Annual Industry Week Ranking Of 50 Best U.S. Manufacturers Names Three RV Industry Companies

Three leading RV industry public companies – Patrick Industries, Inc., Thor Industries, Inc., and LCI Industries – take three of the top four positions in the just-released annual Industry Week 50 Best U.S. Manufacturers list, which ranks the best-performing U.S. public manufacturing companies.

Patrick Industries topped the list, with Thor ranked second and LCI taking the fourth position.  Align Technology Inc., a medical technology and equipment manufacturer, broke up the RV industry party by ranking third in the Industry Week rankings. Winnebago Industries, Inc. ranked #14.

IW compiles the list by ranking the IW U.S. 500 companies based on their financial performance in six key areas over a three-year period. These areas are inventory turns, profit margin, sales turnover, return on assets, return on equity and revenue growth. The most recent year (2017) accounts for 50% of the calculation, while 2016 is weighted at 30% and 2015 contributes 20%.

“To take three of the top four positions – and four of the top 14 – in this prestigious Industry Week ranking is a wonderful recognition of the strength of our companies in growing and managing their businesses,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, President, RV Industry Association (RVIA), of which Patrick Industries, Thor, LCI and Winnebago are all members.  “On behalf of all their peers who manufacture RVs and serve as our industry’s outstanding suppliers, I offer hearty congratulations to the employees and shareholders of Patrick Industries, Thor, LCI and Winnebago.”

Industry Week wrote in naming Patrick Industries to the top of its list for the second straight year, “Americans are bringing the comforts of home to the open road, once again. The recreational vehicle market is booming right along with the economy, and that's good news for Patrick Industries, the Elkhart, Indiana manufacturer of components for the RV market.”

Of Thor Industries, Industry Week wrote: “In 1980, a financier and an heir to the Busch beer empire joined forces and bought a recreational trailer company called Hi-Lo. The price was right, as the oil crisis had cooled Americans’ passion for hitting the open road in oversized vehicles.  Its strong performance in 2017 earned it the #2 spot on the 50 Best this year.”