Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX: SJ) today announced financial results for its third quarter and nine-month period ended September 30, 2009. Sales in the third quarter reached $104.7 million, a decrease of $7.2 million, or 6.4% from last year's sales of $111.8 million, mainly reflecting lower demand in the railway tie product category. Fluctuations in the value of the Canadian dollar, Stella-Jones' reporting currency, versus the U.S. dollar, increased the value of U.S. dollar denominated sales by approximately $3.6 million.

• Sales of $104.7 million, compared with $111.8 million last year
• Gross profit margin of 18.8% of sales, versus 18.7% a year earlier
• Net earnings of $8.3 million compared with $6.9 million last year, up 21.5%
• Diluted EPS of $0.65, up from $0.54 in the third quarter of 2008

Financial Highlights

	Quarters ended September 30,
(CDN $)	2009	2008	% change
Sales	104.7 M	111.8 M	(6.4)%
Net earnings	8.3 M	6.9 M	21.5 %
Net earnings per share - diluted	0.65	0.54	20.4 %