Graco Profit Rises

(RTTNews) - Graco Inc (GGG) on Monday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $49 million or $0.80 per share compared with $44.7 million or $0.71 per share last year.

Revenues for the quarter were $306 million compared with $272 million in the prior year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $0.84 per share on revenues of $299.9 million for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

The company said sales increased in all reportable segments and regions.

"As we enter 2015, we expect demand levels to continue to be supportive of growth in every reportable segment and geography, although currency fluctuations and ongoing geopolitical instability remain a concern...At current exchange rates, unfavorable movement in foreign currencies would be a headwind of approximately 4 percent on sales and 10 percent on earnings in 2015," said Patrick McHale, the company's chief executive officer.

Graco makes equipment to pump, meter, mix, and dispense various fluids and coatings.