Met-Pro Corporation Announces First Quarter Financial Results

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa., June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raymond J. De Hont, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Met-Pro Corporation (NYSE: MPR), today announced the Company's financial results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2011.

Net sales for the first quarter ended April 30, 2011 were $23.4 million, the highest first quarter net sales in the Company's history, and up 5% from $22.3 million for the same quarter last year. Net income totaled $1.4 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.10 for the first quarter compared with net income of $1.4 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.10 for the same period last year.

New order bookings for the first quarter were up 15% to $25.5 million compared with $22.2 million for the first quarter last year. As a result, the Company's backlog of orders as of April 30, 2011 totaled $20.1 million compared with $17.3 million last year, an increase of 16%. Substantially all of the April 30, 2011 backlog is expected to be shipped during the current fiscal year.

"We are pleased to have sustained our recent trend of year-over-year quarterly revenue growth, with the best revenue first quarter in the Company's history," stated De Hont. "Gross margins in the quarter were 34.4%, continuing to track toward the high end of our historical range, although somewhat off from the comparable year ago quarter primarily due to product mix, higher commodity costs, and some temporary softness in our Product Recovery/Pollution Control Technologies segment resulting from the lagging effect of delays in the timing of customer orders for several large projects. To offset the rising commodity costs, we have taken certain measures including product price increases and improved purchasing practices. New order bookings during the first quarter included several large orders for our Product Recovery/Pollution Control Technologies segment, which together with steady quotation activity are encouraging signs of an impending rebound in our large project business.  

"During the first quarter, we continued to invest in our growth initiatives, adding a Business Development Manager in China and accelerating the incorporation of our new South American subsidiary. Both of these investments should improve our competitive profile throughout these rapidly industrializing markets, creating strong demand for a broad range of Met-Pro products. Cash was $29.4 million at the end of the quarter, down somewhat from recent levels mainly due to the Company electing to contribute $2.9 million to our salary and hourly pension plans. We expect that this contribution will improve the funded status of the pension plans and, along with the accrual of future benefits being frozen, improve our risk profile. The momentum in new order bookings, in combination with our steady quotation activity, gives us continued optimism about our future prospects."

On March 17, 2011, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.066 per share to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2011. In addition, the Board of Directors, at their meeting on March 30, 2011, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.066 per share payable June 15, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2011. This is the thirty-sixth consecutive year that Met-Pro Corporation has paid either a cash or stock dividend.

Mr. De Hont and Gary J. Morgan, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will hold a conference call for investors today, June 2, 2011, at 11:00 AM (Eastern). Met-Pro's earnings release and the accompanying financial supplement, which includes significant financial information to be discussed during the conference call, will be available on Met-Pro's Investor Relations website at www.met-pro.com/html/invrel.htm prior to the beginning of the conference call.

Interested persons who wish to hear the live webcast should go to the Met-Pro Corporation website prior to the starting time to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

You may also participate by calling the US/Canada Dial-In # 877-818-7738 or the International Dial-In # 706-643-9333 (conference ID 65875614) at 10:55 AM (Eastern) today. A taped replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and until June 16, 2011. To access the taped replay, call the US/Canada Dial-In # 800-642-1687 or the International Dial-In # 706-645-9291 and enter conference ID 65875614.

About Met-Pro

Met-Pro Corporation, with headquarters at 160 Cassell Road, Harleysville, Pennsylvania, is a leading niche-oriented global provider of product recovery, pollution control and fluid handling solutions. The Company's diverse and synergistic solutions and products address the world's growing need to meet more stringent emission regulations, reduce energy consumption and employ green technology. Through its global sales organization, internationally recognized brands, and operations in the United States, Canada, Europe and The People's Republic of China, Met-Pro's solutions, products and systems are sold to a well-diversified cross-section of customers and markets around the world. For more information, please visit www.met-pro.com.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this news release, and other materials filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as well as information included in oral or other written statements made or to be made by the Company), contain statements that are forward-looking. Such statements may relate to plans for future expansion, business development activities, capital spending, financing, the effects of regulation and competition, or anticipated sales or earnings results. Such information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to, the cancellation or delay of purchase orders and shipments, product development activities, goodwill impairment, computer systems implementation, dependence on existing management, the continuation of effective cost and quality control measures, retention of customers, global economic and market conditions, and changes in federal or state laws.

Met-Pro common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, symbol MPR.

To obtain an Annual Report or additional information on the Company, please call 215-723-6751 and ask for the Investor Relations Department, or visit the Company's website at www.met-pro.com.

SOURCE Met-Pro Corporation