Roper net earnings up 35%

SARASOTA — Roper Industries Inc. (symbol: ROP) earned $323 million in net earnings in 2010 on $2.4 billion in sales, up 35% and 16% respectively from the prior year, a release said.

Those results made 2010 the Sarasota-based company's best year ever, according to President and CEO Brian Jellison.

“Our record performance reflects our strategy of growing high margin, asset light businesses with exceptional cash conversion characteristics,” Jellison explained. “Our focus on working capital management, combined with outstanding execution by our operating people, led to record operating cash flow of $500 million, representing 155% of net earnings.”

Roper Industries is a diversified growth company, with sales activity in medical, industrial, and energy-related marketplaces. Its shares were trading above the $78 mark early Monday, up roughly 3% from its Friday close.