Manufacturer Cooper Industries, Houston, TX, reported second quarter 2009 sales were down 26% to $1.27 billion, compared with $1.72 billion in the prior-year period. Profit was $89.3 million, down from $161.9 million reported in the 2008 second quarter.

In the first six months of 2009, sales were $2.53 billion, a 23% decrease from the prior-year period. Profit was $189.4 million, down from $315.3 million in the prior-year first six months.

"In the second quarter, while our book-to-bill ratio stabilized, we did not experience the normal seasonal increase in revenues. As a result, our revenue for the quarter was at the low end of our forecast; however, our intense cost management across the company allowed us to deliver earnings per share at the top end of the forecast," said Cooper …