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Badger Meter Reports Second Quarter 2019 Results

July 18, 2019 8:30 AM

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

Second Quarter Operating Results

“As a technology leader, we have encountered innovation-driven order postponements during new product launch windows. We believe we experienced that impact during the second quarter as customers, eager to adopt our new leading-edge solutions, are actively pilot testing products prior to system-wide deployment or are awaiting new product releases. While this phenomenon creates sales unevenness in the short-term, we believe being at the forefront of new technologies benefits us and our prudent customers given the long term horizon over which their decisions are based,” said Kenneth C. Bockhorst, President and Chief Executive Officer of Badger Meter.

Municipal water sales declined 9.6% from the comparable prior year quarter as customers deferred orders to obtain the latest version of advanced technology products. This is most evident with ORION® Cellular LTE-M endpoints where customer pilots and testing continue without issue. In addition, the company further advanced its quality-focused launch process for the new three- and four-inch commercial E-Series® Ultrasonic meters expected to begin shipping later this year. Finally, prior year municipal water sales included a large Middle East order, which did not repeat. Sales of flow instrumentation products were 6.6% lower year-over-year with declines across most industrial end markets.

Operating margins increased 10 basis points to 14.5% in the second quarter of 2019 from 14.4% in the comparable prior year quarter. Gross profit margins were strong at 38.9%, a 240 basis point increase over the prior year’s 36.5% despite the lower sales volume. Gross profit benefited from positive product and regional sales mix, as well as favorable price/cost dynamics.

Selling, engineering and administration (“SEA”) expenses in the second quarter of 2019 of $25.2 million were flat with the prior year, however given the lower sales volume, SEA as a percent of sales was elevated. The tax rate of 23.8% was in line with the prior year’s adjusted 23.6%.

Cash from operations of $23.1 million increased 25.3% or $4.7 million year-over-year, primarily associated with improved working capital management.

Bockhorst continued, “I am encouraged by the market interest and pilot testing of our leading technologies, which continues at a robust pace. Our gross profit margins improved year-over-year for the fourth consecutive quarter. Our working capital management helped generate robust cash from operations and our continuous improvement focus on metrics including SQDC (safety, quality, delivery and cost) is evident across the organization. I want to express my appreciation to the dedicated team of Badger Meter professionals for their focus on customer quality and continuous improvement.”

Outlook

“Our backlog and new opportunity funnel remain solid, underscored by a high level of interest in our innovative smart water solutions. This includes both the larger size E-Series Ultrasonic meters and ORION Cellular LTE-M radios, which significantly improve performance and functionality. Further, I remain positive on municipal spending trends and our competitive share and positioning. Our customers are making 15 to 20 year investment decisions for their water management solutions and as such, product quality, features and breadth remain of utmost importance.” Bockhorst concluded, “Our smart water solution offerings and strong balance sheet give us confidence in our long term growth outlook as we help to preserve the world’s most precious resource.”

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Badger Meter management will hold a conference call to discuss the company’s second quarter 2019 results today, Thursday July 18, 2019 at 10:00 AM CT / 11:00 AM ET. The call and related presentation can be accessed via webcast through the Investor section of our website or by dialing 1-877-823-9761 (US) or 1-647-689-5327 (Intl) and entering the passcode 1988338. The webcast will be archived on the company’s website until its next earnings release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Badger Meter (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 also 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 Form 10-K filed with the SEC for further information regarding risk factors. 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

Badger Meter is an innovator in flow measurement, control and communications solutions, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. The company’s products measure water, oil, chemicals, and other fluids, and are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability and for providing valuable and timely measurement data. For more information, visit badgermeter.com.

BADGER METER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and earnings per share data)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Net sales

$

103,542

$

113,648

$

208,423

$

218,689

Cost of sales

63,266

72,144

127,690

140,437

Gross margin

40,276

41,504

80,733

78,252

Selling, engineering and administration

25,243

25,153

51,373

51,927

Operating earnings

15,033

16,351

29,360

26,325

Interest expense, net

85

409

214

699

Other pension and postretirement costs

35

8,031

82

8,012

Earnings before income taxes

14,913

7,911

29,064

17,614

Provision for income taxes

3,555

1,757

6,882

3,914

Net earnings

$

11,358

$

6,154

$

22,182

$

13,700

Earnings per share:
Basic

$

0.39

$

0.21

$

0.76

$

0.47

Diluted

$

0.39

$

0.21

$

0.76

$

0.47

Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic

29,027,887

28,963,373

29,024,543

28,965,735

Diluted

29,211,533

29,133,443

29,224,552

29,159,400

BADGER METER, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES
(in thousands, except share and earnings per share data)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Net earnings (GAAP measure)

$

11,358

$

6,154

$

22,182

$

13,700

Pension termination settlement charge, net of tax

-

6,134

-

6,134

Adjusted net earnings

$

11,358

$

12,288

$

22,182

$

19,834

Diluted earnings per share (GAAP measure)

$

0.39

$

0.21

$

0.76

$

0.47

Pension termination settlement charge, net of tax

-

0.21

-

0.21

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$

0.39

$

0.42

$

0.76

$

0.68

BADGER METER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
Assets June 30, December 31,

2019

2018

(Unaudited)
Cash

$

23,894

$

13,086

Receivables

60,294

66,300

Inventories

83,319

80,804

Other current assets

8,037

4,469

Total current assets

175,544

164,659

Net property, plant and equipment

88,512

90,321

Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization

51,717

55,418

Other long-term assets

17,830

11,035

Goodwill

71,258

71,258

Total assets

$

404,861

$

392,691

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Short-term debt

$

4,560

$

18,060

Payables

29,556

22,469

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

12,256

13,768

Other current liabilities

7,935

5,718

Total current liabilities

54,307

60,015

Deferred income taxes

3,233

3,332

Long-term employee benefits and other

30,869

25,841

Shareholders' equity

316,452

303,503

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

404,861

$

392,691

BADGER METER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Operating activities:
Net earnings

$

11,358

$

6,154

$

22,182

$

13,700

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:

Depreciation

3,085

2,719

6,063

5,894

Amortization

3,033

3,006

6,297

6,543

Deferred income taxes

(14

)

58

(15

)

59

Noncurrent employee benefits

(384

)

(10

)

(267

)

84

Pension termination settlement charges

-

8,168

-

8,168

Contribution to pension plan

-

(1,600

)

-

(1,600

)

Stock-based compensation expense

289

473

554

944

Changes in:

Receivables

7,971

(1,846

)

6,028

(6,765

)

Inventories

(2,731

)

(98

)

(2,565

)

167

Payables

4,601

3,224

9,141

(1,255

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(1,845

)

(1,515

)

(3,946

)

(3,101

)

Other liabilities

(2,275

)

(309

)

(2,569

)

2,361

Total adjustments

11,730

12,270

18,721

11,499

Net cash provided by operations

23,088

18,424

40,903

25,199

Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment expenditures

(2,306

)

(2,199

)

(4,466

)

(5,242

)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired and future payments

-

(8,048

)

-

(8,048

)

Net cash used for investing activities

(2,306

)

(10,247

)

(4,466

)

(13,290

)

Financing activities:
Net decrease short-term debt

(6,500

)

(5,500

)

(13,500

)

(2,000

)

Payment of contingent acquisition consideration

(650

)

-

(1,650

)

-

Dividends paid

(4,360

)

(3,772

)

(8,717

)

(7,542

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

277

-

748

231

Repurchase of treasury stock

(964

)

(370

)

(2,837

)

(1,989

)

Issuance of treasury stock

45

366

97

431

Net cash used for financing activities

(12,152

)

(9,276

)

(25,859

)

(10,869

)

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash

231

(308

)

230

(79

)

Increase (decrease) in cash

8,861

(1,407

)

10,808

961

Cash - beginning of period

15,033

13,532

13,086

11,164

Cash - end of period

$

23,894

$

12,125

$

23,894

$

12,125

Karen Bauer at (414) 371-7276

[email protected]

Source: Badger Meter, Inc.

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