Home » Thor Announces Record Preliminary Sales For Third Quarter; Improved Backlog

Thor Announces Record Preliminary Sales For Third Quarter; Improved Backlog

fleetnewsdaily | May 2, 2013

Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) has announced record preliminary sales, as well as an improved backlog for the third quarter and nine months ended April 30, 2013. The third quarter was the first time in the Company’s history in which quarterly sales exceeded $1 billion.

Preliminary consolidated sales in the third quarter were a record $1.05 billion, up 13.3% from $926.5 million in the third quarter last year. RV sales were $929.3 million, up 15.1% from $807.2 million in last year’s third quarter. Towable RV sales for the third quarter were $742.1 million, up 9.1% from $680.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Motorized RV sales in the third quarter increased 47.8% to $187.2 million from $126.7 million in the same quarter a year ago. Bus sales were flat at $119.2 million compared to $119.3 million in the third quarter last year.

For the nine months ended April 30, 2013, preliminary consolidated sales were $2.67 billion, up 21.4% from $2.20 billion last year. RV sales were $2.33 billion, up 24.6% from $1.87 billion last year. Towable RV sales for the nine months were $1.90 billion, up 17.3% from $1.62 billion last year. Motorized RV sales rose to $423.2 million, up 72.0% from $246.1 million last year. Bus sales were $338.4 million, up 3.6% from $326.6 million last year.

Consolidated backlog on April 30, 2013 was $849.2 million, up 28.0% from last year. RV backlog was $649.6 million, up 44.9% from the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Towable RV backlog increased 27.1% to $439.6 million and motorized RV backlog more than doubled to $210.0 million. Bus backlog was $199.6 million, down 7.2% from the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

“Thor achieved record sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 based on the strength of the overall RV market and in particular, the growing recovery of the motorized RV market. We have seen improving retail traffic and increased dealer optimism as signs of a healthy market entering the seasonally important spring and summer selling period,” said Peter B. Orthwein, Thor Chairman & CEO. “Although we are still in very competitive environments in both RVs and Buses, we believe Thor is positioned well to support future growth in both of our businesses. We expect to report our third-quarter operating results on June 6,” he added.

About Thor Industries, Inc.
Thor is the sole owner of operating subsidiaries that, combined, represent the world’s largest manufacturer of recreation vehicles and a major builder of buses and commercial vehicles. More at Thor.