Badger Meter Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Badger Meter (NYSE: BMI) reported strong third quarter 2024 financial results. Highlights include:
- Total sales of $208.4 million, up 12% year-over-year
- Operating profit increased 29%, with margins expanding 260 basis points to a record 19.5%
- Diluted EPS rose 23% to $1.08
- Record cash flow with $45.1 million in net cash from operations, up 43% year-over-year
- Annual dividend rate increased by 26% to $1.36 per share
The company saw continued solid demand for its water management solutions, with utility water sales up 14% year-over-year. Flow instrumentation product sales remained flat. Badger Meter anticipates delivering high single-digit sales growth rates over the cycle and expects modest operating profit margin expansion year-over-year.
- Total sales increased 12% year-over-year to $208.4 million
- Operating profit margins expanded 260 basis points to a record 19.5%
- Diluted EPS increased 23% to $1.08
- Net cash from operations increased 43% to $45.1 million
- Annual dividend rate increased by 26% to $1.36 per share
- Utility water sales increased 14% year-over-year
- Gross margin as a percent of sales increased 110 basis points to 40.2%
- SEA as a percent of sales improved 140 basis points to 20.8%
- Flow instrumentation product sales were flat year-over-year
- Tax rate increased to 25.3% from 20.3% in the prior year quarter
- Potential delay in Southeast U.S. utility projects due to hurricane recovery activities
Insights
Badger Meter's Q3 2024 results demonstrate strong financial performance across key metrics. Total sales grew 12% year-over-year to
Notably, diluted EPS increased 23% to
Looking ahead, management expects high single-digit sales growth rates over the cycle, with potential for modest operating profit margin expansion. However, investors should note potential near-term headwinds, including fewer operating days in Q4 and possible project delays in the Southeast U.S. due to hurricane recovery efforts.
Badger Meter's Q3 results highlight the growing adoption of smart water management solutions in the utility sector. The 14% increase in utility water sales, despite a tough year-over-year comparison, indicates strong market demand for the company's BlueEdge™ suite of solutions. This includes increased sales of meters, water quality sensors, pressure sensors, ORION® communication endpoints and BEACON® Software as a Service (SaaS).
The company's focus on tailorable end-to-end smart water offerings is well-aligned with industry trends towards efficiency, resiliency and sustainability in water resource management. The flat performance in flow instrumentation products, with growth in water-focused end markets offsetting declines in de-emphasized applications, suggests a strategic shift towards core water management solutions.
Badger Meter's ability to capitalize on durable macro trends in the water industry positions it well for future growth. However, the potential for project delays due to hurricane recovery activities in the Southeast U.S. highlights the ongoing challenges and unpredictability in the sector.
Third Quarter 2024 Highlights
-
Total sales of
,$208.4 million 12% higher than the prior year’s .$186.2 million -
Operating profit increased
29% year-over-year, with operating profit margins expanding 260 basis points to a record19.5% . -
Diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased
23% to , up from$1.08 in the comparable prior year quarter.$0.88 -
Record cash flow with
in net cash provided by operations, which increased$45.1 million 43% year-over-year. -
Increased annual dividend rate by
26% to per share, representing the 32nd consecutive year of dividend growth.$1.36
“We were pleased with our third quarter financial performance delivering strong sales growth, record operating profit margins and robust cash flow generation. Sales in the quarter continued to benefit from solid demand for our tailorable water management solutions. Notably, we achieved record operating profit margins of
Third Quarter Operating Results
Utility water sales increased
Sales of flow instrumentation products were flat year-over-year with modest growth in the water-focused end markets generally offsetting declines across the array of de-emphasized applications, globally.
Operating earnings increased
SEA expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were
The tax rate for the third quarter of 2024 was
Outlook
Bockhorst continued, “As we prepare to close out the year, we remain focused on capitalizing on the durable macro trends benefiting the water industry. By leveraging BlueEdge - our suite of tailorable end-to-end smart water offerings – our expanding customer base is realizing the efficiency, resiliency and sustainability benefits required to best meet their unique water resource management needs.
"Taking into account our normalizing backlog, strong bid funnel and constructive order rates, we anticipate delivering high single-digit sales growth rates over the cycle, noting the prevailing unevenness common in the industry. We continue to strive for modest operating profit margin expansion year-over-year, driven by favorable structural sales mix, value-based price/cost management and SEA leverage.
"Specific to the fourth quarter, similar to prior years we expect sequentially fewer total operating days given the holiday-shortened activity levels at our customers. Additionally, evolving hurricane recovery activities have the potential to delay
"Finally, we anticipate continued robust cash flow, with ample cash and credit availability, giving us the financial flexibility to execute our capital allocation priorities as reflected in the recent
Bockhorst concluded, “Our ongoing success is built on our steadfast culture of continuous improvement, enabling our team to execute for customers and drive outperformance for Badger Meter. I remain excited about our ability to deliver shareholder value while we preserve and protect the world’s most precious resource."
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Badger Meter management will hold a conference call to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2024 results today, Thursday October 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM Central / 11:00 AM Eastern time. The listen-only webcast and related presentation can be accessed via the Investor section of our website. Participants can register to take part in the call using this online registration link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=e2388dc6&confId=71869
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company”) or its employees, may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. The Company’s results are subject to general economic conditions, variation in demand from customers, continued market acceptance of new products, the successful integration of acquisitions, competitive pricing and operating efficiencies, supply chain risk, material and labor cost increases, tax reform and foreign currency risk. See the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for further information regarding risk factors, which are incorporated herein by reference. Badger Meter disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.
About Badger Meter
With more than a century of water technology innovation, Badger Meter is a global provider of industry leading water solutions encompassing flow measurement, quality and other system parameters. These offerings provide our customers with the data and analytics essential to optimize their operations and contribute to the sustainable use and protection of the world’s most precious resource. For more information, visit www.badgermeter.com.
BADGER METER, INC. |
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
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(in thousands, except share and earnings per share data) |
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Three Months Ended
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Nine Months Ended
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2024 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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Net sales |
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$ |
208,438 |
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$ |
186,193 |
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$ |
621,376 |
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$ |
521,152 |
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Cost of sales |
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124,560 |
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113,470 |
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374,952 |
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316,179 |
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Gross margin |
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83,878 |
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72,723 |
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246,424 |
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204,973 |
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Selling, engineering and administration |
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43,255 |
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41,301 |
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127,711 |
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119,003 |
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Operating earnings |
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40,623 |
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31,422 |
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118,713 |
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85,970 |
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Interest income, net |
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(2,301 |
) |
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(1,200 |
) |
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(5,689 |
) |
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(2,649 |
) |
Other pension and postretirement costs |
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13 |
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32 |
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37 |
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|
97 |
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Earnings before income taxes |
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42,911 |
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32,590 |
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124,365 |
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88,522 |
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Provision for income taxes |
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10,873 |
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6,621 |
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30,140 |
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20,645 |
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Net earnings |
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$ |
32,038 |
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$ |
25,969 |
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$ |
94,225 |
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$ |
67,877 |
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Earnings per share: |
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Basic |
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$ |
1.09 |
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$ |
0.89 |
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$ |
3.21 |
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$ |
2.32 |
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Diluted |
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$ |
1.08 |
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$ |
0.88 |
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$ |
3.19 |
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$ |
2.30 |
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Shares used in computation of earnings per share: |
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Basic |
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29,369,923 |
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29,294,886 |
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29,351,688 |
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29,275,445 |
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Diluted |
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29,547,928 |
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29,473,374 |
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29,524,993 |
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29,448,475 |
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BADGER METER, INC. |
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS |
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(in thousands) |
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Assets |
September 30, |
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December 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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(Unaudited) |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
258,955 |
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$ |
191,782 |
Receivables |
|
93,427 |
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|
83,507 |
Inventories |
|
158,517 |
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|
153,674 |
Other current assets |
|
18,397 |
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|
13,214 |
Total current assets |
|
529,296 |
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|
442,177 |
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Net property, plant and equipment |
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73,279 |
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|
73,878 |
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization |
|
48,957 |
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|
53,737 |
Other long-term assets |
|
36,328 |
|
|
33,964 |
Goodwill |
|
115,001 |
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|
113,163 |
Total assets |
$ |
802,861 |
|
$ |
716,919 |
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Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity |
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Payables |
$ |
77,381 |
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$ |
81,807 |
Accrued compensation and employee benefits |
|
29,756 |
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|
29,871 |
Other current liabilities |
|
22,026 |
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|
20,270 |
Total current liabilities |
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129,163 |
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|
131,948 |
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Deferred income taxes |
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5,108 |
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|
5,061 |
Long-term employee benefits and other |
|
77,405 |
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|
63,428 |
Shareholders' equity |
|
591,185 |
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|
516,482 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
$ |
802,861 |
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$ |
716,919 |
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BADGER METER, INC. |
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
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(in thousands) |
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Three Months Ended September 30, |
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Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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Operating activities: |
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Net earnings |
$ |
32,038 |
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$ |
25,969 |
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$ |
94,225 |
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$ |
67,877 |
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Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations: |
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Depreciation |
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2,589 |
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|
2,662 |
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|
8,330 |
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|
8,100 |
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Amortization |
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5,427 |
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|
4,404 |
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|
15,787 |
|
|
|
12,820 |
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Deferred income taxes |
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- |
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|
(25 |
) |
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|
- |
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|
(401 |
) |
Noncurrent employee benefits |
|
9 |
|
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(52 |
) |
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|
(12 |
) |
|
|
(274 |
) |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
1,314 |
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|
|
1,356 |
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|
4,595 |
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|
3,963 |
|
Changes in: |
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Receivables |
|
13,403 |
|
|
|
(5,352 |
) |
|
|
(9,814 |
) |
|
|
(11,855 |
) |
Inventories |
|
3,889 |
|
|
|
(3,875 |
) |
|
|
(3,367 |
) |
|
|
(27,628 |
) |
Payables |
|
(18,581 |
) |
|
|
4,178 |
|
|
|
(5,242 |
) |
|
|
12,282 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
717 |
|
|
|
(2,299 |
) |
|
|
(7,772 |
) |
|
|
(7,279 |
) |
Other liabilities |
|
4,283 |
|
|
|
4,467 |
|
|
|
6,237 |
|
|
|
14,567 |
|
Total adjustments |
|
13,050 |
|
|
|
5,464 |
|
|
|
8,742 |
|
|
|
4,295 |
|
Net cash provided by operations |
|
45,088 |
|
|
|
31,433 |
|
|
|
102,967 |
|
|
|
72,172 |
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Investing activities: |
|
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Property, plant and equipment expenditures |
|
(3,132 |
) |
|
|
(3,014 |
) |
|
|
(8,149 |
) |
|
|
(9,949 |
) |
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(3,000 |
) |
|
|
(17,127 |
) |
Net cash used for investing activities |
|
(3,132 |
) |
|
|
(3,014 |
) |
|
|
(11,149 |
) |
|
|
(27,076 |
) |
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Financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
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Dividends paid |
|
(9,986 |
) |
|
|
(7,917 |
) |
|
|
(25,862 |
) |
|
|
(21,134 |
) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
|
- |
|
|
|
909 |
|
|
|
751 |
|
|
|
967 |
|
Net cash used for financing activities |
|
(9,986 |
) |
|
|
(7,008 |
) |
|
|
(25,111 |
) |
|
|
(20,167 |
) |
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash |
|
773 |
|
|
|
(306 |
) |
|
|
466 |
|
|
|
(71 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
32,743 |
|
|
|
21,105 |
|
|
|
67,173 |
|
|
|
24,858 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period |
|
226,212 |
|
|
|
141,805 |
|
|
|
191,782 |
|
|
|
138,052 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Cash and cash equivalents - end of period |
$ |
258,955 |
|
|
$ |
162,910 |
|
|
$ |
258,955 |
|
|
$ |
162,910 |
|
|
|
|
|
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017151333/en/
Karen Bauer
(414) 371-7276
kbauer@badgermeter.com
Source: Badger Meter, Inc.
FAQ
What were Badger Meter's (BMI) key financial results for Q3 2024?
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What was Badger Meter's (BMI) cash flow performance in Q3 2024?
How did Badger Meter's (BMI) utility water sales perform in Q3 2024?