SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                  Washington, D.C. 20549


                                         FORM 8-K


                                      CURRENT REPORT



                            Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                               Securities Exchange Act of 1934


            Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 18, 2004



                                     HURCO COMPANIES, INC.
                     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         INDIANA                       0-9143                     35-1150732
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission File No.)      (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)


                                       ONE TECHNOLOGY WAY
                                   INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46268
                        (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                                           (317) 293-5309
                         (Registrants' telephone number, including area code)

                                      NOT APPLICABLE
             (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION On February 18, 2004, Hurco Companies, Inc. (the "Registrant") reported its results of operations for the first quarter ended January 31, 2004. The Registrant's earnings release for the quarter is attached as Exhibit 99(a) and the information set forth therein is incorporated herein by reference and constitutes a part of this report. The attached Exhibit is furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K.

SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Dated: February 18, 2004 HURCO COMPANIES, INC. By: /s/ Roger J. Wolf -------------------------- Roger J. Wolf Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 18, 2004

                    HURCO REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2004 RESULTS

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, -- February 18, 2004, Hurco Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:
HURC) today reported net income of $669,000, or $.12 per share, for its first
fiscal quarter, which ended January 31, 2004, compared to a net loss of
$582,000, or $.10 per share, for the 2003 corresponding period.
         The Company attributed its return to profitability to a substantial
increase in computerized machine tool sales, along with the favorable effect of
stronger European currencies in relation to the U.S. Dollar.

         Sales and service fees for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 were
$22,718,000, an increase of 42% from the $15,953,000 recorded in the first
fiscal quarter of 2003. Sales and service fees reported in U.S. dollars
benefited from significantly stronger European currencies during the first
quarter of 2004, when translating foreign sales into U.S. dollars for financial
reporting purposes. When measured at constant exchange rates, sales and service
fees for the 2004 first quarter increased $4,631,000, or 29%, from the
corresponding 2003 period, due in large part to shipments of new machine tool
models introduced in late 2002 and during 2003.
         New order bookings for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 were
$23,547,000, an increase of 64% from the $13,884,000 recorded in the first
fiscal quarter of 2003. When measured in constant dollars, new order bookings in
the first quarter of 2004 increased $7,512,000, or 54% over those in the first
quarter of fiscal 2003, due to increases in the United States, Europe and Asia
of $2,152,000, $4,558,000 and $802,000, respectively. Backlog was $9,483,000 at
January 31, 2004, compared to $8,153,000 at October 31, 2003.
         Michael Doar, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "In addition to the
favorable impact of new product models, our first quarter orders reflect an
improvement in worldwide computerized machine tool demand from the depressed
levels of the past three years."
         Gross margin for the first quarter of 2004 was 29%, a substantial
increase over the 25% margin in the corresponding 2003 period, due principally
to the benefits of stronger European currencies as well as a greater percentage
of higher-margin European shipments in the total sales mix. Selling, general and
administrative expenses were $4,927,000, an increase of approximately $500,000,
or 11%, from the prior year period, due to currency translation effects and
increased commissions to European selling agents associated with the increase in
European sales.

Total debt was $6,463,000 at January 31, 2004, as compared to $9,222,000 at October 31, 2003, and was 18% of total debt and shareholders' equity, which aggregated $36,489,000. As of January 31, 2004, the Company had unutilized credit facilities of $9,900,000 available for direct borrowing or commercial letters of credit. Mr. Doar further noted, "We are pleased with our first quarter results, which demonstrate that the efforts we made during the past two years to focus on our core product lines, invest in new products and reduce our costs and operating expenses are paying off." Hurco Companies, Inc. is an industrial technology company that designs and produces interactive computer controls, software and computerized machine tools for the worldwide metal cutting and metal forming industry. The end market for the Company's products consists primarily of independent job shops and short-run manufacturing operations within large corporations in industries such as the aerospace, defense, medical equipment, energy, transportation and computer equipment. The Company is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has sales, application engineering and service subsidiaries in High Wycombe, England; Munich, Germany; Paris, France; Milan, Italy; Shanghai, China and Singapore, along with manufacturing operations in Taiwan. Products are sold through independent agents and distributors in the United States, Europe and Asia. The Company also has direct sales forces in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Asia. Web Site: www.hurco.com This news release contains forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions that affect demand for computerized machine systems, computer numerical control systems and software products, changes in manufacturing markets, innovations by competitors, quality and delivery performance by our contract manufacturers and governmental actions and initiatives including import and export restrictions and tariffs.

Hurco Companies, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per-share data) Three Months Ended January 31, January 31, 2004 2003 --------- -------- (unaudited) Sales and service fees $ 22,718 $ 15,953 Cost of sales and service 16,187 11,959 -------- -------- Gross profit 6,531 3,994 Selling, general and administrative expenses 4,927 4,428 -------- -------- Operating income (loss) 1,604 (434) Interest expense 144 159 Variable options expense 255 - Other income (expense), net (170) 116 -------- -------- Income (loss) before taxes 1,035 (477) Provision for income taxes 366 105 -------- -------- Net income (loss) $ 669 $ (582) ======== ======== Earnings (loss) per common share Basic $ 0.12 $ (0.10) ======== ======== Diluted $ 0.12 $ (0.10) ======== ======== Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 5,588 5,583 ======== ======== Diluted 5,753 5,583 ======== ========

OTHER CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA Three Months Ended January 31, January 31, Operating Data: 2004 2003 ---------- ----------- (unaudited) Gross margin 28.7% 25.0% SG&A expense as a percentage of sales 21.7% 27.8% Operating income (loss) as a percentage of sales 7.1% -2.7% Pre-tax income (loss) as a percentage of sales 4.6% -3.0% Depreciation 331 351 Capital expenditures 471 168 Balance Sheet Data: 1/31/2004 1/31/2003 --------- --------- Working capital (excluding short term debt) $ 20,163 $ 21,948 Days sales outstanding 43 54 Inventory turns 2.6 2.3 Net assets per $ of revenue (trailing twelve months) Working capital, net $ 0.26 $ 0.32 All other 0.19 0.23 -------- -------- Total $ 0.45 $ 0.55 ======== ========

Hurco Companies, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (In thousands, except per-share data) January 31, October 31, 2004 2003 ----------- ----------- (unaudited) (audited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash - restricted $ 1,092 $ 622 Cash and cash equivalents 5,604 5,289 Accounts receivable 12,734 12,823 Inventories 23,250 22,247 Other 1,730 1,409 -------- -------- Total current assets 44,410 42,390 Property and equipment: Land 761 761 Building 7,242 7,239 Machinery and equipment 10,809 10,568 Leasehold improvements 602 544 -------- -------- 19,414 19,112 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (11,018) (10,730) -------- -------- 8,396 8,382 Software development costs, less amortization 2,113 1,922 Investments and other assets 5,357 5,264 -------- -------- $ 60,276 $ 57,958 ======== ========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 13,843 $ 9,461 Accrued expenses 9,406 10,048 Bank debt 998 - Current portion of long-term debt 310 645 -------- -------- Total current liabilities 24,557 20,154 Non-current liabilities: Long-term debt 5,155 8,577 Defered credits and other obligations 538 486 -------- -------- Total liabilities 30,250 29,217 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock: no par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued Common stock: no par value; $.10 stated value per share; 12,500,000 shares authorized; and 5,650,687 and 5,575,987 shares issued, respectively 565 557 Additional paid-in capital 45,025 44,695 Accumulated deficit (9,042) (9,711) Accumulated other comprehensive income (6,522) (6,800) Total shareholders' equity 30,026 28,741 -------- -------- $ 60,276 $ 57,958 ======== ========