Revenues Revved Up to Record High

U.S. manufacturing profits and revenues are roaring again thanks in part to the likes of Harley-Davidson Inc. (IW 500/192) and General Motors Co. (IW 500/4). Steel output, industrial equipment production, and oil and gas industry expansion also powered a record year for IW U.S. 500 manufacturers.

Traditional heavy manufacturing, often viewed as a bellwether for overall industrial health, was the big winner on this year's IW 500 list of the largest publicly held U.S. manufacturers based on revenue. Overall IW 500 revenues increased 17.2% from 2010 to $6.01 trillion in 2011. That breaks an IW 500 record dating back to 2002, and represents the highest overall revenues since IW 500 manufacturers' total 2008 revenue reached 
$5.8 trillion. Total profits also rose substantially to $556.9 billion, a 22% increase over 2010.

Manufacturing profits are benefiting from increasing market demand and declining raw materials and feedstock prices, says Thomas Runiewicz, principal and economist for IHS Global Insight's Industry Practice. Metals and industrial-machinery manufacturers showed a strong resurgence with output growing at a double-digit rate over the past two years as capital-intensive industries retool, Runiewicz says.

"During the recession, investment, especially capex, basically fell off the table," Runiewicz says. "Now there's been a lot of replacement and pent-up demand because a lot of the machinery they have is old. And also, a lot of machinery has been replaced to maintain a competitive edge for more efficiency. You see this a lot in the paper industries, chemical industries and food processing."

Average IW 500 revenue growth in the primary metals sector was 29.2% in 2011. Included in this category are companies such as Nucor Corp. (IW 500/60) , Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. (IW 500/247) and Reliance Steel and Aluminum Co. (IW 500/124). Nucor's revenue jumped 26.4% to $20.02 billion. The company also was among IW 500 profit-growth leaders with net income up 480% to $778 million. The Charlotte-based steel recycler benefited from an average per-ton sales-price increase of 21%. The company shipped more than 23 million tons of steel to outside customers in 2011, a 5% increase over 2010.

On the transportation side, demand for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and cars received a boost from companies and consumers replacing older vehicles, Runiewicz says. Average revenue growth for the eight manufacturers comprising the IW 500 motor-vehicle segment was 23%. Profits rose at an average rate of 185%, excluding Wabash National Corp. (IW 500/486), which recorded a loss in 2010.

GM posted a record $9.2 billion profit in 2011, up 49% from 2010, just two years after emerging from bankruptcy. Motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson's profit reached $599.1 million, up 309% from 2010. The company cited consolidation of a production line at its York, Pa., plant and international expansion as earnings-growth drivers. Although revenue jumped 9.3%, the company fell 11 spots on the IW 500.

The oil and gas sector drove additional revenue and profit increases on the IW 500 as global demand and production from shale-gas resources expands. Perennial top-ranked IW 500 manufacturer Exxon Mobil Corp. posted revenues of $471.1 billion in 2011, up 26.5% from 2010. The company's profit grew 35% to $41.1 billion on higher crude oil prices and increasing global demand. 

Lesser-known players realized dramatic earnings increases from their activities in shale plays. Markwest Energy Partners LP (IW 500/432) rose 26 spots on the IW 500 with revenue rising 27% to $1.5 billion. Markwest is a midstream natural gas processing and gathering company. The company operates in several shale plays and announced a number of expansion plans in 2011.