Hawkins, Inc. Reports Second Quarter, First Half Fiscal 2011 Results

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hawkins, Inc. (Nasdaq: HWKN) today announced second quarter and first half results for fiscal 2011. Sales of $70.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 represented an increase of 8.3% from $65.0 million in sales for the same period in the prior fiscal year. Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was $6.8 million, or $0.66 per share, fully diluted, compared to net income for the same period of fiscal 2010 of $6.7 million, or $0.65 per share, fully diluted.

For the six months ended September 30, 2010, Hawkins reported sales of $145.1 million, net income of $14.2 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.37 as compared to sales of $138.6 million, net income of $12.7 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.24 for the same period a year ago.

Chief Executive Officer, John R. Hawkins, commented, "We are very pleased with the sales performance from both of our segments.  While we recorded significant sales growth this quarter,  we experienced less profit per unit on these sales due to competitive pricing pressures within our Industrial group and the absorption of higher infrastructure costs within our Water Treatment segment due to investments in that group to support its growth.  In addition to the investments in the Water Treatment group, we continue to invest capital in the Industrial group to expand capacity, manufacturing capability and storage expansion projects to enhance customer service to our current customers and expand our product offerings to open up opportunities for new customers."

For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, Industrial segment sales increased $3.5 million, or 8.5%, to $44.9 million as compared to the same period in the prior year, with the increase primarily driven by increased sales of bulk chemicals. Water Treatment segment sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 were $25.5 million, an 8.1% increase over last year's second quarter sales of $23.6 million. The increase was primarily due to increased sales of manufactured and specialty chemical products.

Company-wide gross profit for quarter ended September 30, 2010 was $17.7 million, or 25.2% of sales, compared to $17.4 million, or 26.8% of sales, for the same period in fiscal 2010. Gross profit for the Industrial segment was $9.6 million, or 21.4% of sales, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $8.8 million, or 21.3% of sales, for the same period in fiscal 2010. The increase in gross profit dollars was attributable to increased sales, primarily of bulk chemicals, which was partially offset by decreases in profits due to competitive pricing pressure.   Gross profit for the Water Treatment segment was $8.2 million, or 32.2% of sales, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $8.6 million, or 36.4% of sales, for the same period in fiscal 2010. The decrease in gross profit dollars was primarily due to increased overhead costs from investments in new facilities and personnel within existing and new markets.  

Gross profit for the six months ended September 30, 2010 was $36.2 million, or 24.9% of sales, as compared to $33.3 million, or 24.0% of sales for the same period in the prior fiscal year.  Gross profit for the Industrial segment was $19.9 million, or 21.0% of sales, for the six months, compared to $17.3 million or 18.9% of sales in the same period a year ago.  The increase in gross profit dollars was primarily attributable to increased sales of bulk chemicals, partially offset by decreases in profits due to competitive pricing pressures.  Gross profit for the Water Treatment segment was $16.3 million, or 32.4% of sales, for the six months compared to $16.0 million, or 33.7% of sales, in the same period a year ago. The Water Treatment segment's gross profit increase was primarily driven by increased sales of manufactured and specialty chemical products, which was largely offset by increased overhead costs from investments in new facilities and personnel within existing and new markets to support growth in this segment.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $0.2 million, or 3.7%, for the quarter and $0.6 million, or 4.3% for the six months, as compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year. The increases were primarily a result of higher equity incentive plan costs.

Hawkins, Inc. distributes, blends and manufactures bulk and specialty chemicals for its customers in a wide variety of industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and with 20 facilities in 11 states, the Company creates value for its customers through superb customer service and support, quality products and personalized applications.

SOURCE Hawkins, Inc.