H.B. Fuller First Quarter Profit Triples

St. Paul, MN, March 31, 2010--Specialty chemical maker H.B. Fuller Co. said its first-quarter profit tripled to $19 million or $0.38 per share on higher volumes and improved margins.

"Gross margin in the second quarter will likely decline from the historically high level achieved in the first quarter and then rebound somewhat in the third and fourth quarters," CEO Michele Volpi said in a statement.

A year ago, the company posted profit of $6.1 million, or 13 cents a share.

Net revenue rose 11 percent to $309.4 million.