Hurco Reports Strong Full-Year and Fourth Quarter Results


INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Hurco Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq:HURC), today reported for its fiscal year ending October 31, 2007, net income of $20,889,000, or $3.24 per share, which is an increase of 35% over fiscal 2006 net income of $15,479,000, or $2.42 per share. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, Hurco recorded net income of $5,648,000, or $0.88 per share, which is an increase of 20% over $4,714,000, or $0.74 per share, for the corresponding period in fiscal 2006.

Sales and service fees for fiscal 2007 totaled $188,047,000, an increase of $39,530,000, or 27%, over fiscal 2006. Sales and service fees for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 were $50,120,000, an increase of $6,956,000, or 16%, over the prior year period. The effect of a weaker U.S. dollar when translating foreign sales to U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes had a favorable impact on the year over year sales comparison of approximately 7%, or $11,011,000. The currency translation impact on fourth quarter sales comparison was also 7%, or $3,179,000.

The following table sets forth net sales and service fees by geographic region for the three and twelve month periods ended October 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively:


                    Net Sales and Service Fees by Geographic Region

                     Three Months Ended          Twelve Months Ended
                        October 31,                  October 31,
                                       %                           %
                   2007       2006  Change     2007       2006  Change
                 -------------------------   -------------------------
 North America   $ 14,242   $ 14,386   -1%   $ 52,133   $ 50,563    3%
 Europe            32,215     25,498   26%    125,446     87,735   43%
 Asia Pacific       3,663      3,280   12%     10,468     10,219    2%
                 -------------------------   -------------------------
  Total          $ 50,120   $ 43,164   16%   $188,047   $148,517   27%
                 -------------------------   -------------------------

The annual and fourth quarter sales growth was primarily driven by a strong European market and continued demand for our higher end VMX product line across all three geographical regions. The effect of a weaker U.S. dollar when translating foreign sales dollars for financial reporting purposes had a favorable impact of approximately 12% on the European sales comparison for both the full year and fourth quarter. Sales in the United States, for the fourth quarter and full year, reflected market softening primarily in the Midwest. Asia Pacific sales remained relatively unchanged for the year, as Hurco continues the development of its selling channels in China and India.

New order bookings in fiscal 2007, were $198,975,000, an increase of $44,208,000, or 29%, over the prior year. Fourth quarter new order bookings totaled $54,782,000, an increase of $12,695,000, or 30%, over the corresponding 2006 period. Europe was the primary contributor to both the annual and quarterly increases. The impact of currency translation on new orders booked was consistent with the impact on sales and service fees year over year.

Hurco's gross margin for fiscal 2007 was 38%, compared to 36% for the prior year, reflecting the impact of higher sales and improved mix. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, was 38%, unchanged from the corresponding period in fiscal 2006. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $40,124,000 for fiscal 2007, an increase of $9,427,000 over the amount for fiscal 2006, and $11,241,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase of $1,372,000 over the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. The increases for both the full year and the fourth quarter were primarily attributable to expenses supporting sales growth and market expansion.

Hurco's effective tax rate for fiscal 2007 was 36%, compared to 33% for the same period in the prior year. The 2006 lower effective tax rate was primarily due to a deduction generated from a change in tax code. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 was 30%, compared to 31% for the same period in the prior year. The reduction in the fourth quarter effective tax rate was due to year to year differences in the relative income of various foreign subsidiaries and the utilization of foreign net operating losses and domestic tax credits.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $39,760,000 as of October 31, 2007, compared to $29,846,000 as of October 31, 2006. Working capital, excluding cash and short-term debt, was $33,290,000 as of October 31, 2007, compared to $26,832,000 as of October 31, 2006. The increase in working capital relates to inventory to support increased order volume, particularly for Hurco's larger machines.

Michael Doar, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "This was another great year for Hurco as we achieved even greater milestones. It is fitting that Hurco is in the best financial position of its history as we kick off our 40-year anniversary."

Doar attributed the Company's successful financial position to the strategic plan that was implemented in 2001. "Focusing on our core competencies has allowed Hurco to develop the Hurco brand and strengthen its presence globally. Using a disciplined approach, Hurco has leveraged its extendable platforms to support its global business model and expansion in emerging markets. These platforms encompass all areas of the business, including product development, software development, marketing and sales, manufacturing and information technology," stated Doar.

Hurco Companies, Inc. is an industrial technology company that designs and produces interactive computer controls, software and computerized machine tools for the worldwide metal cutting and metal forming industry. The end market for the Company's products consists primarily of independent job shops and short-run manufacturing operations within large corporations in industries such as the aerospace, defense, medical equipment, energy, transportation and computer equipment. The Company is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has sales, application engineering and service subsidiaries in High Wycombe, England; Munich, Germany; Paris, France; Milan, Italy; Shanghai, China; Mississauga, Canada and Singapore, along with manufacturing operations in Taiwan and China. Products are sold through independent agents and distributors in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company also has direct sales forces in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Asia.

Web Site: www.hurco.com

This news release contains forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions that affect demand for computerized machine systems, computer numerical control systems and software products, changes in manufacturing markets, innovations by competitors, our ability to protect our intellectual property, fluctuations in exchange rates, fluctuations in prices of raw materials, changes in market demands, quality and delivery performance by our contract manufacturers and governmental actions and initiatives including import and export restrictions and tariffs.


                             Hurco Companies, Inc.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                      (In thousands, except per-share data)


                                              October 31,  October 31,
                                                 2007         2006
 -------------------------------------------------------    ---------
                                              (unaudited)   (audited)
 ASSETS
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                    $  39,760    $  29,846
  Accounts receivable                             25,645       22,248
  Inventories                                     61,121       43,343
  Deferred tax assets, net                         5,909        2,768
  Other                                            4,481        2,677
                                               ---------    ---------
   Total current assets                          136,916      100,882
                                               ---------    ---------

 Property and equipment:
  Land                                               776          761
  Building                                         7,135        7,234
  Machinery and equipment                         13,629       12,952
  Leasehold improvements                           1,473        1,147
                                               ---------    ---------
                                                  23,013       22,094
   Less accumulated depreciation and
    amortization                                 (11,617)     (12,944)
                                               ---------    ---------
                                                  11,396        9,150
                                               ---------    ---------

 Deferred tax assets, net                            774        1,121
 Software development costs, less
  amortization                                     5,960        5,580
 Investments and other assets                      7,160        7,381
                                               ---------    ---------
                                               $ 162,206    $ 124,114
                                               =========    =========
 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                             $  35,486    $  26,605
  Accrued expenses                                28,380       17,599
  Current portion of long-term debt                   --          136
                                               ---------    ---------
   Total current liabilities                      63,866       44,340
                                               ---------    ---------

 Non-current liabilities:
  Long-term debt                                      --        3,874
  Deferred credits and other obligations             737          525
                                               ---------    ---------
   Total liabilities                              64,603       48,739
                                               ---------    ---------

 Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock: no par value per share;
   1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares
   issued                                             --           --
  Common stock: no par value; $.10 stated
   value per share; 12,500,000 shares
   authorized; and 6,392,220 and
   6,346,520 shares issued, respectively             639          635
  Additional paid-in capital                      50,971       50,011
  Retained earnings                               49,367       28,480
  Accumulated other comprehensive income          (3,374)      (3,751)
                                               ---------    ---------
   Total shareholders' equity                     97,603       75,375
                                               ---------    ---------
                                               $ 162,206    $ 124,114
                                               =========    =========

                       Hurco Companies, Inc.
           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
               (In thousands, except per-share data)


                            Three Months Ended    Twelve Months Ended
                                October 31,           October 31,
                           --------------------  --------------------
                              2007       2006       2007       2006
 ------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                (unaudited)          (unaudited)
 Sales and service fees    $  50,120  $  43,164  $ 188,047  $ 148,517

 Cost of sales and service    31,128     26,780    116,965     95,192
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Gross profit                18,992     16,384     71,082     53,325

 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses     11,241      9,869     40,124     30,697
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Operating income             7,751      6,515     30,958     22,628


 Interest expense
  (income)                       (17)        18        (65)       259

 Other income (expense),
  net                            335        337      1,742        745
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

  Income before taxes          8,103      6,834     32,765     23,114

 Provision for income
  taxes                        2,455      2,120     11,876      7,635
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Net income                $   5,648  $   4,714  $  20,889  $  15,479
                           =========  =========  =========  =========

 Earnings per common
  share
 Basic                     $    0.88  $    0.75  $    3.27  $    2.45
                           =========  =========  =========  =========
 Diluted                   $    0.88  $    0.74  $    3.24  $    2.42
                           =========  =========  =========  =========

 Weighted average common
  shares outstanding
 Basic                         6,382      6,317      6,382      6,317
                           =========  =========  =========  =========
 Diluted                       6,445      6,396      6,440      6,397
                           =========  =========  =========  =========

 OTHER CONSOLIDATED         Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
  FINANCIAL DATA               October 31,           October 31,
                           --------------------  --------------------
 Operating Data:              2007       2006       2007       2006
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                (unaudited)          (unaudited)

 Gross margin                   37.9%      38.0%      37.8%      35.9%

 SG&A expense as a
  percentage of sales           22.4%      22.9%      21.3%      20.7%

 Operating income as a
  percentage of sales           15.5%      15.1%      16.5%      15.2%

 Income before taxes as a
  percentage of sales           16.2%      15.8%      17.4%      15.6%

 Effective Tax Rate             30.3%      31.0%      36.2%      33.0%

 Depreciation                    730        387      2,106      1,504

 Capital expenditures          2,212      1,183      4,510      3,301

 Balance Sheet Data:       10/31/2007  10/31/2006
                           ----------  ----------
 Working capital
  (excluding short term
  debt)                    $   73,050  $   56,678


 Days sales outstanding            33          41


 Inventory turns                  2.0         2.2

 Capitalization
  Total debt               $       --  $    4,010
  Shareholders' equity         97,603      75,375
                           ----------  ----------
   Total                   $   97,603  $   79,385
                           ==========  ==========


            

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