EXHIBIT 99.1

Sun Hydraulics Reports 2004 Sales of $94.5 million and Net Income of $7.8 million

SARASOTA, FLA, March 1, 2005 – Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) reported financial results for the year and fourth quarter 2004 as follows:

(Dollars in millions except net income per share)

                         
    December 25,     December 27,        
    2004     2003     Increase  
Twelve Months Ended
                       
Net Sales
  $ 94.5     $ 70.8       33 %
Net Income
  $ 7.8     $ 2.2       255 %
Net Income per share:
                       
Basic
  $ 1.14     $ 0.33       245 %
Fully Diluted
  $ 1.14     $ 0.33       245 %
 
                       
Three Months Ended
                       
Net Sales
  $ 23.4     $ 17.6       33 %
Net Income
  $ 2.0     $ 0.6       233 %
Net Income per share:
                       
Basic
  $ 0.29     $ 0.09       222 %
Fully Diluted
  $ 0.29     $ 0.09       222 %

Commenting on results for the year, Allen Carlson Sun Hydraulics’ President said, “I believe our most important achievement in 2004 was our ability to maintain and improve our on-time delivery, even with a 33% increase in sales. This capability will help Sun to continue to grow in all of our markets, both short term and long term.

“The rebound in domestic markets was very strong in 2004, and remains strong in January and February,” Carlson continued. “Along with a 39% North American sales increase compared to 2003, our international business has remained strong, with European sales increasing 25% and Asian sales increasing 28%.”

Carlson added, “While the 33% increase in sales had a positive effect on margins, we were also able to offset the effect of material cost increases and further improve margins through higher productivity. This enabled us to hold the line on pricing. As a result, I believe we have gained market share.” Gross profit in 2004 increased 54% over 2003. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 30% from 26% in 2003.

Outlook

“In 2005, we will continue to invest in marketing and productivity improvements at a level comparable to 2004,” Carlson concluded. Sales for the first quarter of 2005 are projected to be $27.5 million, which would represent a 29% increase over the first quarter of 2004, with net income per share in the range of $0.38 to $0.41.

Open House and Webcast

Sun Hydraulics Corporation will broadcast its 2004 financial results conference call live over the Internet at 4:00 P.M. E.T. tomorrow, March 2, 2005. 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 3:30 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”.

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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 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 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 1-800-289-0517.

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 25, 2004, 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, 2003. 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 25,     December 27,  
    2004     2003  
Net sales
  $ 23,426     $ 17,610  
 
               
Cost of sales
    16,630       13,253  
     
 
               
Gross profit
    6,796       4,357  
 
               
Selling, engineering and administrative expenses
    3,979       3,312  
     
 
               
Operating income
    2,817       1,045  
 
               
Interest expense
    122       193  
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)
    75       (8 )
Miscellaneous expense (income)
    59       21  
     
 
               
Income before income taxes
    2,561       839  
 
               
Income tax provision
    560       245  
     
 
               
Net income
  $ 2,001     $ 594  
     
 
               
Basic net income per share
  $ 0.29     $ 0.09  
 
               
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    6,950       6,758  
 
               
Diluted net income per share
  $ 0.29     $ 0.09  
 
               
Diluted weighted average share outstanding
    7,014       6,806  

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

                 
    Twelve Months Ended  
    December 25,     December 27,  
    2004     2003  
Net sales
  $ 94,503     $ 70,798  
 
               
Cost of sales
    65,968       52,312  
     
 
               
Gross profit
    28,535       18,486  
 
               
Selling, engineering and administrative expenses
    16,241       14,803  
     
 
               
Operating income
    12,294       3,683  
 
               
Interest expense
    527       606  
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)
          (143 )
Miscellaneous expense (income)
    35       (57 )
     
 
               
Income before income taxes
    11,732       3,277  
 
               
Income tax provision
    3,902       1,101  
     
 
               
Net income
  $ 7,830     $ 2,176  
     
 
               
Basic net income per share
  $ 1.14     $ 0.33  
 
               
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    6,846       6,551  
 
               
Diluted net income per share
  $ 1.14     $ 0.33  
 
               
Diluted weighted average share outstanding
    6,897       6,597  

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

                 
    December 25,     December 27,  
    2004     2003  
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 9,300     $ 4,794  
Restricted Cash
    462       425  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $170 and $187
    8,611       6,215  
Inventories
    7,105       6,621  
Deferred income taxes
    392       20  
Other current assets
    776       524  
     
Total current assets
    26,646       18,599  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    43,687       42,829  
Other assets
    1,475       1,624  
     
 
               
Total assets
  $ 71,808     $ 63,052  
     
 
               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 2,536     $ 2,440  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    4,609       2,217  
Long-term debt due within one year
    1,058       937  
Dividends payable
    522       270  
Income taxes payable
    1,198       51  
     
Total current liabilities
    9,923       5,915  
 
               
Long-term debt due after one year
    11,196       17,270  
Deferred income taxes
    4,986       4,476  
Other liabilities
    300       328  
     
 
               
Total liabilities
    26,405       27,989  
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common stock
    7       7  
Capital in excess of par value
    28,579       26,478  
Unearned compensation related to outstanding restricted stock
    (608 )     (601 )
Retained earnings
    13,870       7,522  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    3,566       1,657  
Treasury stock
    (11 )      
     
Total shareholders’ equity
    45,403       35,063  
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 71,808     $ 63,052  
     

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

                 
    Twelve Months Ended  
    December 25,     December 27,  
    2004     2003  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 7,830     $ 2,176  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,465       5,152  
(Gain)/Loss on disposal of assets
    73       370  
Stock-based compensation expense
    289       182  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (17 )     (7 )
Provision for slow moving inventory
    110       (16 )
Provision for deferred income taxes
    138       364  
(Increase) decrease in:
               
Accounts receivable
    (2,379 )     (518 )
Inventories
    (594 )     241  
Other current assets
    (252 )     286  
Other assets, net
    149       (630 )
Increase (decrease) in:
               
Accounts payable
    97       734  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    2,392       1,136  
Dividends payable
    252       12  
Income taxes payable
    1,437       41  
Other liabilities
    (28 )     (50 )
     
Net cash from operating activities
    14,962       9,473  
 
               
Cash flows used in investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (4,987 )     (3,076 )
Proceeds from dispositions of equipment
    61       33  
     
Net cash used in investing activities
    (4,926 )     (3,043 )
 
               
Cash flows used in financing activities:
               
Proceeds from debt
          18,850  
Repayment of debt
    (5,953 )     (10,254 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,672       899  
Proceeds from stock issued
          39  
Payments for purchase of treasury stock
    (781 )     (71 )
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock
    613       59  
Dividends to shareholders
    (1,482 )     (14,404 )
     
Net cash used in financing activities
    (5,931 )     (4,882 )
 
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    438       (287 )
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in restricted cash
    37          
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    4,506       1,261  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    5,219       3,958  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
    9,762       5,219  
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid/(received):
               
Interest
  $ 527     $ 607  
Income taxes
  $ 2,617     $ 696  

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    United                     United              
    States     Korea     Germany     Kingdom     Elimination     Consolidated  
Three Months
Ended December 25, 2004
                                               
Sales to unaffiliated customers
  $ 15,281     $ 1,979     $ 2,699     $ 3,467     $     $ 23,426  
Intercompany sales
    3,673             14       512       (4,199 )      
Operating income
    2,056       151       386       144       80       2,817  
Depreciation
    957       35       134       267             1,393  
Capital expenditures
    1,344       2       36       75             1,457  
 
                                               
Three Months
Ended December 27, 2003
                                               
Sales to unaffiliated customers
  $ 11,030     $ 1,682     $ 2,141     $ 2,756     $     $ 17,610  
Intercompany sales
    2,315             9       389       (2,713 )      
Operating income
    354       148       266       158       118       1,044  
Depreciation
    878       34       95       238             1,245  
Capital expenditures
    225       31       49       348             653  
 
                                               
Twelve Months
Ended December 25, 2004
                                               
Sales to unaffiliated customers
  $ 59,847     $ 8,723     $ 12,558     $ 13,375     $     $ 94,503  
Intercompany sales
    15,702             66       1,812       (17,580 )      
Operating income
    8,417       926       2,399       483       69       12,294  
Depreciation
    3,792       137       475       1,061             5,465  
Capital expenditures
    4,264       42       141       540             4,986  
 
                                               
Twelve Months
Ended December 27, 2003
                                               
Sales to unaffiliated customers
  $ 43,503     $ 6,857     $ 9,092     $ 11,346     $     $ 70,798  
Intercompany sales
    12,109             41       1,421       (13,571 )      
Operating income
    2,160       689       1,192       (497 )     139       3,683  
Depreciation
    3,630       123       380       1,019             5,152  
Capital expenditures
    1,914       265       149       748             3,076  

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