EXHIBIT 99.1

Sun Hydraulics 2006 Sales Rise 22% to $142 million, Net Income up 27%,

Board Declares First Quarter Dividend of $0.10

SNHY Celebrates 10 years on NASDAQ

SARASOTA, FLA, March 6, 2007 – Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) reported financial results for the year and fourth quarter 2006 as follows:

 

(Dollars in millions except net income per share)            
     December 30,    December 31,       
     2006    2005    Increase  

Twelve Months Ended

        

Net Sales

   $ 142.3    $ 116.8    22 %

Net Income

   $ 16.2    $ 12.8    27 %

Net Income per share:

        

Basic

   $ 1.49    $ 1.18    26 %

Diluted

   $ 1.48    $ 1.17    26 %

Three Months Ended

        

Net Sales

   $ 35.0    $ 27.9    25 %

Net Income

   $ 3.8    $ 2.9    31 %

Net Income per share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.35    $ 0.26    35 %

Diluted

   $ 0.35    $ 0.26    35 %

“Fourth quarter orders and shipments finished very strong and our 2006 financial results were even better than we had expected,” said Allen Carlson, Sun’s President and CEO. “While North America continued to hold up, we saw robust demand in Europe and Asia/Pacific. The strong order trends have continued through January and February and we anticipate first quarter 2007 results will continue to outpace the industry. We expect continued double digit growth in Q1 2007. This is exceptional given the strength of last year’s first quarter.”

“The keys to our success have not changed,” Carlson continued. “Shipping reliability, new complementary and differentiated products, a focus on integrated packages, our strong geographic presence and our website continue to help Sun gain market share. In the product area, we are excited about the launch of additional electro-hydraulic products at the Hannover Fair in Germany in April. Having the right products at the right time has been, and continues to be, our focus,” Carlson stated.

“Sun is proud to celebrate 10 years as a public company. During that time we have continued to grow both the top and bottom lines, and have returned to shareholders over $29 million in dividends,” confirmed Carlson. “For long-term investors, the value of an investment in Sun in January, 1997, has grown more than 300%, compared to a return of over 200% on the S&P 500 over the same 10-year period,” Carlson concluded.

Taxes

Year-end tax provision adjustments included additional taxes due from the repatriation of approximately $5 million from our U.K. and German operations. “While our tax rate was slightly higher than expected, we were able to pay down all U.S. debt in the fourth quarter with the cash brought back from Europe,” stated Tricia Fulton, Sun’s CFO. The effect on earnings per share from the year-end tax provision adjustments, including repatriation and other items, was approximately $0.03.


Dividend

On March 3, 2007, Sun Hydraulics Board of Directors declared a $0.10 per share dividend on its common stock. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2007, to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2007.

Outlook

2007 first quarter sales are estimated to be $39 million, a 14% increase over last year. First quarter earnings per share are estimated to be between $0.42 and $0.45 per share, compared to $0.38 per share last year.

Open House and Webcast

Sun Hydraulics Corporation will broadcast its 2006 financial results conference call live over the Internet at 4:00 P.M. E.T. tomorrow, March 7, 2007. The conference call will be in conjunction with an Investor Open House to be held at the Company’s facility at 701 Tallevast Road, Sarasota, Florida, starting at 3:45 P.M. To listen to the webcast, go to http://investor.sunhydraulics.com/medialist.cfm. A copy of this earnings release is posted on the Investor Relations page of our website under “Press Releases”.

Webcast Q&A

Questions may be submitted to the Company via email after reviewing this earnings release, by going to the Sun Hydraulics website, www.sunhydraulics.com, and clicking on Investor Relations on the top menu. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on contact email: investor@sunhydraulics.com, which will open an email window to type in your message. Sun management will then answer these and other questions during the Company’s webcast. If an individual wishes to ask questions directly during the webcast, the conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-407-8033.

Sun Hydraulics Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds for worldwide industrial and mobile markets. For more information about Sun, please visit our website at www.sunhydraulics.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain oral statements made by management from time to time and certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including those in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, estimates or projections of the Company, its Directors or its Officers about the Company and the industry in which it operates, and assumptions made by management, and include among other items, (i) the Company’s strategies regarding growth, including its intention to develop new products; (ii) the Company’s financing plans; (iii) trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations; (iv) the Company’s ability to continue to control costs and to meet its liquidity and other financing needs; (v) the declaration and payment of dividends; and (vi) the Company’s ability to respond to changes in customer demand domestically and internationally, including as a result of standardization. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the anticipated results will occur.

 

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Important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other items, (i) the economic cyclicality of the capital goods industry in general and the hydraulic valve and manifold industry in particular, which directly affect customer orders, lead times and sales volume; (ii) conditions in the capital markets, including the interest rate environment and the availability of capital; (iii) changes in the competitive marketplace that could affect the Company’s revenue and/or cost bases, such as increased competition, lack of qualified engineering, marketing, management or other personnel, and increased labor and raw materials costs; (iv) changes in technology or customer requirements, such as standardization of the cavity into which screw-in cartridge valves must fit, which could render the Company’s products or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete; (v) new product introductions, product sales mix and the geographic mix of sales nationally and internationally; and (vi) changes relating to the Company’s international sales, including changes in regulatory requirements or tariffs, trade or currency restrictions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and tax and collection issues. Further information relating to factors that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated is included but not limited to information under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, and under the heading “Business” and particularly under the subheading, “Business Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(in thousands except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended  
    

December 30,

2006

   

December 31,

2005

 
    

Net sales

   $ 34,967     $ 27,938  

Cost of sales

     23,916       19,884  
                

Gross profit

     11,051       8,054  

Selling, engineering and administrative expenses

     4,814       4,352  
                

Operating income

     6,237       3,702  

Interest expense

     77       56  

Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss

     124       (63 )

Miscellaneous income

     (217 )     (124 )
                

Income before income taxes

     6,253       3,833  

Income tax provision

     2,440       945  
                

Net income

   $ 3,813     $ 2,888  
                

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.35     $ 0.26  

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     10,837       10,920  

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.35     $ 0.26  

Diluted weighted average share outstanding

     10,894       10,994  

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.100     $ 0.100  

 

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SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

    

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

    

(in thousands except per share data)

    
     Twelve Months Ended  
    

December 30,

2006

   

December 31,

2005

 
    

Net sales

   $ 142,282     $ 116,757  

Cost of sales

     98,350       79,839  
                

Gross profit

     43,932       36,918  

Selling, engineering and administrative expenses

     18,881       17,738  
                

Operating income

     25,051       19,180  

Interest expense

     312       441  

Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss

     187       (362 )

Miscellaneous income

     (351 )     (36 )
                

Income before income taxes

     24,903       19,137  

Income tax provision

     8,680       6,329  
                

Net income

   $ 16,223     $ 12,808  
                

Basic net income per share

   $ 1.49     $ 1.18  

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     10,878       10,827  

Diluted net income per share

   $ 1.48     $ 1.17  

Diluted weighted average share outstanding

     10,939       10,918  

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.400     $ 0.300  

 

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SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(in thousands)

 

    

December 30,

2006

  

December 31,

2005

 
     

Assets

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,379    $ 5,417  

Restricted cash

     118      413  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $140 and $110

     13,917      10,975  

Inventories

     10,386      7,870  

Income taxes receivable

     —        236  

Deferred income taxes

     219      782  

Other current assets

     986      864  
               

Total current assets

     35,005      26,557  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     50,355      45,181  

Other assets

     1,825      1,823  
               

Total assets

   $ 87,185    $ 73,561  
               

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

     

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 4,812    $ 4,822  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     4,059      3,857  

Long-term debt due within one year

     426      398  

Dividends payable

     1,085      1,089  

Income taxes payable

     608      —    
               

Total current liabilities

     10,990      10,166  

Long-term debt due after one year

     646      1,986  

Deferred income taxes

     4,451      4,688  

Other liabilities

     298      281  
               

Total liabilities

     16,385      17,121  

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Common stock

     11      11  

Capital in excess of par value

     30,962      32,466  

Unearned compensation related to outstanding restricted stock

     —        (741 )

Retained earnings

     35,284      23,406  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     4,543      1,647  

Treasury stock

     —        (349 )
               

Total shareholders’ equity

     70,800      56,440  
               

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 87,185    $ 73,561  
               

 

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SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

(in thousands)

 

     Twelve Months Ended  
    

December 30,

2006

   

December 31,

2005

 
    

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 16,223     $ 12,808  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     5,849       5,604  

Loss on disposal of assets

     12       22  

Stock-based compensation expense

     573       365  

Stock options income tax benefit

     (381 )     —    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     30       (60 )

Provision for slow moving inventory

     157       (96 )

Provision for deferred income taxes

     326       (688 )

(Increase) decrease in:

    

Accounts receivable

     (2,972 )     (2,304 )

Inventories

     (2,673 )     (669 )

Income taxes receivable

     236       (236 )

Other current assets

     (122 )     (88 )

Other assets, net

     (29 )     39  

Increase (decrease) in:

    

Accounts payable

     (10 )     2,286  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     1,385       306  

Income taxes payable

     989       (261 )

Other liabilities

     15       (19 )
                

Net cash from operating activities

     19,608       17,009  

Cash flows used in investing activities:

    

Investment in WhiteOak

     —         (400 )

Capital expenditures

     (9,525 )     (8,813 )

Proceeds from dispositions of equipment

     28       5  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (9,497 )     (9,208 )

Cash flows used in financing activities:

    

Proceeds from debt

     7,000       11,599  

Repayment of debt

     (8,312 )     (21,469 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     162       2,487  

Stock options income tax benefit

     381       —    

Proceeds from stock issued

     238       157  

Payments for purchase of treasury stock

     (2,951 )     (1,588 )

Dividends to shareholders

     (4,347 )     (2,701 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (7,829 )     (11,515 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     1,385       (218 )
                

Net (decrease) increase in restricted cash

     (295 )     (49 )

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     3,962       (3,883 )
                

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     5,830       9,762  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 9,497     $ 5,830  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid:

    

Interest

   $ 312     $ 441  

Income taxes

   $ 7,510     $ 8,451  

 

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United

States

  

Korea

  

Germany

  

United

Kingdom

  

Elimination

   

Consolidated

                

Three Months

                

Ended December 30, 2006

                

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 21,972    $ 4,121    $ 4,484    $ 4,390    $ —       $ 34,967

Intercompany sales

     6,359      —        18      728      (7,105 )     —  

Operating income

     4,520      521      817      436      (57 )     6,237

Depreciation and amortization

     1,044      38      142      252      —         1,476

Capital expenditures

     1,822      76      33      400      —         2,331

Three Months

                

Ended December 31, 2005

                

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 18,177    $ 2,695    $ 3,186    $ 3,880    $ —       $ 27,938

Intercompany sales

     4,626      —        21      804      (5,451 )     —  

Operating income

     2,587      345      440      337      (7 )     3,702

Depreciation and amortization

     1,010      37      132      246      —         1,425

Capital expenditures

     2,442      15      37      112      —         2,606

Twelve Months

                

Ended December 30, 2006

                

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 89,077    $ 16,368    $ 19,128    $ 17,709    $ —       $ 142,282

Intercompany sales

     25,809      —        106      2,990      (28,905 )     —  

Operating income

     16,608      2,212      4,046      2,330      (145 )     25,051

Depreciation and amortization

     4,206      150      510      983      —         5,849

Capital expenditures

     8,408      122      238      757      —         9,525

Twelve Months

                

Ended December 31, 2005

                

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 73,998    $ 11,604    $ 15,101    $ 16,054    $ —       $ 116,757

Intercompany sales

     21,239      —        80      2,873      (24,192 )     —  

Operating income

     13,443      1,520      3,145      1,260      (188 )     19,180

Depreciation and amortization

     3,944      149      473      1,025      —         5,591

Capital expenditures

     7,007      29      843      934      —         8,813

 

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