Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH, reported an increase in sales of 5% in the first quarter 2007 to $3.2 billion. Profit was $234 million, up 15%.
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Sales growth in the first quarter included 1% from organic growth, 2% from acquisitions, and 2% from higher foreign exchange rates. End markets declined slightly more than 1% in the quarter, driven by the decline in the NAFTA heavy-duty truck market.
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Eaton reported it anticipates a decline of 3-4% in its end markets in 2007, due to the decline in the NAFTA heavy-duty truck market.
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Eaton saw weaker conditions in the first quarter in the North American markets for residential electrical equipment and hydraulics.
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Sales for the Electrical segment were $1.1 billion, up 12% over 2006. End markets grew 1% in this quarter. Nonresidential electrical markets and markets for uninterruptible power supply products had solid growth, while the residential electrical and industrial equipment markets declined. Bookings in the Electrical segment were up 10%.
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Fluid Power segment sales were $1 billion, 7% above the first quarter of 2006. Fluid Power markets grew 6%, with global hydraulics shipments up 7%, the commercial and business jet aerospace market up 9%, defense aerospace up 5%, and European automotive up 2%.
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The Truck segment posted sales of $576 million, down 5% compared to the first quarter of 2006. NAFTA heavy-duty truck production in the first quarter was down 23% compared to 2006, NAFTA medium-duty truck production was down 18%, European truck production was down 7%, Brazilian vehicle production was up 4%, and Brazilian agricultural equipment production was up 8%.
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The Automotive segment posted first quarter sales of $452 million, 2% higher than the comparable quarter of 2006. Automotive production in NAFTA declined 8% while in Europe the market grew by 2%.
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Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2006 sales of $12.4 billion. Eaton is in more than 125 countries.