PIA Report Shows Printers' Profits Increasing

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The printing industry reported profits of 1.4 percent in 2010 compared to a loss of 1.4 percent in 2009 according to the recently completed 2011–2012 Printing Industries of America Ratio’s Survey. The sluggish economy and slowing print markets pulled down printers’ profitability in 2009, but improving economic conditions helped the print industry pick up steam and reverse the trends in 2010.

The average printer’s before-tax profit on sales was 1.4 percent over this past year. This was an increase compared to 1.4 percent percent loss in the 2010 survey (2009 fiscal year-end numbers); it is still below the 3.0–3.4 percent range experienced from 1995–2001. This is the first increase in profits in the last three years; at this rate the industry earned approximately $2.1 billion in total profits in 2010.

Profit leaders—printers in the top 25 percent of profitability—saw profits increase significantly to 9.5 percent as compared to 7.0 percent in the prior year. This increase brings profit leaders almost to pre-recession profit levels. Prior to the recession profit leaders reported profits in the 10.1 to 9.7 percent range. For all printers, the average profit of 1.4 percent is slightly more than the rate earned in 2001 before falling during the last recession.

According to the 2011 survey results (2010 fiscal year-end numbers), materials accounted for the largest single cost category for the typical printer, approximately 35.2 percent of sales. Total materials expenses increased slightly in 2010 from their previous level of 35.0 percent in 2009. Paper alone consumed more than one-in-five sales dollars last year. Other major costs incurred by printers last year included factory payroll (24.9 percent of sales) down from 26.3 percent in 2009, factory expenses (18.0 percent of sales) down from 18.8 percent in 2009, and administrative and selling expenses (19.4 percent of sales) down from 19.9 percent in 2009.

Sales per employee for all printers increased to $147,436, up 7.4 percent from 2009 lows of $137,326. Profit leaders sales per employee rose at an impressive rate of 10.6 percent compared to 2009 to $160,873.

Additionally, sales per factory employee increased among all printers by more than $11,000 (or 10.6 percent) from 2009 figures and averaged $198,122 in 2010. For profit leaders, sales per factory employee increased by an even wider margin, growing from $202,147 in 2009 to $222,480 in 2010.

Printers use the Ratios reports to evaluate their performance against industry profit leaders. Specific reports are available for various firm profiles by size of firm, printing process, and print market segments. To view executive summaries of past Ratios volumes go to www.printing.org/ratiossamples.

To order your Ratios Volume click here, or call 800-910-4283, ext. 770. For more information contact Ed Gleeson at 800-910-4283, ext. 756 or email at egleeson@printing.org.