Arrow ends "exceptional" 2011 on growth high

Enterprise Computing Solutions arm outstrips growth of larger components division

Arrow Electronics registered a solid sales rise in the final quarter of 2011 to top off what it claims was an "exceptional" year.

The global distribution giant saw fourth quarter sales rise four per cent year on year to $5.44bn, pushing full-year sales up 14 per cent to $21.39bn.

Net profits rose even more quickly, from $157.9m to $174.1m year on year in the final quarter, and from $479.6m to $598.8m for the full year.

Chief financial officer Paul Reilly said: "We continue to deliver to and exceed our overarching goals of growing sales faster than the market, growing earnings at a faster rate than sales, generating returns well in excess of our cost of capital, and being cash flow positive."

Arrow's enterprise computing arm, ECS was the star performer, growing Q4 sales five per cent year over year to $2.0bn. This outstripped the growth of Arrow's larger components business, which logged sales of $3.44bn - a three per cent annual improvement.

Chief executive Michael Long said: "This has again been an exceptional year for Arrow Electronics as we set new financial records and successfully executed on our strategy to drive growth in our core global components and global ECS businesses as well as in high-margin lifecycle services."