Server: Microsoft-IIS/3.0 Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 20:52:15 GMT Content-Type: text/html Accept-Ranges: bytes Last-Modified: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 15:19:15 GMT Content-Length: 17848 Financial Highlights
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1996 Comparative Highlights (Unaudited)

Sonoco (SON on NYSE) has a proven ability to grow year after year. Over a 97-year span, Sonoco has a compound annual growth in earnings of 12.5%.

Net sales increased income 4.4% in 1996    Net income available to common shareholders Earnings per share (fully diluted)





(Dollars in thousands except per share)
Years ended December 31
1996 1995

%
  Inc. (Dec.)

Net sales $2,788,075 $2,706,173 3.0%
Gross profit 639,970 599,186 6.8%
Net income available to common shareholders 163,675 156,756 4.4%
Return on common equity 21.1 % 22.2 % 16.2%
Return on total equity (including preferred stock) 18.3 % 18.7 % 2.1%
Return on net sales 6.1 % 6.1 % -
Approximate number of employees 19,000 19,000 -
Approximate number of locations 290 270 7.4%

Per common share
Net income available to common shareholders:
   - Assuming no dilution $1.81 $1.72 5.2%
   - Assuming full dilution 1.73 1.64 5.5%
Cash dividends - common .65 .58 12.1%
Ending common stock market price 25.88 26.25 (1.4)%
Book value per common share 8.91 8.19 8.8%
Price/earnings ratio 14.96 16.01 (6.6)%

 
Selected Quarterly Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands except per share)
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter

1997
Net sales $687,648 $714,167 $709,588
Gross profit 151,971 166,146 153,407
Net income available to common shareholders 40,180 44,684 41,247
Per common share
    Net income available to common shareholders:
     - Assuming no dilution .45 .49 .45
     - Assuming full dilution .43 .47 .42
  Cash dividends - common .165 .18 .18
  Market price - high 27.63 31.13 34.94
  - low 24.88 26.25 30.44

1996
Net sales $669,231     $689,855     $703,422    $725,567
Gross profit 156,355 167,634 157,946    158,034
Net income available to common shareholders 41,307   44,814 38,073 39,481
Per common share
    Net income available to common shareholders:
    - Assuming no dilution .45 .50 .42 .44
    - Assuming full dilution .43 .47 .41 .42
 Cash dividends - common .15 .165 .165 .165
 Market price- high 28.88 29.13 30.88 28.13
 - low 25.75 26 27.50 24.88

1995
Net sales $645,142   $691,726   $686,998   $682,307
Gross profit 140,339 151,007 149,948 157,892
Net income available to common shareholders 35,596 42,172 38,699 40,289
Per common share
    Net income available to common shareholders:
    - Assuming no dilution .39 .46 .43 .44
    - Assuming full dilution .37 .44 .41 .42
 Cash dividends - common .133 .15 .15 .15
 Market price- high 23.21 25.25 28.50 28.75
 - low 19.11 22.74 24.50 23.75


Per share amounts restated to reflect the 5% common stock dividend on June 9, 1995.

      The information above presents selected consolidated financial data for Sonoco on an historical basis. The data is based on the financial statements of Sonoco and reference is made to these complete statements and the related notes for more detailed data. Furthermore, historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results.
      Sonoco is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and accordingly, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, DC 20549, and at the following locations: The Commission's New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, NY 10048; Chicago Regional Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60661 and the New York Stock Exchange, New York, NY 10006. The Commission also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy, information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically.


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Last updated on 15 October 1997
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