CASH CUSHIONS

Many of the state's top manufacturers are flush with cash, particularly compared with their situation heading into the recession in 2008.

CompanyThenNowChange

Alliant Tech$20$4061,915.0%

Polaris$22$2621,097.0%

Select Comfort$7$58747.5%

Donaldson $53$263394.0%

Toro$32$107233.0%

Valspar$78$12054.0%

Fastenal$76$8917.0%

Pentair$75$69-8.0%

Ecolab$222$163-26.5%

Dollars in millions, for quarter ending between April and June in 2008 and 2011