EXHIBIT 99.1 Contact: Richard K. Arter Investor Relations 941-362-1200 Richard J. Dobbyn Chief Financial Officer 941-362-1200 Sun Hydraulics Corporation Reports Second Quarter Net Income of $0.12 Per Share SARASOTA, FLA, August 4, 2003 -Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) today announced that sales for the second quarter ended June 28, 2003, were $18.9 million, an increase of 15.2% from the first quarter and a 8.6% increase from the same quarter last year. Net income was $0.8 million, equal to net income for the same quarter last year and a $0.5 million increase from last quarter. Net income included a charge for the write off of development costs for an application software project in the United Kingdom. Excluding this write off, net income for the second quarter would have been $1.1 million, or 5.6% of sales, compared to net income of 4.4% of sales for the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended June 28, 2003, were $0.13 and $0.12, respectively, compared to $0.12 for the same period last year. Allen Carlson, Sun Hydraulics' president commented, "We believe that Sun is gaining market share in some market segments, particularly central Europe, where sales are increasing in the face of difficult economic times. Sales in all our international operations, adjusted for the effect of currency changes, increased 12% this quarter compared to the same quarter last year. We still have not seen signs of recovery in the North American manufacturing sector of the economy. Sales in the United States operation this quarter were comparable with those in the same quarter last year." Carlson continued, "Sun's prime or variable manufacturing costs in the United States decreased as a percent of sales in the current quarter compared to the same quarter last year. This is an indication of Sun's productivity improvements and our ability to significantly improve operating margins as the economy recovers and the top line grows." Software Write Off Approximately $0.4 million of capitalized software costs related to upgrading the integrated manufacturing system in the United Kingdom operation was written off in the second quarter. The installation of this highly customized software was aborted due to major flaws in the system. The Company has decided that it is not feasible to continue this project and intends to seek remedy from the software developer. Outlook Sales for the third quarter are projected to be $17.0 million, with net income of $0.06 per share, compared to third quarter 2002 sales and net income of $16.0 million and $0.08 per share. The anticipated decrease in net income, despite the higher sales volume and increased productivity, is attributed to increased marketing and administrative costs, including $0.3 million related to the Company's re-capitalization and special dividend distribution. Webcast Sun Hydraulics Corporation will broadcast its second quarter financial results conference call with analysts live over the Internet at 2:30 P.M. E.T. tomorrow, August 5, 2003. To listen, 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. Sun management will then answer these and other questions during the Company's webcast. Questions can be submitted by going to the Sun Hydraulics website, www.sunhydraulics.com, and clicking on Investor Relations on the left hand 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 Hydraulics will answer as many legitimate questions pertaining to the 2nd quarter earnings release as possible during the webcast time. 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 June 28, 2003, 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, 2002. 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)