Sun Hydraulics Reports First Quarter Earnings of $0.03 per Share on $25.2 Million in Sales

SARASOTA, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/04/09 -- Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) reported financial results for the first quarter 2009 as follows:

(Dollars in millions except net income per share)

                           March 28,  March 29,
                             2009       2008    Decrease

    Three Months Ended
Net Sales                 $    25.2  $    49.0      -49%
Net Income                $     0.6  $     7.7      -92%
Net Income per share:
   Basic                  $    0.03  $    0.46      -93%
   Diluted                $    0.03  $    0.46      -93%

"First quarter sales were what we expected and we were able to do a little better than we anticipated on the earnings side," reported Allen Carlson, Sun's CEO and President. "Cash flow remains positive, allowing us to continue taking actions that will improve our place in the market when demand rallies. This spring we also released new automated design software that has been in development for four years. This web-based software will stimulate increased cartridge sales around the world."

Continuing, Carlson offered, "It is my sense that we are getting close to, and may have, reached the bottom of this difficult economic cycle. There are some positive signals out there, most notably the Purchasing Manager's Index, which has now reported four consecutive months of upward movement. While the magnitude is small, upward is the right direction and this index has proven to be a reliable directional indicator of our business. Our strong financial foundation enables us to maintain our readiness, continue paying our dividend and prepare for the next expansion. This is a result of being diligent in managing our business throughout the business cycle."

Outlook

Sun's 2009 second quarter sales are expected to be approximately $21 million, a 60% decrease in revenue compared to last year, and earnings are expected to be slightly below breakeven.

"We have taken steps to mitigate the effects of declining demand including curtailing non-essential spending. Our priority remains to invest in capability, capacity, quality, productivity, product development and expanding the Sun brand globally. Any actions to balance production with demand will not compromise our long term objectives at the expense of quarterly results. We know from previous business cycles that our market share grows and earnings benefit by maintaining a steady course at the bottom of the cycle," concluded Carlson.

Webcast

Sun Hydraulics Corporation will broadcast its Q1 financial results conference call live over the Internet at 9:00 A.M. E.T. tomorrow, May 5, 2009. To listen to the webcast, go to http://investor.sunhydraulics.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=67790.

Webcast Q&A

If an individual wishes to ask questions directly during the webcast, the conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-852-6573. Questions also may be submitted to the Company via email at investor@sunhydraulics.com. Sun management will then answer these and other questions during the Company's webcast. A copy of this earnings release is posted on the Investor Relations page of our website under "Press Releases."

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.

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 March 28, 2009, 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 27, 2008. 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.

SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (in thousands except per share data)

                                                     Three months ended
                                                   March 28,    March 29,
                                                      2009         2008
                                                  (unaudited)  (unaudited)

Net sales                                         $    25,208  $    49,008

Cost of sales                                          19,629       31,914
                                                  -----------  -----------

Gross profit                                            5,579       17,094

Selling, engineering and administrative expenses        4,775        5,955
                                                  -----------  -----------

Operating income                                          804       11,139

Interest income, net                                     (110)        (113)
Foreign currency transaction (gain)/loss, net              (8)          36
Miscellaneous (income)/expense, net                       199         (249)
                                                  -----------  -----------

Income before income taxes                                723       11,465

Income tax provision                                      171        3,775
                                                  -----------  -----------

Net income                                        $       552  $     7,690
                                                  ===========  ===========

Basic net income per common share                 $      0.03  $      0.46

Weighted average basic shares outstanding              16,664       16,562

Diluted net income per common share               $      0.03  $      0.46

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding            16,694       16,596

Dividends declared per share                      $     0.180  $     0.090





SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

                                                   March 28,
                                                      2009     December 27,
                                                  (unaudited)      2008
Assets
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                       $    30,534  $    35,176
  Restricted cash                                         123          127
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
   doubtful accounts of $90 and $92                    11,109       12,502
  Inventories                                           8,646        9,960
  Income taxes receivable                               2,251        1,353
  Deferred income taxes                                   259          259
  Marketable securities                                 5,183            -
  Other current assets                                  1,175        1,290
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total current assets                             59,280       60,667

Property, plant and equipment, net                     56,859       57,726
Marketable securities                                   1,041            -
Other assets                                            3,899        3,992
                                                  -----------  -----------

Total assets                                      $   121,079  $   122,385
                                                  ===========  ===========

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                                $     3,217  $     3,258
  Accrued expenses and other liabilities                6,022        5,546
  Long-term debt due within one year                        -          147
  Dividends payable                                     3,000        1,499
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total current liabilities                        12,239       10,450

Long-term debt due after one year                           -          125
Deferred income taxes                                   4,863        4,871
Other noncurrent liabilities                              348          383
                                                  -----------  -----------

      Total liabilities                                17,450       15,829

Shareholders' equity:
  Common stock                                             17           17
  Capital in excess of par value                       38,364       38,042
  Retained earnings                                    67,647       70,099
  Accumulated other comprehensive income               (2,399)      (1,602)
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total shareholders' equity                      103,629      106,556
                                                  -----------  -----------

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity        $   121,079  $   122,385
                                                  ===========  ===========




SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

                                                     Three months ended
                                                   March 28,    March 29,
                                                      2009         2008
                                                  (unaudited)  (unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income                                        $       552  $     7,690
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization                           1,760        1,720
Loss on disposal of assets                                  -          104
Provision for deferred income taxes                        (8)           2
Allowance for doubtful accounts                            (2)          (7)
Stock-based compensation expense                          228          199
Stock options income tax benefit                            -          (15)
(Increase) decrease in:
   Accounts receivable                                  1,395       (7,754)
   Inventories                                          1,314         (584)
   Income taxes receivable                               (898)           -
   Other current assets                                   115          193
   Other assets                                            90          (84)
Increase (decrease) in:
   Accounts payable                                       (41)       1,407
   Accrued expenses and other liabilities                 476        1,725
   Income taxes payable                                     -        2,753
   Other noncurrent liabilities                           (35)          90
                                                  -----------  -----------
Net cash provided by operating activities               4,946        7,439

Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures                                   (1,236)      (2,400)
Proceeds from dispositions of equipment                     -           99
Purchase of marketable securities                      (6,230)           -
                                                  -----------  -----------
Net cash used in investing activities                  (7,466)      (2,301)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt                                        (261)         (51)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                     -           66
Proceeds from stock issued                                 94           77
Dividends to shareholders                              (1,503)      (1,485)
Stock options income tax benefit                            -           15
                                                  -----------  -----------
Net cash used in financing activities                  (1,670)      (1,378)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
 equivalents                                             (456)         286
                                                  -----------  -----------

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
 equivalents                                           (4,646)       4,046

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period         35,303       19,337
                                                  -----------  -----------

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period          $    30,657  $    23,383
                                                  ===========  ===========

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid:
   Interest                                       $         9  $        10
   Income taxes                                   $     1,077  $     1,035
Supplemental disclosure of noncash transactions:
   Common stock issued to ESOP through accrued
    expenses and other liabilities                $         -  $     1,498





                   United                  United
                   States   Korea  Germany Kingdom Elimination Consolidated
Three Months Ended
 March 28, 2009
Sales to
 unaffiliated
 customers         $15,621  $1,960 $ 4,167 $ 3,460 $        -  $     25,208
Intercompany sales   4,156       -      29     465     (4,650)            -
Operating income      (550)     86     713     454        101           804
Depreciation         1,370      26     124     233          -         1,753
Capital expenditures 1,131      22       4      79          -         1,236

Three Months Ended
 March 29, 2008
Sales to
 unaffiliated
 customers         $28,320  $6,354 $ 7,962 $ 6,372 $        -  $     49,008
Intercompany sales   9,126       -      78     590     (9,794)            -
Operating income     7,184     650   2,413   1,030       (138)       11,139
Depreciation         1,192      46     145     330          -         1,713
Capital expenditures 2,232      15      33     120          -         2,400

Contact:
Richard K. Arter
Investor Relations
941-362-1200

Tricia Fulton
Chief Financial Officer
941-362-1200