Higher 4Q Life Fitness, Hammer Strength sales help Brunswick

An 11 percent increase in Life Fitness and Hammer Strength equipment sales helped parent company Brunswick (NYSE:BC) report an 8 percent rise in revenue for the fourth quarter 2011.

Brunswick reported $180 million in fitness revenue for its latest quarter, reported Jan. 26, compared to $137.7 million a year ago. Sales rose worldwide with a 14 percent gain in the United States and a 7 percent increase internationally. Quarterly operating income for the fitness segment came in at $28.3 million, up from $24.4 million a year ago. Company officials said commercial fitness sales led growth in the segment.

Companywide, Brunswick reported its fourth-quarter revenue up 8 percent to $789.1 million and a net loss of $29.6 million, or a loss of 33 cents per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $104.1 million, or a loss of $1.17 per diluted share, a year ago. Officials said the quarterly loss was due to paying down debut, along with exit and impairment charges in its marine segment.

For the full year 2011, Brunswick’s fitness sales rose 17 percent to $635.2 million, outpacing the company’s overall revenue gain of 10 percent. Fitness accounted for 17 percent of Brunswick’s total sales in 2011, compared to 16 percent in 2010.

–Compiled by David Clucas