Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a record adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.8%, up 100 basis points year over year [7][12] - Adjusted EPS grew by mid-teens percentage compared to the previous year [7] - Revenue growth was strong at 6% in the quarter, driven primarily by outperformance in Measurement and Control Solutions (MCS) [12][19] - Year-to-date free cash flow decreased by $61 million year over year, mainly due to outsourced water projects and timing of tax payments [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - **Measurement and Control Solutions (MCS)**: Orders grew 12% organically, with revenue up 10% driven by energy metering demand [14] - **Water Infrastructure**: Revenue grew 4%, with demand led by treatment solutions, although orders declined by 2% due to funding delays in the UK and Canada [15] - **Applied Water**: Orders rose 4% for the sixth consecutive quarter, with revenue increasing by 5% [16] - **Water Solutions and Services**: Orders increased by 5%, with revenue growth also at 5% [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for products and solutions remains resilient, particularly in smart metering, which saw double-digit growth [8] - The backlog remains strong across all segments, except MCS, which is being normalized [12] - The company noted ongoing economic challenges in China, with orders down approximately 18% year over year [54] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing its transformation plan laid out at the Investor Day, which includes simplifying operations and enhancing portfolio for growth [10][22] - Recent acquisitions in advanced treatment are aimed at strengthening the growth engine and enhancing capabilities [26] - The company is committed to mitigating tariff impacts through pricing actions and supply chain adjustments [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering strong performance for the remainder of 2025, despite macro uncertainties [20][22] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $8.9 billion to $9.0 billion, reflecting 4% to 5% total growth [19] - Management acknowledged potential impacts from tariffs and FX movements but emphasized strong demand and backlog execution [20] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress in its simplification initiatives, which have improved productivity and customer responsiveness [9][10] - The integration of Evoqua is ahead of schedule, with strong traction on cost and revenue synergies [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on MCS order outlook and destocking - Management noted resilient demand across the board, with expectations for MCS to return to positive book-to-bill by year-end [34] Question: Progress on simplification initiatives - Management reported tracking ahead of the timeline for simplification, with improved decision-making and customer metrics [36] Question: Applied Water segment performance and eightytwenty impact - Management highlighted strong orders and revenue growth, with eightytwenty helping to focus on growth while simplifying operations [48] Question: Municipal utility funding concerns - Management expressed confidence that Congress will appropriate funds to maintain healthy state revolving fund levels, despite concerns [90] Question: MCS legacy energy business margin drag - Management indicated that legacy projects would pressure margins in the near term but expect sequential improvement in Q4 [106]