Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) earned $46 million, or 57 cents per diluted share, up from $40.1 million, or 49 cents per share, last year.
Analysts anticipated 51 cents per share, according to Thomson Financial.
Sales at the filtration systems and replacement parts provider jumped 21 percent, to $587.8 million from $484 million in the 2007 third quarter.
Donaldson announces that it paid an undisclosed amount to acquire the California-based manufacturer of industrial dust filters, LMC West. Shares fall, as investors are not too enthusiastic about the purchase.