Brunswick Corporation saw net sales for the second quarter increase 1% to $1.54 billion, up from $1.53 billion a year earlier. However, excluding incremental sales from acquired businesses, organic sales decreased 5% for the period. Net earnings from continuing operations totaled $94.5 million, or 99 cents per diluted share, down from $111.0 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, for Q2 last year. In the second quarter of 2006, the company recorded a tax benefit of 6 cents per diluted share.
Fitness segment sales increased 8% in the quarter to $129.7 million, up from $120.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating earnings for the quarter totaled $7.4 million, up 45% from $5.1 million in the second quarter of 2005.
Bowling & Billiards segment sales in the second quarter of 2006 totaled $110.1 million, down 4% compared with $114.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Year-over-year operating earnings were $0.6 million in the second quarter versus $5.2 million last year.
The company estimated that 2006 earnings from continuing operations will fall in the range of $2.40 to $2.55 per diluted share, excluding tax-related benefits either already realized or expected for the year. That mark compares with the $3.13 per share the company reported in 2005 from continuing operations.
