Sun Hydraulics Sees Continued Growth Heading Into 2014, Announces Shared Distribution

SARASOTA, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 03/03/14 -- Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year-end 2013 and the Board of Directors announced a $5.7 million shared distribution and $0.09 per share quarterly dividend.


(in millions except net income per
 share)
                                      December 28,   December 29,
                                          2013           2012      Increase
                                     -------------  -------------  --------
         Twelve Months Ended
Net sales                            $       205.3  $       204.4        --%
Net income                           $        38.0  $        37.4         2%
Net income per share:
  Basic                              $        1.45  $        1.44         1%
  Diluted                            $        1.45  $        1.44         1%
         Three Months Ended
Net sales                            $        49.1  $        43.2        13%
Net income                           $         8.3  $         6.7        25%
Net income per share:
  Basic                              $        0.32  $        0.26        23%
  Diluted                            $        0.32  $        0.26        23%

"Sales were strong in the fourth quarter with growth in all geographic markets," said Allen Carlson, Sun Hydraulics' president and CEO. "Operationally, we maintained healthy margins throughout the year. Our performance led the Board, for the fourth consecutive year, to declare a shared distribution."

"In 2013, we experienced a strong second half," Carlson added. "That momentum gives a good start heading into 2014, with robust business conditions in all geographic markets. Also encouraging, economic indicators are positive. The U.S. PMI, released this morning, bounced back from its reading in January. This bodes well for our business and the capital goods industry in 2014."

"This week, Sun is exhibiting at the International Fluid Power Exposition in Las Vegas," Carlson continued. "We are introducing several new products at the show. These new products expand our addressable markets, make us more competitive, and enhance our integrated package capabilities. Sun remains focused on product development and delivering high quality products to the marketplace to drive growth."

Shared Distribution

The 2013 shared distribution totals approximately $5.7 million. It consists of a contribution to employees equal to 10% of wages, most of which will be paid into retirement plans in the form of Sun Hydraulics stock, and a $0.09 per share cash dividend to be paid to all shareholders. The shared distribution dividend is payable on March 31, 2014, to shareholders of record as of March 15, 2014.

First Quarter Dividend

Sun's Board also announced a $0.09 per share quarterly cash dividend on its common stock. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2014, to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2014.

Outlook

First quarter 2014 revenues are expected to be approximately $55 million, up approximately 8% from the first quarter of 2013. Earnings per share are estimated to be $0.41 to $0.43 compared to $0.37 in the same period a year ago.

Webcast

Sun Hydraulics Corporation will broadcast its 2013 fourth quarter and year-end financial results conference call live over the Internet at 9:00 A.M. E.T. tomorrow, March 4, 2014. To listen to the webcast, go to the Investor Relations section of www.sunhydraulics.com.

Webcast Q&A

If an individual wishes to ask questions directly during the webcast, the conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-359-3624 and using 2015316 as the access code. Questions also may be submitted to the Company via email 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. 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 September 28, 2013, 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 28, 2013. 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
                                                December 28,   December 29,
                                                    2013           2012
                                               -------------  -------------
Net sales                                      $      49,050  $      43,237
Cost of sales                                         29,608         27,249
                                               -------------  -------------
Gross profit                                          19,442         15,988
Selling, engineering and administrative
 expenses                                              7,039          6,502
                                               -------------  -------------
Operating income                                      12,403          9,486
Interest (income) expense, net                          (258)          (328)
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss, net             41            (41)
Miscellaneous (income) expense, net                      (87)           199
                                               -------------  -------------
Income before income taxes                            12,707          9,656
Income tax provision                                   4,364          2,963
                                               -------------  -------------
Net income                                     $       8,343  $       6,693
                                               =============  =============
Basic net income per common share              $        0.32  $        0.26
Weighted average basic shares outstanding             26,336         26,068
Diluted net income per common share            $        0.32  $        0.26
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding           26,336         26,078
Dividends declared per share                   $       0.090  $       1.090



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

                                                    For the year ended
                                                December 28,   December 29,
                                                    2013           2012
                                               -------------  -------------
Net sales                                      $     205,267  $     204,367
Cost of sales                                        122,306        123,795
                                               -------------  -------------
Gross profit                                          82,961         80,572
Selling, engineering and administrative
 expenses                                             26,790         26,163
                                               -------------  -------------
Operating income                                      56,171         54,409
Interest (income) expense, net                          (967)        (1,368)
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss, net            (27)          (116)
Miscellaneous (income) expense, net                       (7)            40
                                               -------------  -------------
Income before income taxes                            57,172         55,853
Income tax provision                                  19,188         18,455
                                               -------------  -------------
Net income                                     $      37,984  $      37,398
                                               =============  =============
Basic net income per common share              $        1.45  $        1.44
Weighted average basic shares outstanding             26,206         25,944
Diluted net income per common share            $        1.45  $        1.44
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding           26,206         25,971
Dividends declared per share                   $       0.450  $       1.480



SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

                                        December 28, 2013  December 29, 2012
                                        -----------------  -----------------
Assets
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents             $          54,912  $          34,478
  Restricted cash                                     334                329
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance
   for doubtful accounts of $117 and
   $124                                            16,984             13,754
  Inventories                                      13,853             12,559
  Income taxes receivable                             954                728
  Deferred income taxes                               474                248
  Short-term investments                           38,729             37,700
  Other current assets                              2,816              2,649
                                        -----------------  -----------------
  Total current assets                            129,056            102,445
Property, plant and equipment, net                 75,731             64,672
Goodwill                                            5,221              4,472
Other assets                                        3,470              3,532
                                        -----------------  -----------------
  Total assets                          $         213,478  $         175,121
                                        =================  =================
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                      $           4,630  $           4,606
  Accrued expenses and other
   liabilities                                      7,016              7,641
  Income taxes payable                                 --                 --
  Dividends payable                                 2,372                 --
                                        -----------------  -----------------
  Total current liabilities                        14,018             12,247
Deferred income taxes                               7,747              7,230
Other noncurrent liabilities                          285                371
                                        -----------------  -----------------
  Total liabilities                                22,050             19,848
Commitments and contingencies                          --                 --
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, 2,000,000 shares
   authorized, par value $0.001, no
   shares outstanding                                  --                 --
  Common stock, 40,000,000 shares
   authorized, par value $0.001,
   26,352,692 and 26,094,580 shares
   outstanding                                         26                 26
  Capital in excess of par value                   65,391             57,402
  Retained earnings                               123,420             97,242
  Accumulated other comprehensive
   income (loss)                                    2,591                603
                                        -----------------  -----------------
  Total shareholders' equity                      191,428            155,273
                                        -----------------  -----------------
  Total liabilities and shareholders'
   equity                               $         213,478  $         175,121
                                        =================  =================



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

                                                    Twelve months ended
                                                December 28,   December 29,
                                                    2013           2012
                                               -------------  -------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income                                     $      37,984  $      37,398
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
 cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization                          7,227          7,186
(Gain) Loss on disposal of assets                        462            193
Gain on investment in business                          (528)            --
Stock-based compensation expense                       3,047          2,333
Deferred director and phantom stock unit
 expense (income)                                         70             20
Stock compensation income tax benefit                   (303)           (88)
Allowance for doubtful accounts                           (7)            26
Provision for slow moving inventory                       --            112
Provision for deferred income taxes                      291            325
(Increase) decrease in, net of acquisition:
  Accounts receivable                                 (3,210)         1,903
  Inventories                                         (1,226)           268
  Income taxes receivable                                 77           (520)
  Other current assets                                  (167)          (650)
  Other assets                                           383            240
Increase (decrease) in, net of acquisition:
  Accounts payable                                        24           (742)
  Accrued expenses and other liabilities               3,155          4,547
  Other noncurrent liabilities                          (156)          (353)
                                               -------------  -------------
Net cash provided by operating activities             47,123         52,198
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of joint venture                                      --
Investment in business, net of cash acquired            (923)        (1,140)
Capital expenditures                                 (17,935)       (13,359)
Proceeds from dispositions of equipment                  230             56
Purchases of short-term investments                  (28,356)       (40,495)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments          26,764         32,912
                                               -------------  -------------
Net cash used in investing activities                (20,220)       (22,026)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt                                         --           (169)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                   --             --
Stock compensation income tax benefit                    303             88
Proceeds from stock issued                               859            700
Dividends to shareholders                             (9,435)       (40,900)
Change in restricted cash                                 (5)          (272)
                                               -------------  -------------
Net cash used in financing activities                 (8,278)       (40,553)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and
 cash equivalents                                      1,809          2,025
                                               -------------  -------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
 equivalents                                          20,434         (8,356)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period        34,478         42,834
                                               -------------  -------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period       $      54,912  $      34,478
                                               =============  =============

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
 information:
Cash paid:
  Income taxes                                 $      19,123  $      18,739
Supplemental disclosure of noncash
 transactions:
Common stock issued for shared distribution
 through accrued expenses and other
 liabilities                                   $       3,486  $       4,407
Common stock issued for deferred director's
 compensation through other noncurrent
 liabilities                                   $         294  $         930
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale
 securities                                    $         (22) $         326


Contact:
Dennis Tichio
Investor Relations
941-362-1200

Tricia Fulton
Chief Financial Officer
941-362-1200

Source: Sun Hydraulics Corporation