in the second quarter were 6 percent higher than the prior year. In the Americas, second quarter sales decreased 2 percent to $141.5 million. Increases in the Lubrication and Industrial segments nearly offset the decline in Contractor Equipment sales this quarter. In Europe, net sales of $58.7 million were 29 percent higher than last year. Translated at consistent exchange rates, net sales in Europe increased 22 percent. Growth occurred in all segments and across the European region this quarter. In the Asia Pacific region, net sales of $31.2 million were 8 percent higher than the second quarter of 2006. Exchange rates were similar to last year’s second quarter and had no meaningful impact on Asia Pacific sales this quarter. All segments reported higher sales in the Asia Pacific region this quarter.

Graco’s gross profit margin, expressed as a percentage of sales, was 52.8 percent for the quarter versus 53.5 percent for the same period last year. The favorable impact of foreign exchange rate changes and pricing were not enough to offset lower margins on Lubriquip products, consolidation costs, and higher material costs.

Graco’s operating profit margin, expressed as a percentage of sales, was 29.3 percent for the second quarter and was the highest quarterly operating profit margin in company history. Product development and general and administrative spending were at the same levels as a year ago, and the higher selling, marketing and distribution spending was in line with the sales increase.

Included in cost of goods sold and operating expenses were approximately $0.6 million of costs and expenses related to the Lubriquip integration.

Graco’s effective tax rate for the second quarter was 34 percent, which was 1 percentage point lower than last year’s rate for the second quarter. The lower tax rate was the result of recognizing benefits from foreign entities.

Year-to-date, Graco repurchased approximately 2 million shares of its common stock for approximately $81 million. Approximately 3 million shares remain under its share repurchase authorization, which expires on February 29, 2008.

Segment Results

In the second quarter of 2007, sales in the Industrial segment were $114.3 million, up 9 percent versus the same period last year. Translated at consistent exchange rates sales increased 7 percent. Sales in the Americas were up 1 percent and sales in Europe and Asia were up 28 and 5 percent, respectively. Similar to the first quarter of 2007, sales outside of the Americas were higher in most product categories this quarter. Second quarter operating profit margin in Industrial was 34.6 percent versus 31.1 percent last year, reflecting the impact of higher sales and improved profitability from acquired products.

When compared to the second quarter of 2006, worldwide Contractor Equipment segment sales of $94.2 million decreased by 2 percent. The business continued to experience declines in the Americas where sales were 10 percent lower than last year’s record results. Most of the decline was the result of lower sales to the home center channel as the paint store side of the business was only slightly lower than last year. In Europe, sales were up 29 percent as robust growth continued throughout most of the region this quarter. In Asia Pacific, sales were 16 percent higher than last year, led by gains in developing markets. Operating profit margin of 30.4 percent in the second quarter was essentially the same as last year.

Second quarter sales for the Lubrication Equipment segment were $22.9 million, up 30 percent from last year due to the Lubriquip acquisition. Operating profit margin for the quarter was 9.6 percent versus 25.4 percent last year. The decline is mainly due to lower margins on Lubriquip products and consolidation and integration of lubrication operations as planned.

Outlook

McHale concluded, “As we move ahead we remain optimistic about continued strength in our international businesses this year and are cautious in our outlook for sales in the Americas. In Industrial, we experienced an improvement in our Americas business this quarter but, given the short cycle nature of our business, we are not ready to draw conclusions about the remanider of the year. We are pleased that strong sales increases in both Europe and Asia are contributing significantly to the overall performance of the Industrial segment. Our Contractor Equipment business remains soft in the Americas and we believe that difficult conditions will persist for at least the rest of this year.

The Americas is our largest market for Contractor products, but our strategy to expand distribution and increase our global reach in Europe and Asia Pacific is helping to offset much of the weakness this year. We continued to make good progress with acquisition integration activities this quarter, and are on track to complete the Lubriquip integration by the end of this year. While there are planned costs associated with these activities we expect to substantially improve the contribution of these products.We will continue to manage the business for higher sales and earnings while making long-term investments in our key growth strategies including new product development, expanding distribution, entering new markets and pursuing strategic acquisitions.”

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

A forward-looking statement is any statement made in this earnings release and other reports that the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in press releases, analyst briefings, conference calls and the Company’s Annual Report to shareholders, which reflects the Company’s current thinking on market trends and the Company’s future financial performance at the time they are made. All forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of new information or future events.

The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 by making cautionary statements concerning any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. The Company cannot give any assurance that the results forecasted in any forward-looking statement will actually be achieved. Future results could differ materially from those expressed, due to the impact of changes in various factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: economic conditions in the United States and other major world economies, currency fluctuations, political instability, changes in laws and regulations, and changes in product demand. Please refer to Item 1A of, and Exhibit 99 to, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2006 (and most recent Form 10-Q, if applicable) for a more comprehensive discussion of these and other risk factors. These reports are available on the Company’s website at www.graco.com and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

Conference Call

A conference call for analysts and institutional investors will be held Thursday, July 26, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss Graco’s second quarter results. Graco management will host the call.

A real-time, listen-only Webcast of the conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Individuals wanting to listen can access the call at the Company’s website at www.graco.com. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the live conference call to install any necessary audio software.

For those unable to listen to the live event, a replay will be available soon after the conference call at Graco’s website, or by telephone beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on July 26, 2007, by dialing 800.405.2236, Conference ID# 11093038, if calling within the U.S. or Canada. The dial-in number for international participants is 303.590.3000, with the same passcode. The replay by telephone will be available through July 29, 2007.

Graco Inc. supplies technology and expertise for the management of fluids in both industrial and commercial applications. It designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid materials. A recognized leader in its specialties, Minneapolis-based Graco serves customers around the world in the manufacturing, processing, construction and maintenance industries. For additional information about Graco Inc., please visit us at www.graco.com.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings
 
  Second Quarter (13 weeks) Ended        Six Months (26 weeks) Ended     
(In thousands, except per share amounts) June 29, 2007   June 30, 2006   June 29, 2007   June 30, 2006  
Net Sales    $ 231,384   $ 218,632   $ 428,879   $ 410,848  
   Cost of products sold    109,152    101,686    201,785    190,675  








Gross Profit     122,232    116,946    227,094    220,173  
   Product development    7,544    7,538    15,816    14,750  
   Selling, marketing and distribution    31,917    30,524    61,180    58,466  
   General and administrative    15,057    15,056    30,297    28,477  








Operating Earnings     67,714    63,828    119,801    118,480  
   Interest expense    642    189    900    314  
   Other expense (income), net    92    4    (14 )  9  








Earnings before Income Taxes     66,980    63,635    118,915    118,157  
   Income taxes    22,800    22,300    41,000    41,400  








Net Earnings    $ 44,180   $ 41,335   $ 77,915   $ 76,757  








Net Earnings per Common Share   
   Basic   $ 0.67   $ 0.61   $ 1.17   $ 1.12  
   Diluted   $ 0.66   $ 0.60   $ 1.16   $ 1.11  








Weighted Average Number of Shares   
   Basic    66,045    68,121    66,356    68,275  
   Diluted    67,070    69,320    67,392    69,434  








All figures are subject to audit and adjustment at the end of the fiscal year.
 
 
Segment Information
 
  Second Quarter (13 weeks) Ended        Six Months (26 weeks) Ended     
(In thousands) June 29, 2007   June 30, 2006   June 29, 2007   June 30, 2006  
Net Sales             
   
   Industrial   $114,281   $ 104,555   $219,346   $ 204,715  
   Contractor    94,231     96,507    163,982     170,859  
   Lubrication      22,872     17,570     45,551     35,274  
   Consolidated   
$

231,384
 
$

218,632
 
$

428,879
 
$

410,848
 








Operating Earnings           
   
   Industrial   $39,555   $ 32,479   $73,973   $ 64,562  
   Contractor    28,619     29,521    45,646     50,563  
   Lubrication      2,196     4,466    5,260     9,221  
   Unallocated Corporate     (2,656 )   (2,638 )  (5,078 )   (5,886 )
   Consolidated   
$

67,714
 
$

63,828
 
$

119,801
 
$

118,480
 








All figures are subject to audit and adjustment at the end of the fiscal year.

The Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow and Management’s Discussion and Analysis are available in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on our website at www.graco.com.

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