Columbus McKinnon's profits fell to $3.8 million, or 20 cents per share, from $10 million, or 53 cents per share, a year earlier.
Much of the decline was due to 34 cents per share in one-time charges that Columbus McKinnon absorbed during the quarter. Excluding those expenses, the company's operating profits fell by 23 percent to $14.9 million from $19.4 million.
The company's earnings of 54 cents per share, not counting the 34 cents per share in one-time charges, topped the 41 cents per share that analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call were expecting.
Columbus McKinnon's sales rose by 13 percent to $165.1 million, mainly because of its Pfaff-silberblau acquisition late last year, which brought in an extra $26.8 million in revenues during the quarter. That offset a 6 percent drop in sales volumes as the economy weakened, especially in its North American markets. The sales were $5 million more than analysts expected.
"We have executed a measurable cost reduction plan and are prepared to implement additional actions as we closely monitor business activity," said Timothy T. Tevens, Columbus McKinnon's president and chief executive officer, in a statement.
drobinson@buffnews.com
To see more of The Buffalo News, N.Y., or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.buffalonews.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Buffalo News, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index