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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

☒    Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2024, or

☐     Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    for the transition period from                      to                     .

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.   ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  ☐ Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data file required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-

based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

☐ Yes ☒ No

The aggregate market value of 168,905,671 shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $13,390,841,427 as of June 28, 2024.

169,493,970 shares of common stock were outstanding as of January 24, 2025.

Portions of the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 25, 2025, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Form 10-K”), as specifically set forth in said Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

Graco Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“Graco,” “us,” “we,” or “our Company”), is a multi-national manufacturing company. We supply technology and expertise for the management of fluids and coatings in industrial and commercial applications. We design, manufacture and market systems and equipment used to move, measure, mix, control, dispense and spray fluid and powder materials. Our equipment is used in manufacturing, processing, construction and maintenance industries. Graco is a Minnesota corporation and was incorporated in 1926.

We specialize in providing equipment solutions for difficult-to-handle materials with high viscosities, abrasive or corrosive properties, and multiple component materials that require precise ratio control. We aim to serve niche markets, providing high customer value through product differentiation. Our products enable customers to reduce their use of labor, material and energy, improve quality and environmental performance.

We make significant investments in developing innovative, high-quality products. We strive to grow into new geographic markets by strategically adding commercial and technical resources and third-party distribution in growing and emerging markets. We have grown our third-party distribution to have specialized experience in particular end-user applications. We leverage our product technologies for new applications and industries.

We also make targeted acquisitions to broaden our product offerings, enhance our capabilities in the end-user markets we serve, expand our manufacturing and distribution base and potentially strengthen our geographic presence. These acquisitions may be integrated into existing Graco operations or may be managed as stand-alone operations. In 2024, we completed acquisitions in the Contractor and Process segments. These acquisitions provide new product offerings, such as high-performance volumetric and gravimetric dispense, mixing, and shaking equipment, as well as additional channel partners and manufacturing capabilities. Note L (Acquisitions) to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K has additional information on recent acquisitions.

We have particularly strong manufacturing, engineering and customer service capabilities that enhance our ability to provide premium customer experience, produce high-quality and reliable products and drive ongoing cost savings.

Our investment in new products, targeted acquisitions and strong manufacturing, engineering and customer service capabilities comprise our long-term growth strategies, which we coordinate and drive across our geographic regions. Values central to our identity - growth, product innovation, premium customer service, quality and continuous improvement - are leveraged to integrate and expand the capabilities of acquired businesses.

In 2024, we classified our business into three reportable segments, each with a worldwide focus: Contractor, Industrial and Process.

Each segment sells its products in North, Central and South America (the “Americas”), Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”), and Asia Pacific. For 2024, sales in the Americas represented approximately 63 percent of our Company’s total sales. Sales in EMEA represented approximately 21 percent and sales in Asia Pacific represented approximately 16 percent. We provide marketing and product design in each of these geographic regions. Our Company also provides application assistance to distributors and employs sales personnel in each of these geographic regions.

Financial information concerning our segments and geographic markets is set forth in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note B (Segment Information) to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

For information about our Company and our products, services and solutions, visit our website at www.graco.com. The information on the website is not part of this report nor any other report filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

We manufacture a majority of our products in the United States (“U.S.”). We also manufacture products in Switzerland (Industrial segment), Italy (Industrial and Contractor segments), the People’s Republic of China (“P.R.C.”, or "China") (all segments), India (Contractor segment), Belgium (all segments) and Romania (Industrial segment). Our manufacturing is aligned with our business segments and is co-located with product development to accelerate technology improvements and improve our cost structure. We perform critical machining, assembly and testing in-house for most of our products to control quality, improve response time and maximize cost-effectiveness.

We make our products in focused factories and product cells. We source raw materials and components from suppliers around the world.

For all segments, we primarily sell our equipment through third-party distributors worldwide, positioned throughout our geographic regions, and through selected retailers. Our products are sold from our warehouse to our third-party distributors or retailers who sell our products to end users. Certain of our businesses sell their products directly to end-user customers and have direct relationships with customers.

Outside of the U.S., our subsidiaries located in Australia, Belgium, Spain, Japan, Italy, Korea, India, the P.R.C., the United Kingdom and Brazil distribute our Company’s products. Operations in Maasmechelen, Belgium, Gossau, Switzerland, Modena, Italy, Gujarat, India and Shanghai, P.R.C. reinforce our commitment to those regions.

Our manufacturing capacity is sufficient for current business demand levels. In 2024, we completed significant expansion projects, including a worldwide distribution center in Dayton, Minnesota, a manufacturing and distribution facility for our Powder division in Gossau, Switzerland and the expansion of our Anoka, Minnesota facility. In 2023, we completed an expansion of our Sioux Falls, South Dakota manufacturing facility and the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Sibiu, Romania. The completion of these projects represents the culmination of a period of significant investment in expansion and modernization of our key manufacturing and distribution facilities. Production requirements in the immediate future are expected to be met through existing facilities, the installation of new automatic and semi-automatic machine tools, efficiency and productivity improvements, the use of leased space and available subcontract services. For more details on our facilities, see Item 2, Properties.

Our primary product development efforts are carried out in facilities located in Minneapolis, Anoka, Dayton and Rogers, Minnesota; North Canton, Ohio; Gossau, Switzerland; Modena, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Suzhou, Shanghai, P.R.C.; Dexter, Michigan; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Kamas, Utah. The product development and engineering groups focus on new product design, product improvements, and new applications for existing products and technologies for their specific customer base. We continue to enhance our product capabilities with particular emphasis on automation and configurability, easier integration with end-user customer manufacturing and business systems, and increased focus on data and analytics. Our product development efforts focus on bringing new and supplemental return on investment value to end users of our products and enhance their ability to manage products and efficiency and support their sustainability initiatives.

Our Company consistently makes significant investments in new products. Total product development expenditures for all segments were $87 million in 2024, $83 million in 2023 and $80 million in 2022. The amounts invested in product development averaged approximately 4 percent of sales over the last three years. Our product development activities are focused both on upgrades to our current product lines to provide features and benefits that will provide a return on investment to our end-user customers and the development of products that will reach into new industries and applications to incrementally grow our sales. Sales of products that refresh and upgrade our product lines are measured and compared with planned results. Sales of products that provide entry into new industries and applications are also measured, with an additional focus on commercial resources and activities to build specialized third-party distribution and market acceptance by end users.

Our Company measures the results of acquired businesses as compared to historical results and projections made at the time of acquisition. We will invest in engineering, manufacturing and commercial resources for these businesses based on expected return on investment.

The Contractor segment represented approximately 47 percent of our total sales in 2024. Through this segment, we offer sprayers that apply paint to walls and other structures, with product models for users ranging from do-it-yourself homeowners to professional contractors. Contractor equipment also includes sprayers that apply texture to walls and ceilings, highly viscous coatings to roofs, and markings on roads, parking lots, athletic fields and floors as well as high-performance volumetric and gravimetric dispense, mixing, and shaking equipment.

This segment also manufactures two-component proportioning systems that are used to spray polyurethane foam ("spray foam") and polyurea coatings. Spray foam is commonly used for insulating building walls, roofs, water heaters, refrigerators, hot tubs and other items.

Polyurea coatings are applied on storage tanks, pipes, roofs, truck beds, concrete and other items. We offer a complete line of pumps and proportioning equipment that sprays specialty coatings on a variety of surfaces for protection and fireproofing.

End users of this segment are primarily professional painters in the construction and maintenance industries, specialty contractors, tradesmen and do-it-yourselfers. Contractor products are marketed and sold in all major geographic areas. We continue to add distributors throughout the world that specialize in the sale of Contractor products. Globally, we are pursuing a broad strategy of converting contractors accustomed to manually applying paint and other coatings to spray technology.

Our Contractor products are distributed primarily though distributor outlets whose main products are paint and other coatings. Certain sprayers and accessories are distributed globally through the home center channel. Contractor products are also sold through general equipment distributors outside of North America.

The Industrial segment represented approximately 29 percent of our total sales in 2024. It includes the Industrial and Powder divisions. The Industrial segment markets equipment and solutions for moving and applying paints, powder coatings, sealants, adhesives and other fluids. Markets served include automotive and vehicle assembly and components production, including Electro or e-mobility, wood and metal products, rail, marine, aerospace, farm, construction, bus, recreational vehicles and various other industries. End users often invest in our equipment to gain process efficiencies, improve quality or save on material or energy costs. A majority of this segment's business is outside of North America.

Most Industrial segment equipment is sold worldwide through specialized third-party distributors, integrators, design centers, original equipment manufacturers and material suppliers. Some products are sold directly to end users and may include design and installation to specific customer requirements. We work with material suppliers to develop or adapt our equipment for use with specialized or hard-to-handle materials. Distributors promote and sell the equipment, hold inventory, provide product application expertise and offer on-site service, technical support and integration capabilities. Integrators implement large individual installations in manufacturing plants where products and services from a number of different manufacturers are aggregated into a single system. Design centers engineer systems for their customers using our products. Original equipment manufacturers incorporate our Industrial segment products into systems and assemblies that they then supply to their customers.

The Industrial division makes liquid finishing and advanced fluid dispense equipment primarily for use in industrial applications.

This division’s products include liquid finishing equipment that applies liquids on metals, wood and plastics, with emphasis on solutions that provide easy integration to paint monitoring and control systems. Products include paint circulating and paint supply pumps, paint circulating advanced control systems, plural component coating proportioners, various accessories to filter, transport, agitate and regulate fluid, and spare parts such as spray tips, seals and filter screens. The Industrial division also offers a variety of applicators that use different methods of atomizing and spraying liquid materials, paint or other coatings depending on the viscosity of the fluid, the type of finish desired and the need to maximize transfer efficiency, minimize overspray and minimize the release of volatile organic compounds into the air. Manufacturers in the automotive, automotive feeder, commercial and recreational vehicle, military and utility vehicle, aerospace, farm, construction, wood and general metals industries use our liquid finishing products.

The Industrial division also manufactures equipment for industrial customers that pumps, meters, mixes and dispenses sealant, adhesive and composite materials. Advanced fluid dispense equipment includes gel-coat equipment, chop and wet-out systems, resin transfer molding systems and applicators and precision dispensing solutions. This precision dispense equipment bonds, molds, seals, vacuum encapsulates and laminates parts and devices in a wide variety of industrial applications.

The Powder division makes powder finishing products and complete powder finishing systems that coat powder on metals. These products are sold under the Gema® and SAT™ brands. Gema powder systems coat window frames, metallic furniture, automotive components and sheet metal. Primary end users of our powder finishing products include manufacturers in the construction, home appliance, automotive component and custom project coater industries.

We strive to provide innovative solutions in powder coating for end users in emerging and developed markets.

The Process segment represented approximately 24 percent of our total sales in 2024. It includes the Process and Lubrication divisions. The Process segment markets pumps, valves, meters and accessories to move and dispense chemicals, oil and natural gas, water, wastewater, petroleum, food, lubricants and other fluids. Markets served include food and beverage, dairy, oil and natural gas, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, semiconductor, electronics, wastewater, mining, fast oil change facilities, service garages, fleet service centers, automobile dealerships and industrial lubrication applications.

Most Process segment equipment is sold worldwide through third-party distributors and original equipment manufacturers. Some products are sold directly to end users, particularly in the oil and natural gas and semiconductor industries.

The Process division makes pumps of various technologies that move chemicals, water, wastewater, petroleum, food and other fluids. Manufacturers and processors in the food and beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, oil and natural gas, semiconductor, electronics, wastewater, mining and ceramics industries use these pumps. This division makes environmental monitoring and remediation equipment that is used to conduct ground water sampling and ground water remediation, and for landfill liquid and gas management.

The Lubrication division primarily designs and sells equipment for use in equipment maintenance and vehicle servicing. We supply pumps, hose reels, meters, valves and accessories for use by fast oil change facilities, service garages, fleet service centers, automobile dealerships, auto parts stores, truck builders and heavy equipment service centers.

This division also offers systems, components and accessories for the automatic lubrication of bearings, gears and generators in industrial and commercial equipment, compressors, turbines and on- and off-road vehicles. Automatic lubrication systems reduce maintenance costs, downtime and extend equipment life. These systems are utilized across a variety of industries including construction, mining, industrial manufacturing, transportation, wind energy and oil and natural gas.

The Lubrication division also manufactures high pressure and ultra-high pressure valves used in the oil and natural gas industry, hydrogen refueling infrastructure, other industrial processes and research facilities. The division also has a line of chemical injection pumping solutions for precise injection of chemicals into producing oil wells and pipelines.

As previously announced, effective January 1, 2025, the Company has classified its business into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Expansion Markets.

•The Industrial segment consists of the newly formed Industrial Division and the Powder Division. The Company’s former Industrial and Lubrication Equipment Divisions, along with the Process Transfer Equipment business that was part of the Company’s former Process Division, were combined to form the new global Industrial Division. The Powder Division remains unchanged.

•The Expansion Markets segment consists of the Expansion Markets Division and will focus on driving inorganic growth in new and adjacent markets. The Company’s environmental, semiconductor, high-pressure valves and electric motors businesses, together with select future ventures and acquisitions, reside within this division.

•The Contractor segment remains unchanged as a reporting segment relative to prior periods.

Segment operating results will be reported under the new organizational structure for the first quarter of 2025. Segment information recast to conform to the new organizational structure is available as unaudited supplemental financial information on the Company’s website at www.graco.com.

The primary materials and components in our products are steel of various alloys, sizes and hardness; specialty stainless steel and aluminum bar stock, tubing and castings; tungsten carbide; electric and gas motors; injection molded plastics; sheet metal; forgings; powdered metal; hoses; electronic components and high-performance plastics, such as polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"). The materials and components that we use are generally available through multiple sources of supply. To manage cost, we source significant amounts of materials and components from outside the U.S., primarily in the Asia Pacific region.

In 2024, the Company's global supply chain continued to stabilize, including improved lead times and lower inflationary effects. Our efforts to identify alternative suppliers to source raw materials and components for our products as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical tensions have improved our ability to mitigate isolated supply chain disruptions.

We endeavor to address fluctuations in the price and availability of various materials and components through close management of current suppliers, price negotiations and an intensive search for new suppliers. We have performed risk assessments of our key suppliers, and we factor the risks identified into our commodity plans.

We own a number of patents across our segments and have patent applications pending in the U.S. and other countries. We also license our patents to others and are a licensee of patents owned by others. In our opinion, our business is not materially dependent upon any one or more of these patents or licenses. Our Company also owns a number of trademarks in the U.S. and foreign countries, including registered trademarks for "GRACO," "Gema," "Corob," several forms of a capital “G,” and various product trademarks that are material to our business, inasmuch as they identify Graco and our products to our customers.

We encounter a wide variety of competitors that vary by product, industry and geographic area. Each of our segments generally has multiple competitors. Our competitors are both U.S. and foreign companies and range in size. We believe that our ability to compete depends upon product quality, product reliability, innovation, design, customer support and service, specialized engineering and competitive pricing. Although no competitor duplicates all of our products, some competitors are larger than our Company, both in terms of sales of directly competing products and in terms of total sales and financial resources. We also face competitors with different cost structures and expectations of profitability, and these companies may offer competitive products at lower prices. We refresh our product lines and continue the development of our distribution channel to stay competitive. We also face competitors who illegally sell counterfeits of our products or otherwise infringe on our intellectual property rights. As this type of unfair competition grows or evolves, we may have to increase our intellectual property and unfair competition enforcement activities.

Our compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations did not have a material effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position during the fiscal year ended December 27, 2024.

As of December 27, 2024, we employed approximately 4,300 persons. Of this total, approximately 1,900 were employees based outside of the U.S., and 1,200 were hourly factory workers in the U.S. None of our U.S. employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Various national industry-wide labor agreements apply to certain employees in various countries outside of the U.S. Compliance with such agreements has no material effect on our Company or our operations.

The location of the majority of our manufacturing operations within the U.S. allows us to flex employee resources as needed to respond to changes in demand of our business. Our manufacturing, product development, warehouse and administrative employees are generally located in the same or adjacent facilities, which we believe contributes to our culture of strong manufacturing, engineering and customer service capabilities.

The personal health, wellness and safety of each of our employees is of primary importance. The prevention of occupationally induced injuries and illnesses is given precedence over operating productivity. Our Health, Wellness and Safety program is designed to increase engagement, reduce absenteeism due to illness or injury, provide healthier lifestyle choices, and reduce health risk factors for our employees.

Our reward programs connect all employees to the performance and success of the Company. As an employer of choice, we offer pay, benefits and a work environment that attracts and retains high-performing talent. We believe that an effective compensation program must be market competitive as well as fair and equitable. Our compensation program is designed to attract and retain top talent, drive and reward performance and enhance our reputation. Our total rewards program is comprised of various elements, including base pay, variable pay, equity-based compensation for all employees, and health, welfare and retirement benefits.

To achieve our strategic objectives, it is imperative that we attract, develop and retain qualified personnel. We seek to develop talent from within our organization and supplement our workforce with external hires as necessary. This approach has helped create among our employees an in-depth understanding of our business, products, competition and customers, while also adding new employee ideas and perspectives in support of our continuous improvement initiatives.

As of December 27, 2024, our executive officers responsible for setting overall strategy averaged nearly 23 years of tenure. Tenure of all employees averaged nearly 10 years, reflective of our positive workplace culture. Our recruiting team uses internal and external resources to recruit highly skilled and talented workers, and we encourage and reward employee referrals for open positions.

We are committed to maintaining a culture of trust that recognizes the dignity and uniqueness of the individual. We provide equal opportunities for professional growth and advancement based on performance, qualifications, demonstrated skill and achievements. All employees are encouraged, under a continuous improvement program with financial incentives, to submit ideas to improve profitability, quality, safety and environmental practices. New employee orientation and regular ethics training are required for all employees. We complete a biennial survey of our employees to assess our culture, benchmark us against industry leaders, and to make improvements as necessary.

We have a long history of giving back to the communities where we live and work through the volunteer efforts of our employees and the giving efforts of the Graco Foundation. The Graco Foundation’s goal is to help organizations grow their ability to serve community needs through grants focused on capital projects, specific programs and technology needs. The Graco Foundation places emphasis on educational programs, especially STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs; human service programs promoting workforce development; and youth development programs. The Graco Foundation also supports several employee-based programs, including dollar-for-dollar gift matching, grants to support volunteerism, scholarships for children of employees, tutoring with a local middle school and an annual Paint-A-Thon that helps low-income seniors and people with permanent disabilities continue to live independently in their own homes.

As a global manufacturer of systems and equipment designed to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid and powder materials, our business is subject to various risks and uncertainties. Below are risk factors that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The demand for our products depends, in part, on the general economic conditions of the industries, geographies or economies in which our customers operate. An economic downturn, recession, depression, sustained inflationary pressures or financial market turmoil may depress demand for our equipment in all or some major geographies and markets. Economic uncertainty and volatility in various geographies and industries in which we conduct business may adversely affect our net sales and earnings. If our distributors and original equipment manufacturers are unable to, or have a diminished ability to, purchase our products because of unavailable credit or unfavorable credit terms, depressed end-user demand, or are simply unwilling to purchase our products, our net sales and earnings will be adversely affected.

An economic downturn may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and affect our ability to satisfy the financial covenants in the terms of our financing arrangements. We cannot predict the timing, severity or duration of any such downturn, or the timing of any recovery.

A significant number of routine transactions to which we are a party are conducted in foreign currencies. Changes and volatility in exchange rates have impacted, and in the future may impact, our sales, cost of materials and earnings and the valuation of assets denominated in foreign currencies. A majority of our manufacturing and cost structure is based in the U.S. In addition, the decreased value of local currency may make it difficult for some of our distributors and end users to purchase our products. A significant fluctuation in exchange rates may negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Domestic political instability, including government shut downs, may limit our ability to grow our business. International political instability (including tensions between the U.S. and the countries in which we conduct business, rumors or threats of war, terrorism and other hostilities, and geopolitical activity or trade disruptions, such as those caused by the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, or any conflict or threatened conflict between China and Taiwan) may cause economic conditions in the U.S. or abroad to deteriorate. The occurrence of any of these events could result in a prolonged economic slowdown, prevent us or our customers from expanding into certain geographies or limit our ability to grow our business. Civil disturbances may also harm our business.

Interest Rate Fluctuations and Credit Markets – Declines in interest rates, asset values and investment returns could increase our pension costs and required pension contributions. Increases in interest rates, or the reduced availability of credit due to instability in the financial markets, could limit our ability to pursue growth initiatives and our customers’ ability to invest in their businesses, which could adversely impact demand for our products.

The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan for certain U.S. employees and retirees of the Company. The pension plan is funded with trust assets invested in a diversified portfolio of equity, fixed income and other investments. Declines in interest rates, the market value of plan assets, and investment returns could significantly increase our future estimated pension liabilities, net periodic pension costs and pension contribution requirements and, as a result, adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

While we believe our current cash position is strong and will enable us to fund many of our foreseeable growth initiatives, including acquisitions and capital investments, rising interest rates or reduced access to debt financing could impact our ability to pursue these initiatives. Reduced credit availability or a higher cost of capital may also limit the ability of end users of our products to invest in their businesses, which could depress demand for our equipment in all or some major geographies and markets.

While we manufacture many of our parts and product components in the U.S., we source certain of our materials and components from suppliers outside the U.S., and from suppliers within the U.S. who engage in foreign sourcing. Long lead times or supply interruptions associated with a global supply base may reduce our flexibility and make it more difficult to respond promptly to fluctuations in demand or respond quickly to product quality problems. The availability and prices for raw materials, parts and components may be curtailed for a variety of reasons. Our suppliers may allocate the supply of certain raw materials, parts or components to other purchasers. Changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies and fluctuations in the price of raw materials and components have impacted and may continue to impact the manufacturing costs of our products and affect our profitability.

Geopolitical instability (including in Europe and the Middle East), protective tariffs, unpredictable changes in duty rates, and changes in trade policies, agreements, relations and regulations have made and may continue to make certain foreign-sourced parts of limited availability or no longer competitively priced. Long supply chains may be disrupted by environmental events, public health crises, political or other factors. Raw materials may become limited in availability from certain regions. Port labor issues may delay shipments. We source a large volume and a variety of electronic components, which exposes us to an increased risk of counterfeit components entering our supply chain. If counterfeit components unknowingly become part of our products, we may need to stop delivery and rework our products. We may be subject to warranty claims and may need to recall products. While many of our raw materials, parts and components are generally commercially available from a number of sources, some of them are sourced from single suppliers, which has limited, and could continue to limit, their availability when those suppliers are unable or unwilling to meet our production requirements and we are unable to timely source such items from an alternative supplier. In addition, we source some of our materials, parts and components from suppliers located in China. As such, we are exposed to potential disruptions in deliveries from these suppliers due to political tensions, geopolitical risks, government-mandated facility closures due to public health matters or other causes. Shortages, delivery delays and price inflation in a wide variety of raw materials and components (including but not limited to electronic components, castings, engines and motors) and logistical challenges (including but not limited to increased freight costs, shipping container shortages, trucking shortages, ocean, railway and air freight capacity constraints, labor shortages and port delays) have adversely affected production and profitability and may adversely affect production and profitability in the future.

We rely on information systems and networks to conduct and support our business. Some of these systems and networks are managed, hosted and provided by third parties. We use these systems and networks to record, process, summarize, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support our business processes and activities. We may experience interruptions, delays and outages in service and availability from time to time, including infrastructure changes, human or software errors, upgrade disruptions and capacity constraints. We also face the risk that the measures we have implemented to secure our information systems and networks and prevent unauthorized access to or loss of sensitive data are not effective and our information systems, networks, and those of our third-party service providers may be exposed to risks, including unauthorized access, operational errors, fraudulent activities, system failures, poor password management, and other potential irregularities. Our employees, customers and others may be the subject of social engineering attacks and induced to disclose confidential, proprietary or other sensitive information, including their network credentials, to cybercriminals, who may then gain access to our and our customers’ information, data and information technology systems. Cybersecurity threats are increasing in frequency, sophistication and severity. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience cybersecurity threats and attacks on our systems and networks and those of our third-party service providers. To date, none of the cybersecurity threats and attacks we have experienced have had a material adverse impact on our operations, business or financial condition.

The tactics and capabilities of cybercriminals are growing increasingly sophisticated, and it is virtually impossible for any organization, including us, to completely eliminate the risk of cyberattacks. Security breaches or intrusion into our information systems or networks or the information systems or networks of the third parties with whom we do business pose a risk to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data and of our customers, suppliers and employees, and could lead to any one or more of the following: the compromising of confidential information; manipulation, unauthorized use, theft or destruction of data; product defects or malfunctions; production downtimes and operations disruptions; litigation; regulatory action; reputational harm, including loss of confidence by our customers, suppliers and employees in our ability to adequately protect their information; fines; ransoms; and other costs and adverse consequences. As a manufacturer, our operating technology assets and systems are susceptible to disruption through cyberattacks. We anticipate that meaningful investments in our operating technology infrastructure will be necessary as we continue to assess our operating technology posture and respond to the increasingly-pronounced risks posed by third-party cyber actors.

The occurrence of a security breach or an intrusion into an information system or a network, or the breakdown, interruption or inadequate upgrading or maintenance of our information processing software, hardware or networks or the internet, may adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition. We do not currently maintain specific cyber insurance coverage. Any insurance coverage we do have may be inadequate to compensate for losses arising from any security breach or cybersecurity incident, and may in the future not be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all.

The laws, regulations and customer-imposed controls governing cybersecurity and privacy continue to evolve and are becoming increasingly complex. We will be required to commit significant resources to keep pace with continued changes in information technology processes, legal, regulatory and customer requirements, and the increased frequency and severity of cyberattacks and the sophistication of the methods used by those who perpetrate them. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful. In addition, we are subject to new cybersecurity disclosure rules, and we may face increased costs and be required to incur significant costs in the event of an actual or perceived cybersecurity incident and to comply with these rules.

From time to time, we have been faced with instances where competitors have infringed or unfairly used our intellectual property or taken advantage of our design and development efforts. The ability to protect and enforce intellectual property rights varies across jurisdictions. Competitors who attempt to copy our products are prevalent in Asia, and they are increasingly offering their low-cost copies outside of Asia, including in Europe and North America. While we believe these copies oftentimes are of inferior quality to our products and lack much of the technology and many of the features inherent in our products, if we are unable to effectively meet these challenges, they could adversely affect our revenues and profits and hamper our ability to grow. Competitors and others may also initiate litigation to challenge the validity of our intellectual property or allege that we infringe their intellectual property. We may be required to pay substantial damages if it is determined our products infringe their intellectual property. We may also be required to develop an alternative, non-infringing product that could be costly and time-consuming, or acquire a license (if available) on terms that are not favorable to us. Regardless of whether infringement claims against us are successful, defending against such claims could significantly increase our costs, divert management’s time and attention away from other business matters, and otherwise adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

While we believe the development and adoption of generative AI technologies are in their early stages, the increased use of these technologies in the conduct of our business poses risks which, if they materialize, could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operation and reputation. The deployment of generative AI tools creates opportunities for the potential loss or misuse of personal data, the inadvertent dissemination of our confidential or proprietary information, or the unintentional use of third parties’ intellectual property. In addition, the content, analyses, recommendations or other output that generative AI tools produce could be deficient, inaccurate or biased or be based on flawed or insufficient datasets.

In 2024, approximately 46 percent of our sales were generated by customers located outside the U.S. Operations and sales outside of the U.S. expose us to certain risks that could adversely impact our sales volume, rate of growth or profitability. These risks include: complying with foreign legal and regulatory requirements; international trade factors (export controls, customs clearance, trade policy, trade sanctions, trade agreements, duties, tariff barriers and other restrictions); trade disruptions arising out of geopolitical activity (such as those caused by the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, or any conflict or threatened conflict between China and Taiwan); protection of our proprietary technology in certain countries; potentially burdensome taxes; potential difficulties staffing and managing local operations; and changes in exchange rates.

The loss of, or substantial damage to, one of our facilities, our information system infrastructure or the facilities of our suppliers could make it difficult to manufacture products, fulfill customer orders and provide our employees with work. Flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, unusually heavy precipitation or other severe weather events, earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, explosions, acts of war, terrorism, civil unrest or outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics of infectious diseases could adversely impact our operations.

Our success depends in large part on our ability to identify, recruit, develop and retain qualified personnel. If we are unable to successfully identify, recruit, develop and retain qualified personnel or adapt to changing worker expectations and working arrangements, it may be difficult for us to meet our strategic objectives and grow our business, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

A significant public health crisis, and any associated governmental, business and societal responses, could have an adverse effect on our operations, employees, supply chains, distribution channels, and end-user customers. Any such public health crisis could have negative impacts similar to those we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: employees being infected by, or exposed to, the virus; adverse impacts on the efficiency and productivity of our workforce and our operations; adverse impacts on our ability to manufacture products and provide related services in a timely manner; supply chain disruptions, including increased costs of raw materials and components, and delays, shortages and difficulties in sourcing raw materials and components; volatility in demand for certain of our products; inability to meet end-user customer demand; distribution and logistics challenges, including increased freight costs, reduced freight capacity, and shipping delays; restrictions on our employees’ ability to meet customers in person and the cancellation, postponement and reformatting of trade shows, industry events and product demonstrations, which impacted our selling activities and our ability to convert those activities into actual sales; and a significant investment of time, energy and resources by management in mitigating the effects of the pandemic on our employees and our business and complying with existing, new or modified governmental rules, regulations, standards and mandates. We could experience similar or additional, and potentially more significant, adverse effects on our business, results of operations and financial condition as a result of any future pandemic. The extent to which a public health crisis impacts us will depend on numerous factors and future developments that are uncertain and that we are not able to predict, including: the severity of the virus and new variants of the virus; the duration and scope of the pandemic; the efficacy, distribution and adoption rate of vaccines and therapeutic treatments; infection rates in the areas in which we or our suppliers, distributors or end-user customers operate; governmental, business, societal, individual and other actions taken in response to the pandemic; the effect on our suppliers and distributors, and disruptions to the global supply chain; the impact on economic activity; the effect on our end-user customers and their demand and buying patterns for our products and services; the effect of any closures or other changes in operations of our and our suppliers’, distributors’ and end-user customers’ facilities; the health of and the effect on our employees and our ability to meet staffing needs; our ability to sell our products and services and provide product support; restrictions or disruptions to transportation, including reduced availability of ground, sea or air transport; and the effect on our ability to access capital on favorable terms and continue to meet our liquidity needs, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. Even after a public health crisis subsides, we may continue to experience adverse effects to our business as a result of ongoing or new economic impacts. A public health crisis, including a pandemic, could also exacerbate or trigger other risks discussed in this report, any of which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Making acquisitions, investing in new products, expanding geographically and targeting new industries are among our growth strategies. We may not obtain the return on investment desired if we are not successful in implementing these growth strategies. The success of our acquisition strategy depends on our ability to successfully identify and properly value suitable acquisition candidates, negotiate appropriate acquisition terms, obtain financing at a reasonable cost, prevail against competing acquirers, complete the acquisitions and integrate or add the acquired businesses into our existing businesses or corporate structure. There is significant competition for quality acquisition opportunities, and there is no assurance that we will be successful in securing those opportunities, particularly in situations where other interested acquirers with greater resources than ours are involved. Once successfully integrated into our existing businesses or added to our corporate structure, an acquired business may not perform as planned, be accretive to earnings, generate positive cash flows, provide an acceptable return on investment or otherwise be beneficial to us.

We may not realize projected efficiencies and cost-savings from the businesses we acquire. We cannot predict how customers, competitors, suppliers, distributors and employees will react to the acquisitions that we make. Acquisitions may result in the assumption of undisclosed or contingent liabilities, the incurrence of increased indebtedness and expenses, and the diversion of management’s time and attention away from other business matters, any of which may have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We make significant investments in developing products that have innovative features and differentiated technology in their industries and in niche markets. We are adding to the geographies in which we do business with third-party distributors. We cannot predict whether and when we will be able to realize the expected financial results and accretive effect of the acquisitions that we close, the new products that we develop and the channel expansions that we make.

Our total assets reflect goodwill from acquisitions, representing the excess cost over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. We test annually whether goodwill has been impaired, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the goodwill may be impaired. If future operating performance at one or more of our operating units were to fall significantly below forecast levels or if market conditions for one or more of our acquired businesses were to decline, we could be required to incur a non-cash charge to operating income for impairment. Any impairment in the value of our goodwill would have an adverse non-cash impact on our results of operations and reduce our net worth.

Our profitability will be affected if we do not develop or acquire new products and technologies that meet our customers’ evolving needs and desires. Our ability to develop or acquire, and market and sell, products that meet our customers’ needs and desires depends upon a number of factors, including anticipating the features and products that our customers will need or want in the future, successfully implementing our acquisition strategies, identifying and entering into new markets, training our distributors, and anticipating market trends. Changes in industries and markets that we serve, including consolidation of competitors, distributors and customers, could affect our success. Changes in the competitive landscape, increases in the market reach of competitors, and improvements in the quality of competitive products could also affect our success. Price competition and competitor strategies could negatively impact our growth and have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

Our Contractor segment, which is our largest reporting segment by sales, derives a significant amount of revenue from a few large channel partners. Substantial decreases in purchases by these customers, difficulty in collecting amounts due or the loss of their business would adversely affect the profitability of this segment. The business of these customers is dependent upon prevailing levels of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional building and remodeling activities. If these activities decline, the business of our customers could be adversely affected and their purchases of our equipment could decrease which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

A substantial portion of our revenues is attributable to sales to customers in cyclical industries. Downturns in these industries could result in a deterioration of our customers’ businesses and, in turn, a reduced demand for some of our products. Our business may be affected by fluctuations in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional building and remodeling activities. Changes in construction materials and techniques may also impact our business. Our business may also be affected by fluctuations of activity in the automotive, electronics, aerospace, semiconductor, and agriculture and construction equipment industries.

We are subject to many laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we operate, and as the nature and geographic scope of our business grows and expands, we may become subject to additional laws and regulations previously inapplicable to our business. Changes to laws and regulations to which we are currently subject, exposure to additional laws and regulations previously inapplicable to our business, and the imposition of new laws and regulations increase our cost of doing business, may affect the manner in which our products will be produced or delivered, may affect the locations and facilities from which we conduct business, and may impact our long-term ability to provide returns to our shareholders.

Growing concerns over climate change have resulted in, and may continue to result in, new laws, regulations and accords intended to reduce emissions of certain greenhouse gases and to require reporting on such emissions and other climate-related matters. Existing and new laws, regulations and accords relating to emissions of certain greenhouse gases and the reporting of such emissions and other climate-related matters may be difficult and costly to comply with, may adversely impact certain aspects of our operations (including but not limited to the manufacture and distribution of our products), may adversely impact certain industries in which we operate, may result in increased energy, input, compliance and other costs, and may decrease demand for certain of our products.

Many regulators, investors, employees, vendors, customers, community members and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on ESG matters such as climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, human capital, and diversity, equity and inclusion. As the nature, scope and complexity of ESG reporting, diligence and disclosure requirements expand, we may have to devote more resources, and incur additional costs, to control, assess and report on ESG metrics. We may make public statements about various ESG-related matters and initiatives from time to time, including on our website, in our press releases, in our ESG report, and in other communications. Addressing stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements relating to ESG matters requires an investment of time, money and other resources, any or all of which may increase our cost of doing business. As investor and other stakeholder expectations relating to ESG matters change and evolve over time, any failure or perceived failure by us to adequately address those expectations may damage our reputation and adversely affect our business and results of operations. In addition, our stakeholders have evolving, varied and sometimes conflicting expectations regarding many aspects of our business, including our operations and ESG-related matters.

As a global manufacturer, we are subject to a variety of complex and stringent laws and regulations related to bribery, corruption and trade. The continued geographic expansion of our business increases our exposure to, and the cost of complying with, these laws and regulations. Changes in export control or trade sanction laws may restrict our business practices, including cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries or with sanctioned entities, and may result in modifications to our compliance programs and increase compliance costs. If our internal controls and compliance program do not adequately prevent or deter our employees, agents, distributors, suppliers and other third parties with whom we do business from violating anti-bribery, anti-corruption or trade laws and regulations, we may incur defense costs, fines, penalties, reputational damage and business disruptions.

The Company is subject to taxes in the U.S. and a number of foreign jurisdictions where it conducts business. The Company’s effective tax rate has been and may continue to be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and changes in tax laws or their interpretation, such as the 15% global minimum tax under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD") Pillar Two, Global Anti-Base Erosion Rules. In addition, the U.S. government could adopt changes to international trade agreements, tariffs, taxes and other related regulations. If the Company’s effective tax rate were to increase, or if the ultimate determination of the Company’s taxes owed is for an amount in excess of amounts previously accrued, the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected.

The nature of our business, including the equipment we develop, manufacture and sell, or have in the past developed, manufactured and sold, exposes us to the risk of product liability, warranty and tort (including toxic tort), commercial and employment-related claims, demands and litigation. As we grow, we are at an increased risk of being a target in matters related to the assertion of claims and demands, litigation, administrative proceedings and regulatory reviews. We may also need to pursue claims or litigation to protect our interests. The cost of pursuing, defending and insuring against such matters is increasing, particularly in the U.S. A claim against us could cause us to incur substantial and unexpected costs and affect customer confidence in our products, which may adversely affect our profitability. Further, due to adverse changes in costs to insure against such matters, we have increased our self-insured retention and deductibles and procured lower coverage limits under certain policies, which may increase our risk exposure for certain types of claims and adversely affect our profitability if we are ultimately held responsible for such claims. In some cases, our insurers may have the right to compel us to settle litigation we are defending and make a payment in connection with the settlement, even where we have a strong conviction in our defenses and believe our exposure is limited. Successful claims against the Company and settlements may adversely affect our results.

None.

Our cybersecurity program seeks to identify, assess and monitor material cybersecurity and other information technology risks and threats that may affect our information systems, networks and operations, including those systems and networks managed by third parties. We regularly assess potential risks and execute a layered cybersecurity strategy based on prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation. The Company’s cybersecurity risks are evaluated at least annually through our enterprise risk management program, which is a company-wide effort to identify, assess, manage, report and monitor material risks that may affect our ability to achieve our business objectives.

To manage our cybersecurity program, we have established a cross-functional cybersecurity oversight committee and cybersecurity team, both led by our Chief Information Officer ("CIO"). Our cybersecurity oversight committee and cybersecurity team, with the support of external cyber-specialist resources, include technical experts in cybersecurity risk management, incident response and security operations with extensive experience in the operations of networks, network security and infrastructure management. In addition, members of our cybersecurity team have cybersecurity experience or certifications, such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification. Our CIO is informed about and monitors prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation efforts through regular communication and reporting from professionals on the cybersecurity management team and through the use of technological tools and software.

Policies, procedures and controls under our cybersecurity program are designed in consideration of published frameworks, including the Center for Information Security ("CIS") Critical Security Controls, and routinely evaluated for ongoing adherence to those frameworks. Our cybersecurity program includes a process for incident response and continuous improvement. We periodically enlist outside advisors to evaluate the maturity of our cybersecurity program, review processes and policies, conduct penetration and vulnerability tests and simulation exercises, and to monitor and help identify potential cybersecurity incidents. We provide annual cybersecurity awareness training to our employees and contractors to help identify potential cybersecurity threats and attacks, perform targeted phishing campaigns, use multifactor authentication for secure access to our systems and networks and tabletop exercises to simulate and prepare for potential incidents. When considering to engage with third-party service providers, we assess the risks from cybersecurity threats posed by such engagement and continue to evaluate those risks throughout the duration of the relationship.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors oversees the Company’s cybersecurity risks and strategy. Management provides regular updates to the Audit Committee on cybersecurity risks facing the Company, the systems management has in place to mitigate and manage those risks, the status of key cybersecurity initiatives through a review of the Company’s cybersecurity strategic roadmap and whether any material cybersecurity incidents have occurred. The Audit Committee performs an annual review of the Company’s cybersecurity program, which includes an update of the cybersecurity threat landscape, discussion of management’s actions to identify and detect threats, and a review of assessments, penetration tests and other audits performed by internal and external parties. In addition, management periodically arranges for outside experts to present to the Audit Committee on cyber governance frameworks, regulatory developments, industry practices and risk management.

None of the cybersecurity risks, including as a result of any prior incidents we have experienced, have had a material adverse impact on our operations, business or financial condition.

Our facilities are in satisfactory condition, suitable for their respective uses, and are generally adequate to meet current needs. A description of our principal facilities as of February 18, 2025, under our operating segment structure for the year ended December 27, 2024, is set forth in the chart below.

Our Company is engaged in routine litigation, administrative proceedings and regulatory reviews incident to our business. It is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of these unresolved matters, but management believes that they will not have a material effect upon our operations or consolidated financial position.

The following are all the executive officers of Graco Inc. as of February 18, 2025:

Mark W. Sheahan, 60, became President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2021. From June 2018 to June 2021, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. He was Vice President and General Manager, Applied Fluid Technologies Division from 2008 to 2018. He served as Chief Administrative Officer from 2005 to 2008, and was Vice President and Treasurer from 1998 to 2005. Prior to becoming Treasurer in December 1996, he was Manager, Treasury Services. Mr. Sheahan also serves as a director of Tennant Company and on the board of managers of Fernweh Group, LLC.

Ronita Banerjee, 47, became Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in May 2023. Before joining Graco, she was Global Human Resources Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, a provider of nuclear products and services, from May 2019 to April 2023. Prior to joining Westinghouse from 2017 to May 2019, she served as Global Human Resources Vice President, Building Solutions, and Global Human Resources Director, at Honeywell Inc., prior to which she served as Global Human Resources Director from 2015 to 2017. She was in several human resources management roles at General Mills Inc. from May 2007 to March 2015. Before that, she worked at Dell Technologies Inc. within their compensation and staffing practice from 2003 to 2005, and began her career at Gati Ltd. She joined the Company in 2023.

Laura L. Evanson, 44, became Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer in January 2024. From January 2023 to December 2024, she served as Executive Vice President, Marketing. From September 2021 to December 2022, she served as Vice President of Marketing for the Lubrication Equipment Division and Vice President of Marketing for South and Central America. From 2017 to September 2021, she served as the Director of Marketing for the Lubrication Equipment Division. From 2015 to 2017 she served as a Senior Global Marketing Manager for the Lubrication Equipment Division. From 2010 to 2015, she was a Senior Global Product Marketing Manager for the Lubrication Equipment Division. Prior to that, she worked in various Product Marketing and Channel Marketing roles for the Lubrication Equipment Division and Industrial Products Division. She joined the Company in 2008.

Inge Grasdal, 54, became Executive Vice President, Corporate Development in January 2022. Before joining Graco, he was Vice President Corporate Development at Ecolab, a global provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, from 2018 to January 2022. Prior to joining Ecolab, he was Senior Director Corporate Development at 3M Company from 2012 to 2018. From 2007 to 2012, he was Vice President Investment Banking at Piper Jaffray & Co. Prior to joining Piper Jaffray, he held various roles in finance, consulting and engineering, including most recently as Director of Finance – Analytics at United Health Group from 2003 to 2007. He joined the Company in January 2022.

Joseph J. Humke, 54, became Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in July 2021. Before joining Graco, from 2001 to June 2021, he was an equity partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practice groups at Ballard Spahr LLP and Lindquist & Vennum LLP (which combined in January 2018) and an associate from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Humke also serves as a director of SkyWater Technology, Inc. He joined the Company in July 2021.

Dale D. Johnson, 70, became Chief Commercial Development Officer in January 2024. He was previously President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division, from 2017 to December 2023. From 2001 to 2017, he served as Vice President and General Manager, Contractor Equipment Division. From 2000 to 2001, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer. From 1996 to 2000, he was Vice President, Contractor Equipment Division. Prior to becoming the Director of Marketing, Contractor Equipment Division in June 1996, he held various marketing and sales positions in the Contractor Equipment division and the Industrial Equipment division.

He joined the Company in 1976.

Christopher D. Knutson, 47, became Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in January 2025. From May 2023 to December 2024, he served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller. He has also served as the Company's principal accounting officer since May 2023. From April 2020 to May 2023, he was Director of Corporate Treasury and Investor Relations, and from 2017 to April 2020, was Director of Corporate Treasury and Regional Controller, South and Central America. He served as Vice President of Finance from 2016 to 2017 at United Skin Specialists, after which he returned to Graco. From 2010 to 2016 he served in several Controller roles, including in the Applied Fluid Technology Division, Asia Pacific, and Lubrication Equipment Division. He first joined Graco as the Internal Audit Manager from 2008 to 2010. Prior to joining Graco, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for seven years within their audit practice. He joined the Company in 2008.

David M. Lowe, 69, became Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in June 2021. From April 2020 to June 2021, he served as President, Worldwide Process Division. He was President, Worldwide Industrial Products Division from June 2018 until April 2020. From 2012 until 2018, he was Executive Vice President, Industrial Products Division. From 2005 to 2012, he was Vice President and General Manager, Industrial Products Division. He was Vice President and General Manager, European Operations from 1999 to 2005. Prior to becoming Vice President, Lubrication Equipment Division in December 1996, he was Treasurer. He joined the Company in 1995.

Claudio Merengo, 55, became President, Global Powder Division in January 2025. From February 2024 to December 2024, he served as President, Worldwide Powder Division. He was previously President, Worldwide Gema from 2007 to February 2024. During this time, he also served as Group President, ITW Finishing from 2010 to 2012 and Group President, ITW Dynatec from 2008 to 2009. From 2004 to 2007 he was President, Gema Europe. From 1999 to 2004, he was Managing Director, Gema Italy. From 1994 to 1999, he held different positions in R&D, Sales and After Sales for Gema. He joined Gema in 1994. Gema has been part of Graco since the acquisition of the ITW Finishing Group in 2012.

Peter J. O’Shea, 60, became President, Global Industrial Division in January 2025. From January 2022 to December 2024, he served as President, Worldwide Lubrication Equipment Division, and President, South and Central America. From July 2021 to January 2022, he was President, Worldwide Industrial Products Division, and President, South and Central America. From April 2020 to January 2022, he was President, Worldwide Industrial Products Division. From 2018 to April 2020, he was President, Worldwide Lubrication Equipment Division. From 2016 to 2018, he was Vice President and General Manager, Lubrication Equipment Division. From 2012 to 2015, he was Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific. From 2012 to 2012, he was Director of Sales & Marketing, Industrial Products Division, and from 2008 to 2012, he was Director of Sales & Marketing, Industrial Products Division and Applied Fluid Technology Division. He was Country Manager, Australia - New Zealand from 2005 to 2008, and from 2002 to 2005 he served as Business Development Manager, Australia - New Zealand. Prior to becoming Business Development Manager, Australia - New Zealand, he worked in various Graco sales management positions. He joined the Company in 1995.

Kathryn L. Schoenrock, 47, became Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer in February 2024. She was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer from May 2023 to February 2024. From January 2022 to May 2023, she was Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller and Information Systems. From August 2020 to January 2022, she was Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller. She has also served as the Company’s principal accounting officer from August 2020 to May 2023. From 2017 to August 2020, she was Director of Corporate Finance. She served as Director of Financial Reporting from 2012 to 2018. Prior to joining Graco, she served as a Senior Manager in the audit practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP from 2008 to 2012, and held various positions in the audit practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP from 2002 to 2008 and in the audit practice of Arthur Andersen LLP from 2000 to 2002. She joined the Company in 2012.

David J. Thompson, 57, became President, Global Contractor Division in January 2025. From January 2024 to December 2024, he served as President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division. He was previously Vice President of Engineering, Contractor Equipment Division, a role he had held since 2021. He held a series of positions of increasing responsibility within the Contractor Equipment Division throughout his career, including Engineering Manager, Senior Engineering Manager and Director of Engineering. He joined the Company in 1988.

Timothy R. White, 55, became President, Expansion Markets Division in January 2025. From June 2021 to December 2024, he served as President, Worldwide Process Division. From August 2020 to June 2021, he served as President, White Knight and QED Environmental Systems. He served as President, EMEA from 2018 to August 2020. From 2015 to 2018, he was the President of QED Environmental Systems. He served as Director of Sales and Marketing, Applied Fluid Technologies Division, from 2012 to 2015. From 2011 to 2012, he was the North American Sales Manager, Applied Fluid Technologies Division. From 2008 to 2011, he was Operations Director, Contractor Equipment Division. Prior to becoming Operations Director, Contractor Equipment Division, he held various manufacturing management positions.

He joined the Company in 1992.

Angela F. Wordell, 53, became Executive Vice President and Chief Operations and Supply Chain Officer in January 2025. From January 2022 to December 2024, she served as Executive Vice President, Operations. From April 2020 to January 2022, she was Executive Vice President, Operations, and President, Worldwide Oil & Natural Gas Division. From 2018 to April 2020, she was Executive Vice President, Operations. From 2017 to 2018, she was Purchasing Director. From January 2017 to April 2017, she served as Strategic Sourcing Director. From 2010 to 2017, she was Operations Director, Industrial Product Division and China Factory. Prior to that, she held various manufacturing management and engineering positions. She joined the Company in 1993.

Graco common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GGG.” As of January 24, 2025, the share price was $85.86 and there were 169,493,970 shares outstanding and 1,570 common shareholders of record, which includes nominees or broker dealers holding stock on behalf of an estimated 204,372 beneficial owners.

The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the common stock of the Company for the last five fiscal years with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Industrial Machinery Index over the same period (assuming the value of the investment in Graco common stock and each index was $100 on December 31, 2019, and all dividends were reinvested).

On December 7, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to 18 million shares of its outstanding common stock, primarily through open-market transactions. The authorization is for an indefinite period of time or until terminated by the Board. There are no shares available for repurchase under previous authorizations.

In addition to shares purchased under the Board authorization, the Company purchases shares of common stock held by employees who wish to tender owned shares to satisfy the exercise price or tax due upon exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock.

Information on issuer purchases of equity securities follows:

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis reviews significant factors affecting the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements. A discussion of changes in our financial condition and the results of operations from the year ended December 29, 2023 compared to December 30, 2022 can be found in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2023. The discussion is organized in the following sections:

Graco designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment used to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid and powder materials. The Company specializes in equipment for applications that involve difficult-to-handle materials with high viscosities, materials with abrasive or corrosive properties and multiple-component materials that require precise ratio control. Graco sells primarily through independent third-party distributors worldwide to industrial and contractor end users. Graco’s business is classified by management into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Process. Each segment is responsible for product development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of their products.

Graco’s key strategies include developing and marketing new products, leveraging products and technologies into additional, growing end-user markets, expanding distribution globally and completing strategic acquisitions that provide additional channels and technologies. Long-term financial growth targets accompany these strategies, including our objectives of 10 percent revenue growth and 12 percent consolidated net earnings growth per annum. We continue to develop new products in each operating division that are expected to drive incremental sales growth, as well as continued refreshes and upgrades of existing product lines. Graco has made a number of strategic acquisitions that expand and complement organically developed products and provide new market and channel opportunities.

Manufacturing is a key competency of the Company. Our management team in Minneapolis provides strategic manufacturing expertise and is also responsible for factories not fully aligned with a single division. Our largest manufacturing facilities are in the U.S. We also manufacture some of our products in Switzerland (Industrial segment), Italy (Industrial and Contractor segment), the P.R.C. (all segments), India (Contractor segment), Belgium (all segments) and Romania (Industrial segment). Our primary distribution facilities are located in the U.S., Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, P.R.C., Japan, Italy, South Korea, India, Australia and Brazil.

A summary of financial results follows (in millions except per share amounts):

(1)     Excludes impacts of business reorganization charges, excess tax benefits from stock option exercises, impairment charges, contingent consideration fair value adjustments, pension settlement losses and certain non-recurring tax

provision adjustments. See Financial Results Adjusted for Comparability below for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP.

Certain events in the last two years caused fluctuations in financial results. Excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises reduced income taxes by $15 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2023. Business reorganization charges reduced operating earnings in 2024 by $8 million. Other expense for 2023 included a $42 million non-cash pension settlement loss. In 2023, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment and contingent consideration adjustment related to an acquisition that was not material to the financial statements. Other benefits from tax planning activities further reduced income taxes in 2023. Excluding the impacts of those items presents a more consistent basis for comparison of financial results. A calculation of the non-GAAP adjusted measurements of operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, income taxes, effective income tax rates, net earnings and diluted earnings per share follows (in millions except per share amounts):

			2024						2023
Operating earnings, as reported			$	570.1					$	646.8
Contingent consideration			—						(8.6)
Impairment			—						7.8
Business reorganization			7.7						—
Operating earnings, adjusted			$	577.8					$	646.0
Earnings before income taxes, as reported			$	589.3					$	608.8
Pension settlement loss			—						42.1
Contingent consideration			—						(8.6)
Impairment			—						7.8
Business reorganization			7.7						—
Earnings before income taxes, adjusted			$	597.0					$	650.1
Income taxes, as reported			$	103.2					$	102.3
Pension settlement tax effect			—						8.8
Other non-recurring tax benefit			—						4.8
Excess tax benefit from option exercises			14.9						10.3
Business reorganization tax effect			1.8						—
Income taxes, adjusted			$	119.9					$	126.2
Effective income tax rate
As reported			17.5		%				16.8		%
Adjusted			20.1		%				19.4		%
Net Earnings, as reported			$	486.1					$	506.5
Pension settlement loss, net			—						33.3
Contingent consideration			—						(8.6)
Impairment			—						7.8
Other non-recurring tax benefit			—						(4.8)
Excess tax benefit from option exercises			(14.9)						(10.3)
Business reorganization			5.9						—
Net Earnings, adjusted			$	477.1					$	523.9
Weighted Average Diluted Shares			172.4						172.2
Diluted Net Earnings per Share
As reported			$	2.82					$	2.94
Adjusted			$	2.77					$	3.04

Components of Net Earnings as a Percentage of Sales:

The following table presents an overview of components of net earnings as a percentage of net sales:

Net Sales

The following table presents net sales by geographic region (in millions):

(1)     North, Central and South America, including the U.S. Sales in the U.S. were $1,149 million in 2024 and $1,162 million in 2023.

(2)    Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region:

In 2024, net sales declined in all regions and in most end markets compared to 2023. Declines in global semiconductor markets drove sales lower in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Reduced project activity for automotive, electronics and e-mobility end markets, especially in China, furthered sales declines in Asia Pacific. In the Americas, strong finishing system sales were unable to offset soft residential and non-residential construction markets. In EMEA, decreased industrial activity in Western Europe led to lower sales in 2024.

Gross Profit

The gross profit margin rate for 2024 increased slightly as the favorable effects of realized pricing more than offset unfavorable product and channel mix, lower sales volume and higher product costs.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased $38 million (7 percent) for 2024 compared to 2023. Operating expenses for 2024 included $13 million in incremental litigation costs associated with a trial that concluded in December of 2024, $13 million of investments in new product development and other growth initiatives, $7 million of business reorganization costs and $7 million of expenses from acquired operations. Reductions in volume and earnings-based expenses of $14 million for the year partially offset the increase in operating expenses. Investment in new product development in 2024 was $87 million, approximately 4 percent of sales.

Operating Earnings

Sales declines and increased operating expenses led to a 12 percent decrease in operating earnings. Operating earnings expressed as a percentage of sales in 2024 decreased approximately 3 percentage points compared to 2023 as lower sales, higher product costs and higher expenses impacted profitability for the year.

Interest & Other Expense

Interest expense was $2 million lower for 2024 compared to 2023 as private placement debt was repaid in the third quarter of 2023. Excluding a prior year pension settlement loss of $42 million, other income increased $13 million for 2024, largely due to increased interest income.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for 2024 was 18 percent, up 1 percentage point from 2023. The increase in 2024 was largely due to non-recurring tax benefits in 2023, variations in excess tax benefits from stock option exercises and the unfavorable effects of foreign earnings taxed at higher rates than the U.S.

The Company has five operating segments which are aggregated into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Process. Refer to Part I Item 1. Business, for a description of the Company’s three reportable segments. Management assesses the performance of segments by reference to operating earnings excluding unallocated corporate expenses and asset impairments.

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings by reporting segment (in millions):

(1)    Unallocated corporate (expense) includes such items as stock compensation, certain acquisition transaction items, bad debt expense, charitable contributions, and certain facility expenses.

Contractor Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Contractor segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Contractor segment:

Contractor segment sales in 2024 were flat compared to 2023. Incremental sales from acquired operations, increased sales of protective coatings equipment and favorable response to new product offerings offset declines in North American construction markets. The operating margin rate for this segment was 2 percentage points lower than last year due to higher product costs on lower sales volumes, the unfavorable effects of lower margin rates of acquired operations and litigation costs associated with a trial that concluded in December of 2024.

Sales in the Americas represent the majority of sales for the Contractor segment. Management regularly reviews economic and financial indicators for North America, including levels of residential, commercial and institutional construction, remodeling rates and interest rates. Management also reviews gross domestic product for the regions and the level of the U.S. dollar versus the euro and other currencies.

Industrial Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Industrial segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Industrial segment:

Industrial segment sales decreased 7 percent for 2024 as finishing system sales in the Americas were unable to offset reduced project activity for automotive, e-mobility and electronic projects in Asia Pacific and weakened industrial activity in EMEA. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased 2 percentage points for the year due to higher product costs from lower sales volumes, business reorganization expenses and the unfavorable effects of product and channel mix.

In this segment, sales in each geographic region are significant, and management looks at economic and financial indicators in each region, including gross domestic product, industrial production, capital investment rates, automobile production, building construction and the level of the U.S. dollar versus the euro, the Swiss franc, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi and various other Asian currencies.

Process Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Process segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Process segment:

Process segment sales decreased in 2024 in all regions mainly due to decline in semiconductor end markets. Other end markets, such as mining, oil and gas, industrial pumps and vehicle services were weaker in 2024 compared to 2023. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased approximately 2 percentage points for the year as price realization was not enough to offset unfavorable expense leverage on lower sales volume.

Although the Americas represent the majority of sales for the Process segment, management monitors indicators such as levels of gross domestic product, capital investment, industrial production, oil and natural gas markets and mining activity worldwide.

Working Capital. The following table highlights several key measures of asset performance (dollars in millions):

Higher cash and cash equivalent balances primarily drove increases in working capital in 2024. Decreased receivables from lower sales activity were more than offset by the incremental effect of acquired operations. An effort to reduce inventory levels in 2024 more than offset the effect of acquired inventory. As inventory purchases decreased, trade accounts payable decreased. The current ratio increased in 2024 in line with the changes in working capital.

Capital Structure. At December 27, 2024, the Company’s capital structure included current notes payable of $29 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,584 million. At December 29, 2023, the Company’s capital structure included current notes payable of $30 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,224 million.

Shareholders’ equity increased by $360 million in 2024. The increase provided by current year earnings of $486 million was primarily offset by dividends of $176 million and share repurchases of $31 million. Other increases in shareholders' equity included share issuances, stock compensation and other comprehensive income of $81 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources. The Company evaluates liquidity as its ability to generate cash to fund its operating, investing and financing activities. Historically the Company has funded cash requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, businesses acquisitions, repayment of debt obligations, retirement plans, dividends, and common stock repurchases, all as applicable, through cash provided by its operations. The Company's other primary source of liquidity includes funds available through various debt financing arrangements.

As of December 27, 2024, the Company had available liquidity of $1,453 million, including cash held in deposit accounts of $675 million, of which $144 million was held outside of the U.S., and available credit under existing committed credit facilities of $778 million.

Internally generated funds and unused financing sources are expected to provide the Company with the flexibility to meet its liquidity needs in 2025, including its capital expenditure plan of approximately $60 million, planned dividends estimated at $186 million, share repurchases and acquisitions. If acquisition opportunities increase, the Company believes that reasonable financing alternatives are available for the Company to execute on those opportunities. The Company has no significant off-balance sheet debt or other unrecorded obligations. The Company believes it has the ability to meet its long-term cash requirements by using available cash and internally generated funds and to borrow under its committed and uncommitted credit facilities.

In December 2024, the Board of Directors increased the Company’s regular quarterly dividend from $0.255 to $0.275 per share, an increase of 8 percent.

Cash Flow. A summary of cash flow follows (in millions):

Cash Flows From Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $622 million in 2024, down $29 million compared to 2023, due primarily to lower net earnings. Fewer inventory purchases in 2024 as part of an inventory reduction program, as well as other decreases in working capital partially offset the effects of lower net earnings on cash provided by operating activities.

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $343 million in 2024, including $242 million for business acquisitions and $107 million for capital additions. Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $185 million in 2023, including $185 million for capital additions.

Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $140 million in 2024 and included dividends of $172 million and share repurchases of $31 million, partially offset by net proceeds from share issuances of $66 million.

Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $268 million in 2023 and included share repurchases of $102 million (partially offset by net proceeds from share issuances of $60 million), dividends of $158 million, and net payments on long-term debt and outstanding lines of credit of $65 million.

On December 7, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 18 million shares of common stock, primarily through open market transactions. The authorization is for an indefinite period of time or until terminated by the Board. As of December 27, 2024, approximately 13 million shares remain available for purchase under the authorization.

The Company repurchased and retired 0.4 million shares in 2024, 1.4 million shares in 2023 and 3.6 million shares in 2022. The Company has made and may continue to make opportunistic share repurchases in 2025 via open market transactions or short-dated accelerated share repurchase programs.

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company’s most significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note A (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to the consolidated financial statements. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts will differ from those estimates. The Company considers the following policies to involve the most judgment in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Retirement Benefits. The measurements of the Company’s pension and postretirement medical obligations are dependent on a number of assumptions including estimates of the present value of projected future payments, taking into consideration future events such as salary increases and demographic experience. These assumptions may have an impact on the expense and timing of future contributions.

The assumptions used in developing the required estimates for pension obligations include discount rate, inflation, salary increases, retirement rates, expected return on plan assets and mortality rates. The assumptions used in developing the required estimates for postretirement medical obligations include discount rates, rate of future increase in medical costs and participation rates.

For U.S. plans, the Company establishes its discount rate assumption by reference to a yield curve published by an actuary and projected plan cash flows. For plans outside the U.S., the Company establishes a rate by country by reference to highly rated corporate bonds. These reference points have been determined to adequately match expected plan cash flows. The Company bases its inflation assumption on an evaluation of external market indicators. The salary assumptions are based on actual historical experience, the near-term outlook and assumed inflation. Retirement rates are based on experience. The investment return assumption is based on the expected long-term performance of plan assets. In setting this number, the Company considers the input of actuaries and investment advisers, its long-term historical returns, the allocation of plan assets and projected returns on plan assets. For 2025, the Company will use an investment return assumption of 7.3 percent for the funded U.S. plan. The 2024 rate assumed was 7.6 percent for the funded U.S. plan. Mortality rates are based on current common group mortality tables for males and females.

At December 27, 2024, a one-half percentage point decrease in the indicated assumptions would have the following effects (in millions):

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The Company performs impairment testing for goodwill annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company estimates the fair value of the reporting units using a present value of future cash flows calculation cross-checked by an allocation of market capitalization approach. The goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of the relevant reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

The Company’s primary identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, trademarks, trade names, proprietary technology and patents. Finite lived intangibles are amortized and are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Indefinite lived intangibles are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired.

A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests. Management makes several assumptions, including earnings and cash flow projections, discount rate, product offerings and market strategies, customer attrition, and royalty rates, each of which have a significant impact on the estimated fair values. Though management considers its judgments and assumptions to be reasonable, changes in these assumptions could impact the estimated fair value.

We completed our annual impairment test of goodwill and other intangible assets in the fourth quarter of 2024. No impairment charges were recorded as a result of that review. In 2023, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment related to the reorganization of a business acquired in 2020 that was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes. In the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, management calculates income taxes. This includes estimating current tax liability as well as assessing temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items for tax and financial statement purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are recorded on the balance sheet using statutory rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. These assets and liabilities are analyzed regularly, and management assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recoverable from future taxable income. A valuation allowance is established to the extent that management believes that recovery is not likely. Liabilities for uncertain tax positions are also established for potential and ongoing audits of federal, state and international issues. The Company routinely monitors the potential impact of such situations and believes that liabilities are properly stated. Valuations related to amounts owed and tax rates could be impacted by changes to tax codes and the Company’s interpretation thereof, changes in statutory rates, the Company’s future taxable income levels and the results of tax audits.

The Company sells and purchases products and services in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and pays variable interest rates on borrowings under certain credit facilities. Consequently, the Company is subject to profitability risk arising from exchange and interest rate movements. The Company may use a variety of financial and derivative instruments to manage foreign currency and interest rate risks. The Company does not enter into any of these instruments for trading purposes to generate revenue. Rather, the Company’s objective in managing these risks is to reduce fluctuations in earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange and interest rates.

The Company may use forward exchange contracts, options and other hedging activities to hedge the U.S. dollar value resulting from anticipated currency transactions and net monetary asset and liability positions. At December 27, 2024, the currencies to which the Company had the most significant balance sheet exchange rate exposure were the euro, Swiss franc, Canadian dollar, British pound, Japanese yen, Australian dollar, Chinese renminbi, South Korean won and Indian rupee. It is not possible to determine the true impact of currency rate changes; however, the direct translation effect on net sales and net earnings can be estimated. In 2024, changes in currency translation rates reduced sales by approximately $6 million and reduced net earnings by approximately $3 million. In 2023, changes in currency translation rates reduced sales by approximately $2 million and reduced net earnings by approximately $4 million.

Entering 2025, overall incoming order rates remain steady in an uncertain macroeconomic environment. Demand in China and for semiconductor products appear to have stabilized. The Company's reorganization into global businesses, centered around common customers and distributors, has been completed and is designed with the intention of driving incremental profitable growth. The Company remains committed to its core growth strategies of developing new products, expanding distribution, seeking adjacent markets and new geographies, and pursuing strategic acquisitions. As a result, the Company's outlook for 2025 is low single-digit revenue growth on an organic, constant currency basis.

At January 31, 2025 exchange rates, assuming the same volumes, mix of products and mix of business by currency as in 2024, the movement in foreign currencies would have an unfavorable impact of approximately 1 percentage point on net sales and 2 percentage points on net earnings for 2025.

The Company's backlog is not a good indicator of future long-term business levels. In addition to economic growth, the successful launch of new products and expanded distribution coverage, the sales outlook is dependent on many factors, including realization of price increases and stable foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions regarding forward-looking statements of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is filing this Cautionary Statement in order to do so. From time to time various forms filed by our Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this Form 10-K and our Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks, and other disclosures, including our overview report, press releases, earnings releases, analyst briefings, conference calls and other written documents or oral statements released by our Company, may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally use words such as “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “should,” “estimate,” “will,” and similar expressions, and reflect our Company’s expectations concerning the future. All forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon currently available information, but various risks and uncertainties may cause our Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of new information or future events.

Future results could differ materially from those expressed, due to the impact of changes in various factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the demand for our products and the level of commercial and industrial activity worldwide; changes in currency translation rates; international and domestic political instability; interest rate fluctuations and changes in credit markets; global sourcing of materials; interruptions of or intrusions into our information systems; intellectual property rights; the use of generative artificial intelligence; conducting business internationally; catastrophic events; our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel; public health crises; our growth strategies and acquisitions; potential goodwill impairment; our ability to compete effectively; our dependence on a few large customers; our dependence on cyclical industries; changes in laws and regulations; climate-related laws, regulations and accords; environmental, social and governance-related expectations and requirements; compliance with anti-corruption and trade laws; changes in tax rates or the adoption of new tax legislation; costs associated with legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties including those discussed in Item 1A of this Form 10-K. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Investors should realize that factors other than those identified in Item 1A might prove important to the Company’s future results. It is not possible for management to identify each and every factor that may have an impact on the Company’s operations in the future as new factors can develop from time to time.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Graco Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 27, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 27, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 18, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

The Company has both funded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans. The actuarial determination of the present value of the pension obligation on an annual basis requires management to make significant assumptions related to the selection of the discount rates used in the calculation of the net present value of future pension benefits. The Company establishes the discount rate assumptions for the U.S. pension plans by reference to a yield curve published by an actuary and projected plan cash flows.

Given the significance of the U.S. pension obligation and the requirement of management to make significant assumptions related to the selection of the discount rates, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of the discount rates selected for the U.S. pension plans required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our actuarial specialists.

Our audit procedures related to selection of the discount rates for the U.S. pension obligation included the following, among others:

a. We tested the effectiveness of internal controls over the valuation of the pension obligation, including management’s controls over selection of the discount rates.

b. With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the discount rates by:

•Evaluating the methodology utilized to select the discount rates for conformity with applicable accounting guidance.

•Testing the source information underlying the determination of the discount rates, including the methodology used to construct the yield curve, the characteristics of the bonds underlying the yield curve analysis, and the mathematical accuracy of the calculation.

•Developing independent estimates using external published yield curves and comparing them to the discount rates selected by management.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since at least 1969, however, an earlier year could not be readily determined.

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

Years Ended December 27, 2024, December 29, 2023 and December 30, 2022

Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) is 52- or 53-weeks, ending on the last Friday in December. The years ended December 27, 2024, December 29, 2023, and December 30, 2022 were 52-week years.

Basis of Statement Presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and its subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions. As of December 27, 2024, all subsidiaries are 100 percent controlled by the Company. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year's consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

Foreign Currency Translation. The functional currency of certain subsidiaries is the local currency. Accordingly, adjustments resulting from the translation of those subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars are charged or credited to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for all other foreign subsidiaries. Accordingly, gains and losses from the translation of foreign currency balances and transactions of those subsidiaries are included in other (income) expense, net.

Accounting Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value Measurements. The three levels of inputs in the fair value measurement hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 – based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

Level 2 – based on significant observable inputs

Level 3 – based on significant unobservable inputs

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and fair value measurement level were as follows (in thousands):

Contracts insuring the lives of certain employees who are eligible to participate in certain non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans are held in trust. Cash surrender value of the contracts is based on performance measurement funds that shadow the deferral investment allocations made by participants in certain deferred compensation plans. The deferred compensation liability balances are valued based on amounts allocated by participants to the underlying performance measurement funds.

The Company’s policy and accounting for forward exchange contracts are described below in Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

Contingent consideration liability represents the estimated value (using a probability-weighted expected return approach) of future payments to be made to previous owners of certain acquired businesses based on future revenues.

(Debt) and in Note J (Retirement Benefits).

Cash Equivalents. All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable includes trade receivables of $348 million in 2024 and $343 million in 2023. Other receivables totaled $15 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2023.

Allowance for Credit Losses. Receivables reflected in the financial statements represent the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses is established based on expected losses. Expected losses are estimated by reviewing individual accounts, considering aging, financial condition of the debtor, recent payment history, current and forecast economic conditions and other relevant factors.

Following is a summary of activity in the allowance for credit losses (in thousands):

(1)    Additions represents amounts identified in acquisitions. Deductions represent amounts determined to be uncollectible and charged against reserves, net of collections on accounts previously charged against reserves.

(2)     Includes effects of foreign currency translation.

Inventory Valuation. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost method is used for valuing most U.S. inventories. Inventories of most foreign subsidiaries are valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method.

Other Current Assets. Amounts included in other current assets were (in thousands):

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Company evaluates long-lived assets (including property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets) for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

We completed our annual impairment test of all long-lived assets in the fourth quarter of 2024. No impairment charges were recorded as a result of that review. In 2023, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment related to the reorganization of a business acquired in 2020 that was not material to the consolidated financial statements. There were no impairment charges in 2022.

Property, Plant and Equipment. For financial reporting purposes, plant and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, primarily by using the straight-line method as follows:

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill has been assigned to reporting units. Changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill for each reportable segment were (in thousands):

Components of other intangible assets, net were (dollars in thousands):