It was a notable year for the Adelaide-based mixed industrial stock, Hills Industries.
Revenue topped the billion dollar mark for the first time and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) topped the $100 million mark, restoring the company's gross margin to the 10% level it was two years ago.
And net profit topped the $50 million mark with a 9% rise to $50.04 million (before minorities).
And while notable for these milestones, the overall performance in 2007 seems to have been modest.
Attributable net profit was $47.17 million for 2006-07 (after minorities), up from $43.26 million in 2006.
Total revenue for fiscal 2007 rose 8.8% to $1.01 billion, earnings per share increased by 6.6% on last year to 27.6 cents and directors announced a fully franked dividend of 14 cents per share, taking the full year dividend to 27.5 cents (compared to 26 cents inn 2006).
After touching a high of $5.95 yesterday, the company's shares rose 5c to $5.85.
That put Hills' market cap at just over $1 billion.
Looking ahead to the 2008 financial year, Hills chairman, Jennifer Hill-Ling said: "We have growth and profit improvement initiatives underway across all business units.
"In the absence of any major acquisitions, we expect the group to achieve a modest increase in profit this year, although there are a number of uncertainties, which have yet to be evaluated.
"In particular, the acquisition of Smorgon Steel by OneSteel and the purchase by BlueScope Steel of the Smorgon distribution assets is both a risk and an opportunity. "The company's steel tube business, Orrcon is one of the few independents left in this country."
The company's electronic security and entertainment business posted a 6.8% cent drop in operating profit before interest and tax to $31.73 million.
The fall was more of a plateauing in growth: 44.5% rise in 2006 and 26.5% rise in 2005.
But operating profit for the home, hardware and eco products arm of Hills rose by 12.1% to $13.82 million and the now core business, building and industrial products, had a 34.6% jump in operating profit before interest and tax, from $26.76 million in 2006 to $36.03 million.
The growth in the building products arm was due partly to an improved performance of the Orrcon Pipe & Tube business, according to Ms Hill-Ling.
"(Orrcon) had an improved result in the 12 months, although market conditions remain very competitive," she said.
"There are a number of water and oil and gas projects on the drawing boards around Australia, and we were pleased to secure a major contract with the Eurobodalla Shire (in southern NSW) in June 2007 to supply around $10 million of spiral welded pipe later this calendar year.
"In May 2007, Orrcon acquired the Impressive Steel distribution business in Bunbury in Western Australia, which is consistent with our strategy of improving our distribution footprint … to ensure that we participate in the supply of steel to major infrastructure and mining projects."
