Oshkosh Truck 11th On Forbes' Platinum 400

    OSHKOSH, Wis.--Jan. 10, 2002--Oshkosh Truck Corporation announced today that the company was ranked 11th on Forbes Magazine's 2002 Platinum 400 List of Best Big Companies.
    The company's 479 percent rise in stock value over the past five years, its expected long- and short-term growth, return on capital and other performance and valuation measures were cited for its high ranking.
    This is the second year Oshkosh Truck appears on the list and marks a move up the ranks from the No. 82 spot last year. Oshkosh is the highest-ranking company in the auto and truck manufacturing industry this year. Companies ranking higher were from high tech, biotechnology, retail, construction and utility sectors.
    "Although our ultimate goal is to focus on our customers, we are keenly aware of our investors' needs as well," said Robert G. Bohn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Oshkosh. "In fact, we believe that the best thing we can do for our investors is to focus on our customers because they determine our success.
    "Our efforts to diversify, yet concentrate on specialty trucks and truck bodies in North America and around the globe have moved our company to the leadership position in our industry," Bohn said. "This ranking shows this strategy is paying off."
    Among the other investment facts reported in the January 7, 2002, issue of Forbes Magazine was Oshkosh Truck's recent $2.98 earnings per share and analysts' consensus estimate of $2.55 earnings per share for fiscal 2002. Over the past year, the price to earnings multiple for Oshkosh's stock price increased 109% relative to the market. And it noted that the company's sales increased 9 percent during the last year, despite difficult economic times.
    Forbes' Platinum 400 ranks companies on the basis of long-term and short-term results, measuring profitability and growth over a five-year period. According to Forbes, the list includes "companies that are better than their competitors, with outstanding profitability and growth." The magazine publishes five lists annually, but its Platinum 400 List of the Best Big Companies is its premier list. More information on the Best Big Companies is available online at www.forbes.com/platinum 400. From there people can read about the list criteria and search to the Oshkosh Truck page.

    Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the fire and emergency, defense, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Products are marketed under the Oshkosh, Pierce, McNeilus, Geesink, Norba and Medtec brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and had annual sales of $1.45 billion in fiscal 2001.
    For more information about Oshkosh Truck Corporation, log onto the company web site at www.oshkoshtruck.com.