Cummins saw gains in sales, net income and earnings during the first quarter, due to growth in the company's international markets, cost reductions and productivity gains.


"Our strength in large developing markets such as China, India and Brazil has given us a significant boost as those economies have continued to recover from the recession more quickly than other regions," said Tim Solso, Cummins chairman and CEO.


Sales grew 2 percent to $2.48 billion during the quarter, compared to $2.44 billion in the year-ago quarter. The company said its components and distribution segments offset declines in the engine and power generation units.

Net income was up to $149 million, or 75 cents a share, compared to $7 million, or 4 cents a share in the 2009 quarter. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose to $266 million, compared to $94 million a year ago.



However, sales were down 27 percent from the fourth quarter 2009, on lower demand in North America, the company said.

"While demand in the North American on-highway truck markets was very low as we expected due to the implementation of new emissions standards in the U.S. in January 2010, our work during the downturn to reduce costs and improve productivity, largely through our well-established Six Sigma quality program, has allowed us to be much more efficient and to respond quickly to the volatility in demand," Solso said.

Within the company's engine segment, sales were down 5 percent to $1.42 million. Earnings were $133 million, compared to a loss of $16 million in the year-ago quarter.

The company said demand in the North American on-highway engine markets is expected to remain weak through the end of the second quarter, before gradually improving in the second half of the year.