Historically, captains of industry may fill more high U.S. government appointed positions than folks from any other group. The founder and long-time CEO of a Portland, Oregon industrial equipment firm was once the U.S. Postmaster General.

Blount International (NYSE: BLT) manufactures equipment, accessories, and replacement parts for the global forestry, general contractor and yard care industries. The company's Industrial and Power Equipment segment makes timber harvesting and handling equipment, industrial tractors and loaders, mobile equipment rotational bearings, worm gear reducers, and swing drives. the Outdoor Products segment provides chainsaw parts, concrete-cutting equipment and lawnmower blades, as well as branded parts and accessories for the lawn and garden equipment market. Competitors include Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) and Deere (NYSE: DE). The company was founded by former Nixon administration official, Winton Blount.

The firm pleased investors earlier in the month, when it announced Q2 EPS of 23 cents and revenues of $170.4 million. Analysts had been expecting 18 cents and $158.5 million. Management also guided FY07 revenues to $630-$655 million ($627.76M consensus). The CEO anticipated "continued good international market conditions through the second half of the year and some improvement in the North American timber harvesting market by the fourth quarter."

Expectedly strong earnings drove shares of Blount International (NYSE: BLT) as far as 20% higher Thursday.

Thanks in part to strong international conditions, the seller of industrial and outdoor products surprised analysts Thursday with earnings of 23 cents per share, 5 cents higher than analysts expected. Low expectations were perhaps due to BLT 's poor first-quarter report, which reflected weak demand for timber products and a decline in housing starts.

Sales grew 3 percent to $170.4 million, compared with the same quarter last year. Earnings increased nearly 19 percent to $11.1 million from $9.4 million, or 20 cents per share, a year ago.

All else being equal, a continued good international market and stronger growth in the timber market could keep BLT on a positive path through to the fourth quarter. The boost to its second-quarter earnings is in part thanks to its foreign sales. Internationally, its outdoor products segment saw a 17% increase over last year's second quarter while its industrial and power equipment segment saw an increase of 15%.

Blount closed at $13.50 on Thursday, gaining $1.83, or 15.68%.