Bloomington-based Donaldson Co. posted solid fiscal fourth-quarter earnings Monday that met analysts' expectations due to strong sales of gas turbines, factory filtration systems, and agriculture and construction equipment filters.
Net income for the quarter rose 8 percent to $70.98 million or 47 cents a share. Sales, which rose 5 percent to $656.8 million, were negatively affected by currency exchange translations.
Donaldson's shares jumped 6.4 percent in early morning trading Monday before closing at $35.77, up 2.5 percent or 87 cents.
Operating margins hit a record of 15.1 percent for the quarter as management continued cost controls and implementing new factory efficiencies.
For full fiscal 2012, Donaldson reported a 9 percent rise in sales to $2.5 billion and a 17 percent jump in earnings to $264 million or $1.73 cents a share.
For fiscal 2013, CEO Bill Cook said he expects continued pressure from the high U.S. dollar and moderating sales growth for truck, mining and construction engine filters due to the rocky economy in Europe and a slowing economy in China. He also anticipates a slowdown in military engine-products but an uptick in commercial aerospace sales. Combined, military and aerospace should produce flat sales.
Industrial and factory filtration sales are expected to grow 5 to 12 percent in the next fiscal year, provided U.S. manufacturing stays strong and demand for gas turbine power continues in the oil and gas markets.
Fiscal 2013 sales are now expected to grow 5 to 9 percent to land between $2.62 billion and $2.72 billion. Full year earnings are expected to land between $1.82 and $1.96 per share.
