JACKSON CENTER, Ohio, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) announced results for the fourth quarter and 12 months ended July 31, 2009.

Net income for the quarter was $24,781,000 up from $5,041,000 last year. E.P.S. for the quarter were 45 cents up from 9 cents last year. Sales for the quarter were $440,924,000 versus $569,843,000 last year. Net income for the 12 months was $17,143,000 compared to $92,706,000 last year. E.P.S. for the 12 months were 31 cents versus $1.67 last year. Sales for the 12 months were $1,521,896,000 compared to $2,640,680,000 last year.

E.P.S. of 45 cents in the quarter is nearly double analysts' consensus estimates of 23 cents. E.P.S of 31 cents for the year compares with analysts' consensus estimates of 11 cents. Operating margins significantly improved in the quarter as a result primarily of cost cutting initiatives.

"We achieved profits in both RV and Bus in the quarter and year, a notable accomplishment. Further, we maintained our record of 'never a loss' in the 29 years since our founding, a performance that we believe is unique in our industries. The RV business is improving after having been in a depression for over a year, with industry shipments down over 50%. The Bus business was also affected by the recession. Recently, bus order input has benefited from the federal stimulus package. These orders will be reflected in F2010 results. In August, for the first time in 2 years, industry towable RV sales increased (up 14%) while motorized sales continue to be very soft," said Wade F. B. Thompson, Thor chairman.

RV sales in the quarter were $337,990,000 versus $454,518,000 last year. Bus sales in the quarter were $102,934,000 versus $115,325,000 last year. RV sales in the 12 months were $1,115,006,000 compared to $2,224,955,000 last year. Bus sales in the 12 months were $406,890,000 versus $415,725,000 last year. RV income before tax was $24,827,000 in the quarter, almost triple $8,662,000 last year and $17,619,000 in the 12 months versus $145,784,000 last year. Bus income before tax in the quarter was $7,159,000 versus $8,324,000 last year and $17,422,000 in the 12 months versus $21,132,000 last year. "Thor is the only company to show an increase in market share in both towables and motorized recreation vehicles. For the 7 months ended July 31, 2009, Stat Surveys reported that Thor increased its towable share to 31.1%, up from 30.4% last year and increased its motorized share to 17.7% versus 15.1% last year. Thor's market share of the mid-size bus market is also up, at approximately 40%, according to industry statistics," Thompson said.

This release includes certain statements that are "forward looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward looking statements involve uncertainties and risks. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from our expectations. Factors which could cause materially different results include, among others, additional issues that may arise in connection with the findings of the completed investigation of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Thor Industries, Inc. (the "Company") and the SEC's requests for additional information, fuel prices, fuel availability, lower consumer confidence, interest rate increases, tight lending practices, increased material costs, the success of new product introductions, the pace of acquisitions, cost structure improvements, the impact of auction market failures on our liquidity, competition and general economic conditions and the other risks and uncertainties discussed more fully in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2009. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this release or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations after the date of this release or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based except as required by law.

                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
           STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE 3 AND 12 MONTHS ENDED JULY 31,
                                 2009 and 2008
                       $000 except per share - unaudited


                             3 MONTHS ENDED JULY 31  12 MONTHS ENDED JULY 31
                                 2009        2008        2009        2008
                                 ----        ----        ----        ----

    Net sales                 $440,924    $569,843  $1,521,896  $2,640,680
    ---------

    Gross profit               $57,870     $61,435    $152,537    $322,426

    Selling, general and
     administrative            $26,418     $44,749    $125,054    $177,881

    Operating income           $31,452     $16,686     $27,483    $144,545

    Impairment of goodwill
     & trademarks                   $-      $7,535     $10,281      $7,535

    Interest income (net)         $721      $1,569      $5,005     $10,196

    Gain on sale of property        $-          $-        $373      $2,308

    Net appreciation of auction
     rate securities           $(1,125)         $-          $-          $-

    Other income                  $226      $1,661        $815      $2,893
                                  ----      ------        ----      ------

    Income before taxes        $33,524     $12,381     $23,395    $152,407
    -------------------

    Taxes                       $8,743      $7,340      $6,252     $59,701
                                ------      ------      ------     -------

    Net income                 $24,781      $5,041     $17,143     $92,706
    ----------                 =======      ======     =======     =======

      E.P.S. - basic          45 cents     9 cents    31 cents       $1.67
      E.P.S. - diluted        45 cents     9 cents    31 cents       $1.66
      ----------------

    Avg. common shares
     outstanding-basic      55,436,924  55,407,924  55,429,373  55,593,572
    Avg. common shares
     outstanding-diluted    55,491,667  55,490,566  55,476,470  55,731,707



                  SUMMARY BALANCE SHEETS - JULY 31 ($000) (unaudited)


                       2009     2008                            2009     2008
                       ----     ----                            ----     ----
      Cash and
       equivalents  $221,684 $189,620   Current liabilities  $184,474 $248,416
      Investments,
       short term    107,150        -   Other liabilities      61,617   48,450
      Accounts
       receivable    115,616  146,355   Stockholders' equity  705,033  699,696
      Inventories    105,278  152,582
      Deferred income
       tax and other  54,290   39,363
                      ------   ------
      Total current
       assets        604,018  527,920
      Fixed assets   142,861  153,230
      Long term
       investments    13,428  126,403
      Goodwill       148,411  158,128
                     -------  -------
      Other assets    42,406   30,881                        $951,124 $996,562
                      ------   ------                        ======== ========
      Total         $951,124 $996,562
                    ======== ========

SOURCE Thor Industries, Inc.