SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (in thousands, except as noted*) Second  Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter 2002  2001 2000 1999 1998 Consolidated Income Statement Data Net sales $ 480,590 $ 455,839 $ 520,688 $ 449,627 $ 363,945 Selling, general and administrative expenses 72,407 71,691 69,011 56,280 46,796 Relocation and start-up expenses 3,277 Research and development 7,631 7,448 6,726 5,356 4,681 Income from operations 616 11,784 47,138 52,521 40,427 Interest expense 10,474 9,367 8,652 4,253 2,709 Net income (loss) (4,706) 1,992 26,281 31,712 24,436 Earnings (loss) per common share* ( 1 ) Basic (.24) .10 1.37 1.66 1.30 Diluted (.24) .10 1.33 1.59 1.26 Consolidated Balance Sheet Data Working capital $ 173,224 $ 161,867 $ 153,389 $ 127,569 $ 81,865 Total assets 416,503 400,691 398,795 355,437 248,320 Total short-term debt 3,220 2,368 1,986 596 646 Long-term debt, less current maturities 130,645 127,285 118,511 102,685 47,220 Shareholders’ equity 193,432 197,347 194,623 167,258 Book value per common share at year-end* ( 1 ) 9.83 10.07 10.07 8.75 7.44 Quarterly Financial Highlights  (Unaudited) 2002 Net sales $ 122,442 $126,669 $ 126,100 $ 105,379 Gross profit 27,876 26,625 20,762 8,668 Net income (loss) 4,635 2,407 (1,438) (10,310)  Earnings (loss) per common share*  Basic .24 .12 (.07) (.52) Diluted .23 .12 (.07) (.52) 2001 Net sales $ 143,310 $ 126,287 $ 103,124 $ 83,118 Gross profit 31,323 29,422 17,192 12,986 Net income (loss) 5,303 4,953 (1,346) (6,918) Earnings (loss) per common share* Basic .27 .26 (.07) (.35)  Diluted .27 .25 (.07) (.35) Common Stock Price* 2002 High $18.10 $19.80 $16.48 $11.00 2002 Low 9.30 14.73 8.30 8.45 2001 High $ 14.81 $ 19.17 $ 19.27 $ 15.86 2001 Low 12.00 12.00 11.25 11.91 First  Quarter The Company’s common stock is traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) National Market under the symbol ASTE. Prices shown are the high and low bid prices as announced by NASDAQ. The Company has never paid any dividends on its common stock. As determined by the proxy search on the record date by the Company’s transfer agent, the number of common shareholders is appr oxi- mately 5,500. ( 1 ) Restated for 1998 and prior to retroactively reflect the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a dividend on January 18, 1999.