Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ: LECO) reported Q4 EPS of $1.29, $0.09 better than the analyst estimate of $1.20. Revenue for the quarter came in at $743.8 million versus the consensus estimate of $766 million.

• Q4 EPS increases 275.0% to $1.35, Adjusted EPS increases 27.7% to $1.29
• Strong cash flow generation
• ROIC increases 450 basis points to 20.7%
• $304 million returned to shareholders in 2018 through dividends and share repurchases

“We achieved good profit improvement and solid cash flow generation in the fourth quarter, as we continued to successfully manage price/cost while investing in growth,” stated Christopher L. Mapes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We capitalized on strong industrial growth in 2018, yielding record sales and earnings, and I remain confident in the long-term, sustainable value we are creating through our new technologies and solutions. We are well positioned to drive margin growth and higher returns for our shareholders in 2019 as we continue to execute on our strategic initiatives.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Lincoln Electric (LECO) click here.