GRACO INC
10-Q, 1997-05-09
PUMPS & PUMPING EQUIPMENT
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

            Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



For the quarterly period ended March 28, 1997

Commission File Number:  1-9249


                                   GRACO INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



        Minnesota                                       41-0285640
- ------------------------                 ---------------------------------------
(State of incorporation)                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)


     4050 Olson Memorial Highway
      Golden Valley, Minnesota                                             55422
- ----------------------------------------                              ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)


                                 (612) 623-6000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months,  and (2) has been subject to such filing  requirements
for the past 90 days.


                                    Yes     X         No
                                        --------         --------

         17,124,485 common shares were outstanding as of April 30, 1997.


<PAGE>


                           GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                      INDEX



                                                                     Page Number
                                                                     -----------

PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION


         Item 1.  Financial Statements

                     Consolidated Statements of Earnings                      3
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets                              4
                     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                    5
                     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements               6


         Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis
                     of Financial Condition and
                     Results of Operations                                    7



PART II  OTHER INFORMATION


         Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                           10


         SIGNATURES  11

         1997 Corporate and Business Unit Annual Bonus Plan          Exhibit 10
         Computation of Net Earnings per Common Share                Exhibit 11
         Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR filing only)                 Exhibit 27










                                        2


<PAGE>


                                     PART I

                           GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 Item I.                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                   (Unaudited)

                                                   Thirteen Weeks Ended
                                                   --------------------
                                           March 28, 1997       March 29, 1996
                                           --------------       --------------
                                         (In thousands except per share amounts)
                                  
Net Sales                                         $92,099              $90,153

      Cost of products sold                        47,566               45,316
                                            -------------        -------------

Gross Profit                                       44,533               44,837

      Product development                           4,825                4,229
      Selling                                      21,633               19,850
      General and administrative                    8,555               11,675
                                            -------------        -------------

Operating Profit                                    9,520                9,083

      Interest expense                               (207)                (232)
      Other income (expense), net                     368                 (566)
                                            -------------        -------------

Earnings Before Income Taxes                        9,681                8,285

      Income taxes                                  3,500                2,700
                                            -------------        -------------

Net Earnings                                       $6,181               $5,585
                                            =============        =============

Net Earnings Per Common and
      Common Equivalent Share                        $.35                 $.32
                                            =============        =============

Cash Dividend Per Common Share                       $.14                 $.12
                                            =============        =============



                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.







                                        3


<PAGE>

                               GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                               CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                       (Unaudited)
                                             

                                               March 28, 1997 December 27, 1996
                                               -------------- -----------------
ASSETS                                                  (In thousands)

Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                        $1,378            $6,535
      Accounts receivable, less allowances
         of $4,614 and $4,700                          81,061            83,474
      Inventories                                      47,609            41,531
      Deferred income taxes                            12,107            11,633
      Other current assets                              1,653             1,321
                                                  -----------       -----------
            Total current assets                      143,808           144,494

Property, Plant and Equipment:
      Cost                                            185,782           183,085
      Accumulated depreciation                        (89,138)          (88,913)
                                                  ------------      -----------
                                                       96,644            94,172

Other Assets                                            8,624             9,148
                                                  -----------       -----------

                                                     $249,076          $247,814
                                                  ===========       ===========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
      Notes payable to banks                           $7,302            $3,813
      Current portion of long-term debt                 1,827             1,845
      Trade accounts payable                           13,132            13,854
      Salaries, wages & commissions                    10,753            14,808
      Accrued insurance liabilities                    11,624            10,925
      Income taxes payable                              7,622             4,647
      Other current liabilities                        23,325            30,718
                                                  -----------       -----------
            Total current liabilities                  75,585            80,610

Long-term Debt, less current portion                    7,618             8,075

Retirement Benefits and Deferred Compensation          33,271            33,079

Shareholders' Equity:
      Common stock                                     17,218            17,047
      Additional paid-in capital                       24,873            22,254
      Retained earnings                                88,994            85,232
      Other, net                                        1,517             1,517
                                                  -----------       -----------
            Total Stockholder's Equity                132,602           126,050
                                                  -----------       -----------

                                                     $249,076          $247,814
                                                  ===========       ===========

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                        4

<PAGE>


                           GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                         Thirteen Weeks
                                                         --------------
                                                March 28, 1997   March 29, 1996
                                                --------------   --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                    (In thousands)

Net Earnings                                            $6,181           $5,585
   Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
     net cash provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization                      3,548            3,299
      Deferred income taxes                               (481)            (605)
      Change in:
        Accounts receivable                                (61)              52
        Inventories                                     (6,688)          (3,355)
        Trade accounts payable                            (419)            (367)
        Retirement benefits and deferred
         compensation                                      571               89
        Other accrued liabilities                       (7,029)             887
        Other                                           (1,453)          (1,084)
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                        (5,831)           4,501
                                                    -----------     -----------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

   Property, plant and equipment additions              (6,340)          (4,485)
   Proceeds from sale of property, plant,
      and equipment                                      1,578                5
                                                    ----------      -----------

                                                        (4,762)          (4,480)
                                                    -----------     -----------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

   Borrowing on notes payable and lines of credit        5,335            1,937
   Payments on notes payable and lines of credit        (1,528)          (1,662)
   Payments on long-term debt                             (326)              -
   Common stock issued                                   2,790            2,271
   Retirement of common and preferred stock                  -             (446)
   Cash dividends paid                                  (2,420)          (2,126)
                                                    -----------     -----------

                                                         3,851              (26)
                                                    ----------      -----------

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                  1,585              465
                                                    ----------      -----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and
   cash equivalents                                     (5,157)             460

Cash and cash equivalents:

   Beginning of year                                     6,535            1,643
                                                    ----------      -----------

   End of period                                        $1,378           $2,103
                                                    ==========      ===========
                    
                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       
                                        5


<PAGE>



                           GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                   (Unaudited)

1.   The consolidated balance sheet of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company)
     as of March 28, 1997 and the related  statements of earnings and cash flows
     for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 1997, and March 29, 1996,  have been
     prepared by the Company without being audited.

     In the opinion of management,  these  consolidated  statements  reflect all
     adjustments  necessary to present  fairly the  financial  position of Graco
     Inc. and  Subsidiaries  as of March 28, 1997, and the results of operations
     and cash flows for all periods presented.

     Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
     statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
     principles  have been  condensed or omitted.  Therefore,  these  statements
     should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial  statements  and notes
     thereto included in the Company's 1996 Form 10-K.

     The  results  of  operations  for  interim   periods  are  not  necessarily
     indicative of results which will be realized for the full fiscal year.

2.   Major components of inventories were as follows (in thousands):

                                               March 28, 1997     Dec. 28, 1996
                                               --------------     -------------

     Finished products and components                 $44,595           $38,707
     Products and components in various
         stages of completion                          28,289            24,691
     Raw materials                                     12,334            15,192
                                                 ------------       -----------
                                                       85,218            78,590
     Reduction to LIFO cost                           (37,609)          (37,059)
                                                 ------------       ------------
                                                      $47,609           $41,531
                                                 ============       ============



3.   Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 128, "Earnings per
     Share,"  was  issued in  February  1997 and  requires  adoption  for annual
     periods  ending after December 15, 1997.  Earnings per Share  determined in
     accordance with SFAS No. 128 are not materially  different than the current
     disclosure under APB Opinion No. 15.



                                        6


<PAGE>

Item 2.                    GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Results of Operations
- ---------------------

Net earnings in the first quarter  increased 11% over the same period last year.
The earnings improvement was driven by reduced operating expenses, a gain on the
sale of the Company's  Franklin  Park,  Illinois  facility and higher  sales.  A
reduced  gross margin rate,  foreign  currency  translation  losses and a higher
effective tax rate had a negative impact on earnings for the quarter.

The following table sets forth items from the Company's Consolidated  Statements
of Earnings as percentages of net sales:


                                               First Quarter (13 weeks) Ended
                                               ------------------------------
                                                    1996           1997
                                                  ------         ------

Net Sales                                          100.0%         100.0%
                                                  ------         ------

Cost of Products Sold                               51.6           50.3
Product Development                                  5.2            4.7
Selling                                             23.6           22.0
General and Administrative                           9.3           12.9
                                                  ------         ------

Operating Profit                                    10.3           10.1
                                                  ------         ------

Interest Expense                                     (.2)           (.3)
                                                  ------         ------

Other Income(Expense), Net                            .4            (.6)
                                                  ------         ------

Earnings Before Income Taxes                        10.5            9.2
Income Taxes                                         3.8            3.0
                                                  ------         ------

Net Earnings                                         6.7%           6.2%
                                                  ======         ====== 


Net Sales

Net sales in the first quarter of $92.1 million were 2 percent  higher than last
year. The increased sales level was achieved despite a negative currency impact,
which reduced sales by 2 percent.

Industrial/Automotive Division sales improved 6 percent to $50.2 million, driven
by strong demand for industrial  products across all three  geographic  regions,
the  Americas,  Europe  and Asia  Pacific.  Contractor  Division  sales of $31.3
million were 4 percent lower than last year due in part to the  introduction  of
an upgraded product line in North America.  The late quarter  introduction  held
down  sales  early in the  quarter  as  customers  anticipated  the new  product
release.  Additionally,  a new pricing structure in the Contractor  Division was
implemented in 1997 which is expected to result in a seasonal  change in demand,
versus  price  promotions  in 1996 which  forced  more  activity  into the first
quarter.  Lubrication  Division  sales  increased  6 percent  to $10.6  million,
reflecting a healthy North American  economy,  an increased key distributor base
and the benefit of new product introductions late in 1996.


                                        7
<PAGE>


Geographically,  sales in the  Americas  increased  1 percent  to $62.6  million
primarily due to strong Industrial activity,  partially offset by the soft start
in the Contractor Division and sluggish  automotive system's activity.  European
sales of $16.9  million  were 7 percent  higher  than last year  (including  a 5
percent decline due to exchange rates). Asia Pacific sales of $12.6 million were
1 percent higher than last year  (including a 8 percent  decline due to exchange
rates).  The growth in Europe and Asia  Pacific was  attributable  primarily  to
strong  automotive  system's  activity  and improved  results in the  Contractor
Division.


Gross Profit

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales  declined to 48.4 percent in the first
quarter,  compared with 49.7 percent for the same period last year. The decrease
was  primarily  the result of a shift in the product  mix within the  Contractor
Division to an upgraded  product line which  generates a lower margin than other
products.  The strengthening of the U.S. dollar also reduced the gross margin as
a greater  proportion of the Company's sales are denominated in currencies other
than the U.S. dollar than are costs.


Operating Expenses

Operating  expenses in the first  quarter of $35.0  million  decreased 2 percent
from the first quarter of 1996. Product development expense increased 14 percent
over 1996,  reflecting the Company's  commitment to expanding  sales through the
development  of new products.  Selling  expenses were 9 percent  higher than the
same period last year, largely due to increased  information systems development
costs and distributor  training programs,  as well as the increased sales level.
General and  administrative  costs declined 27 percent,  as the first quarter of
1996 included expenses related to the relocation of the Company's Franklin Park,
Illinois operations to Minneapolis.


Other Income (Expense)

Other income was $.4 million in the first quarter,  compared with $.6 million of
expense for the same period last year.  The first  quarter of 1997 was favorably
impacted  by a gain  from  the sale of the  Company's  Franklin  Park,  Illinois
facility, which was partially offset by foreign currency translation losses.


Income Taxes

The effective  income tax rate  increased to 36 percent in the quarter  compared
with 33 percent last year. The higher rate in 1997 was principally due to higher
effective rates on foreign earnings.

                                        8


<PAGE>


Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

The Company used $5.8 million of cash flow for operating activities in the first
quarter of 1997 compared with generating cash from operations of $4.5 million in
the first quarter of last year.  Significant uses of operating cash flow in 1997
resulted from the reduction in other accrued liabilities, most significantly the
reserve  established  in the  prior  year for the  relocation  of the  Company's
Franklin Park, Illinois operations. Operating cash flow was also used to fund an
increase  in  inventory  levels  which was driven by higher  engineered  systems
activity in the  foreign  operations  and  anticipated  demand for the  upgraded
product line in the Contractor  Division.  Available cash and borrowing on lines
of credit of $5.3 million were used to fund short-term  operating needs, finance
capital  expenditures  of $6.3 million and pay  dividends of $2.4  million.  The
Company has unused lines of credit  available at March 28, 1997  totaling  $69.6
million. The available credit facilities and internally-generated  funds provide
the Company with the financial flexibility to meet liquidity needs.


Outlook

The Company is  cautiously  optimistic  about the level of  activity  during the
first  quarter.  Incoming  orders in the first  quarter  exceeded  sales by $7.3
million,  increasing  backlog to $26.4  million.  The  Company  also  expects to
introduce  a number of new  products  in 1997 and  believes  that the  continued
investments in product  development,  marketing and manufacturing  should have a
positive  impact  on the  Company  in 1997  and the  long-term  ability  to grow
profitably.

















SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

The  information  in this 10Q contains  "forward-looking  statements"  about the
Company's  expectations of the future, which are subject to certain risk factors
that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those  expectations.
These factors include  economic  conditions in the United States and other major
world  economies,   currency  exchange  fluctuations,   and  additional  factors
identified  in Exhibit 99 to the  Company's  Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year
1996.

                                            9


<PAGE>


                                     PART II


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a)  Exhibits

              1997 Corporate and Business Unit Annual                Exhibit 10
              Bonus Plan

              Statement on Computation                               Exhibit 11
              of Per Share Earnings

              Financial Data Schedule                                Exhibit 27

         (b)  No reports on Form 8-K have been filed during
              the quarter for which this report is filed.





                                       10


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.










                                   GRACO INC.


Date:  May 9, 1997               By: /s/ James A. Graner
                                    James A. Graner
                                    Vice President and Controller
                                    ("duly authorized officer")




Date:  May 9, 1997               By: /s/ Mark W. Sheahan
                                    Mark W. Sheahan
                                    Treasurer
                                    (Principal Financial Officer)








                                       11








                                   GRACO INC.

                                 1997 CORPORATE

                                        &

                                  BUSINESS UNIT

                                ANNUAL BONUS PLAN

























                                                      Effective January 1, 1997
                                                                Human Resources



<PAGE>

                    1997 EXECUTIVE CORPORATE & SBU BONUS PLAN


Objectives

- -    To  create  shareholder  value  through  achievement  of  annual  financial
     objectives.

- -    To  motivate  and retain  those key  executives  and  managers  who work in
     positions where they can impact the Company's annual financial objectives.


Plan Design

The  Plan  links  the size of each  individual's  award  to  specific  financial
objectives.  These  objectives  are  tailored for the  Corporation  and for each
Business Unit. These objectives are:

     - Corporation
       - Corporate Sales and/or Net Earnings objectives

     - Business Units
       - Sales and/or Contribution Growth objectives


Eligibility Requirements

Only those positions which carry clear  managerial  responsibility  for directly
contributing  to Graco's  Corporate  Sales  and/or Net  Earnings  objective  and
Business Unit Sales and/or  Contribution  Growth  objectives  are eligible to be
included in this Plan.

Only those  individuals  in eligible  positions  who have  demonstrated  and are
maintaining a performance level that meets the supervisor's  normal expectations
for that position are eligible for annual  participation in this Plan as well as
the receipt of any annual Bonus Payments.


Participation

The  top  executive  in each  organizational  unit  may  nominate  managers  for
participation  in  this  Plan  when  the  established  position  and  individual
eligibility requirements have been met.

The Management  Organization and Compensation  Committee of the Graco Inc. Board
of  Directors  has sole  authority  to approve  the  participation  of the Chief
Executive Officer in the Plan.

The Chief  Executive  Officer of Graco  Inc.  has sole  authority  to select and
approve all other Plan participants.

Bonus Maximum

Taken in conjunction with base salary market comparisons,  bonus maximum for all
positions will be:

   - Commensurate  with the  position's  ability to impact the annual  Corporate
     Sales  and/or  Net  Earnings  objective  and  Business  Unit  Sales  and/or
     Contribution Growth objectives.

   - Consistent with total  compensation  levels prevalent for similar positions
     in the market place.

Based  on these  criteria,  bonus  maximums  ranging  from 10% to 80% have  been
established for each individual.


Bonus Payment

The determination of a participant's  annual Bonus Payment will be calculated by
adding the bonus  results  attained  for  Corporate  Sales  and/or Net  Earnings
performance  (expressed  in  percent)  to the  bonus  results  attained  for any
applicable   Business  Unit's  Sales  and/or   Contribution  Growth  performance
(expressed  in  percent).  These  bonus  results  are  then  multiplied  by  the
participant's  Maximum Bonus Percentage and then multiplied by the participant's
Base Salary for the Plan Year, to determine the total Bonus Payment.


Example:
|-----------   -----------------|
|Annual        Annual Business  |    Participant's     Participant's
|Corporate     Unit Performance |    Maximum           Annual
|Performance + Results (if      | x  Bonus          x  Base            =  Bonus
|Results       applicable)      |    Salary            Salary
|  %             %              |      $                 $                  $
|-----------   -----------------|


Administration

The following rules have been established to insure equitable  administration of
Graco's Annual Bonus Plan (the Plan):

1.   The  Plan  will  be  administered  by  the  Management   Organization   and
     Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  The Committee may cancel
     the Plan and interpret the Plan.

2.   The Management  Organization and Compensation Committee shall establish the
     Annual  Corporate  Bonus  Plan  financial  objectives.   Within  the  basic
     framework of the Plan, the Chief Executive Officer may establish the annual
     bonus plan financial  objectives for individual Business Units. The CEO may
     also establish  deadlines for filing  administrative  forms and adopt other
     administrative rules.

     The CEO has established the Bonus  Administrative  Committee  consisting of
     the President,  the Vice President,  Human Resources,  and the Compensation
     Manager. This Committee is responsible for making approval  recommendations
     on all Annual Bonus Program  administrative  matters, such as participation
     award payments, performance measures, and performance results. All requests
     for  adjustments  or  exceptions  are  to be  formally  submitted  to  this
     Committee for review through the Compensation Manager.

3.   Key executives  and managers  selected to participate in the Plan after its
     annual effective date (January 1st) may be included on a pro-rata basis.

4.   Participation   in  the  Plan  one  year   does  not   necessarily   assure
     participation in subsequent  years.  Eligibility  requirements for both the
     position and individual performance must be met continually.

5.   Participation  continues  during  any  paid  time  off  such as  short-term
     disability (up to six months). Participation ceases with retirement, death,
     or  long-term  disability  (over six  months).  In the event  participation
     ceases due to retirement,  death, or long term disability,  the Participant
     will be eligible for a Bonus  Payment,  calculated  using the Maximum Bonus
     Percent and Base Salary up to the time of retirement,  death,  or long-term
     disability  and  the  annual  performance  results  for the  year in  which
     retirement, death, or long-term disability occurs.

6.   A participant who transfers to a position not eligible for inclusion in the
     Plan  will be  eligible  for a  pro-rata  award  based on the  actual  time
     employed in the eligible position during the year. The pro-rated award will
     be paid as described in Administrative Rule #11.

7.   A participant who resigns or is terminated  effective  during the Plan Year
     is ineligible for a bonus.

     Participants  must maintain  satisfactory  performance  throughout the Plan
     year in order to be eligible to receive a bonus award payment.

     In addition, a participant whose employment  termination has been requested
     due to  performance  or otherwise for cause will be ineligible  for a bonus
     payment even though the participant is still employed at year-end.

8.   Corporate Sales and Net Eearnings calculations will include such effects as
     those created by foreign exchange gain/loss translation and income tax rate
     changes.

9.   Corporate  Sales and/or Net Earnings  calculations  will be based on actual
     exchange rates, not plan rates.

10.  Acquisitions  and divestitures not included in the annual business plan for
     the Plan Year will be excluded from the Corporate Sales and/or Net Earnings
     calculations.

11.  Significant  changes in historical FASB accounting  practices or income tax
     rates will be included in corporate earnings calculations at the discretion
     of the Management  Organization and Compensation  Committee of the Board of
     Directors.

12.  Payments will be made by March 15th of the year following  each  successive
     Corporate and Business Unit performance year.


                                     1997

                   Corporate Performance Results and Awards

                        for 100% Corporate Participants


                ================================================

                    1997 Corporate        Percent of Maximum
                     Net Earnings            Bonus Award
                       Results                  Earned
                       $30,000                   0.00%
                       $34,000                  18.75%
                       $38,000                  37.50%
                       $41,500                  56.25%
                       $45,000                  75.00%

                ================================================



                ================================================

                        1997              Percent of Maximum
                   Corporate Sales           Bonus Award
                       Results                  Earned
                      $400,000                   0.00%
                      $410,000                   6.25%
                      $420,000                  12.50%
                      $430,000                  18.75%
                      $440,000                  25.00%

                ================================================


Note:  Calculations exclude acquisitions and divestitures which were not
       included in 1997 Annual Business Plan.








                                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                           GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                  COMPUTATION OF NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

                                   (Unaudited)

                                                     Thirteen Weeks Ended
                                                     --------------------
                                               March 28, 1997    March 29, 1996
                                               --------------    --------------
                                         (In thousands except per share amounts)


Net earnings applicable to common stock:
   Net earnings                                        $6,181            $5,585
                                                   ==========        ==========


Average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:

   Average number of common
     shares outstanding                                17,106            17,315

   Dilutive effect of stock options computed
     on the treasury stock method
                                                          397               238
                                                   ----------        ----------

                                                       17,503            17,553
                                                   ==========        ==========


Net earnings per common
     and common equivalent share                         $.35              $.32
                                                   ==========        ==========


      Primary and fully diluted earnings per share are substantially the same.



<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial  information  extracted from Graco Inc.
and subsidiaries  consolidated  statements of earnings and consolidated  balance
sheets for the  quarterly  period  ending March 28, 1997 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                            0000042888
<NAME>                                           GRACO INC.                     
<MULTIPLIER>                                          1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-26-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                  DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<CASH>                                                1,378
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        81,061
<ALLOWANCES>                                          4,614
<INVENTORY>                                          47,609
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    143,808
<PP&E>                                              185,782
<DEPRECIATION>                                       89,138
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      249,076
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                75,585
<BONDS>                                               9,445
                                     0
                                               0
<COMMON>                                             17,218
<OTHER-SE>                                          115,384
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        249,076
<SALES>                                              92,099
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     92,099
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .35
        


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