GRACO INC

The Company has five operating segments which are aggregated into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Process. Refer to Part I Item 1. Business, for a description of the Company’s three reportable segments. Management assesses the performance of segments by reference to operating earnings excluding unallocated corporate expenses and asset impairments.

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings by reporting segment (in millions):

(1)Unallocated corporate (expense) includes such items as stock compensation, certain acquisition transaction items, bad debt expense, charitable contributions, and certain facility expenses.

Contractor Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Contractor segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Contractor segment:

Contractor segment sales in 2024 were flat compared to 2023. Incremental sales from acquired operations, increased sales of protective coatings equipment and favorable response to new product offerings offset declines in North American construction markets. The operating margin rate for this segment was 2 percentage points lower than last year due to higher product costs on lower sales volumes, the unfavorable effects of lower margin rates of acquired operations and litigation costs associated with a trial that concluded in December of 2024.

Sales in the Americas represent the majority of sales for the Contractor segment. Management regularly reviews economic and financial indicators for North America, including levels of residential, commercial and institutional construction, remodeling rates and interest rates. Management also reviews gross domestic product for the regions and the level of the U.S. dollar versus the euro and other currencies.

Industrial Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Industrial segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Industrial segment:

Industrial segment sales decreased 7 percent for 2024 as finishing system sales in the Americas were unable to offset reduced project activity for automotive, e-mobility and electronic projects in Asia Pacific and weakened industrial activity in EMEA. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased 2 percentage points for the year due to higher product costs from lower sales volumes, business reorganization expenses and the unfavorable effects of product and channel mix.

In this segment, sales in each geographic region are significant, and management looks at economic and financial indicators in each region, including gross domestic product, industrial production, capital investment rates, automobile production, building construction and the level of the U.S. dollar versus the euro, the Swiss franc, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi and various other Asian currencies.

Process Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Process segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Process segment:

Process segment sales decreased in 2024 in all regions mainly due to decline in semiconductor end markets. Other end markets, such as mining, oil and gas, industrial pumps and vehicle services were weaker in 2024 compared to 2023. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased approximately 2 percentage points for the year as price realization was not enough to offset unfavorable expense leverage on lower sales volume.

Although the Americas represent the majority of sales for the Process segment, management monitors indicators such as levels of gross domestic product, capital investment, industrial production, oil and natural gas markets and mining activity worldwide.