True Temper Sports, Inc. posted a strong end to the fiscal year as the company saw sales increase 27.4% for the quarter and 19.5% for the year, but was unable to translate these gains to a profit on the bottom line. New product launches and the GrafAlloy ProLaunch shaft were particularly strong, while the company’s performance sports division, which addresses the hockey and cycling markets, experienced double-digit growth.

The company saw net sales for the fourth quarter increase 27.4% to $27.4 million from the $21.5 million recorded during the fourth quarter of 2004. The company’s net loss shrank during the quarter to $0.6 million from a loss of $14.5 million during the year ago period.

Net sales for the full year 2005 increased 19.5%, to $117.6 million from $98.4 million in 2004. Gross margins for the year increased 1330 basis points to 40.2% of sales form 26.8% last year. SG&A expenses declined 90 basis points to 12.5% of sales form 13.4% the year before. Despite the margin and expense improvements, the company was unable to post a net profit for the year. However, it did manage to nearly erase that loss, shrinking down from $20.1 million last year to $0.5 million this year.