As expected, fewer operating days in the fourth quarter and previously communicated project pacing effects resulted in a 6% sequential decline in utility water sales versus the third quarter of 2025. The term project pacing is intended to describe typical variation in activity driven by periodic changes in our active customer base and whether or not we act as prime contractor in what we refer to as turnkey projects. Simply put, the sequential quarterly sales decline between the third and fourth quarters of ...

Core Insights - Badger Meter reported record sales, profitability, and cash flow for fiscal 2025, driven by strong demand for its cellular AMI offerings and successful integration of the SmartCover acquisition into its BlueEdge smart water management portfolio [3][11] Sales Performance - Fourth-quarter 2025 sales reached $221 million, an 8% increase year over year, or 2% on a base basis excluding SmartCover [2] - Utility water product line sales rose 9% year over year, with a 6.6% sequential decline attributed to fewer operating days and project pacing [1][6] Profitability and Margins - The company achieved a full-year operating margin of approximately 20% and a fourth-quarter gross margin of 42.1%, reflecting a 180 basis point improvement from the previous year [6][7] - Operating earnings increased by 10% in the fourth quarter, with base operating margin expanding 140 basis points to 20.5% [7][12] Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - Badger Meter generated record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million, up about $3.4 million year over year, and ended the year with over $225 million in cash [10][12] - The company increased its dividend for the 33rd consecutive year and repurchased $15 million of shares in Q4, emphasizing a commitment to shareholder returns [4][13] SmartCover Integration and Future Expectations - The integration of SmartCover is progressing well, with the acquisition contributing $40 million in sales for 2025 and expected earnings accretion in 2026 [5][14] - Management anticipates uneven quarterly performance in 2026 due to the timing of AMI projects, with significant deployments expected to ramp in the second half of the year [16][21] Major Projects - Badger Meter secured a significant AMI project with the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), involving approximately 1.6 million service connections [18][19] - The company will act as a supply-only partner for the PRASA project, with production taking place at its Racine facility [20] Software Revenue Growth - Software revenue, including SmartCover, exceeded $74 million, representing 8% of total sales and growing at a 28% compound annual growth rate over the past five years [11][12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales for Q4 2025 reached $221 million, an 8% year-over-year increase, with base sales growth of 2% [7] - Operating profit margins increased by 40 basis points to 19.5%, while base operating profit margins expanded by 140 basis points to 20.5% [9] - Consolidated EPS rose to $1.14, a 10% increase from $1.04 in the prior year quarter [12] - Record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million, up approximately $3.4 million year-over-year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility water product line sales increased by 9% year-over-year, or 2% excluding SmartCover [7] - Flow instrumentation product line sales remained flat year-over-year, with modest growth in water-focused end markets [9] - SmartCover generated $40 million in sales for 2025, representing a 25% annualized growth [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 17% compounded annual growth rate over the past five years, with software revenue exceeding $74 million, accounting for 8% of total sales [19] - The U.S. market for meters is approximately 6 million units per year, with Badger Meter holding about 30% market share [35][38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its cellular AMI technology as a foundation for real-time insights and analytics, expanding through the Blue Edge suite of smart water management solutions [15] - The PRASA AMI project is expected to be one of the largest deployments globally, with a focus on enhancing market leadership in cellular AMI technology [15][16] - The company emphasizes long-term growth driven by secular trends in the water industry, with a conviction of high single-digit sales growth over the next five years [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the impact of fewer operating days and project pacing effects on Q4 sales, indicating that these factors are typical in the industry [8][29] - The company expects project pacing dynamics to continue into the first half of 2026, with a higher growth rate anticipated in the second half as awarded projects commence [23][61] - Management remains confident in achieving high single-digit growth despite potential fluctuations in project timing and market conditions [54][57] Other Important Information - The company has a clean balance sheet with over $225 million in cash, providing financial flexibility for reinvestment [20] - The company has increased its dividend for 33 consecutive years and repurchased $15 million in shares in Q4 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Did the company see the full impact of project conclusions in Q4? - Management indicated that project pacing and timing can vary, and the second half of the year was expected to show lower growth than the first half due to these factors [27][29] Question: What is the size of the U.S. market for meters? - Management confirmed that the U.S. market is approximately 6 million meters per year, with Badger Meter's share around 30% [35][38] Question: How does the company view gross margins moving forward? - Management noted that while gross margins are strong, there are headwinds expected from turnkey projects and commodity prices, but structural mix will continue to positively impact margins [42][44] Question: How is the PRASA project funded? - The project is partially funded by FEMA dollars in response to Hurricane Maria, which also drives the Buy American requirement for manufacturing [70] Question: What is the expected timeline for the PRASA project? - Management indicated that large AMI projects typically span five years, with variability in deployment timing due to various factors [47][48]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales for Q4 2025 reached $221 million, an 8% year-over-year increase, with base sales growth of 2% [7] - Operating profit margins increased by 40 basis points to 19.5%, while base operating profit margins expanded by 140 basis points to 20.5% [9] - Consolidated EPS rose to $1.14, a 10% increase from $1.04 in the prior year quarter [12] - Record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million, up approximately $3.4 million year-over-year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility water product line sales increased by 9% year-over-year, or 2% excluding SmartCover [7] - Flow instrumentation product line sales remained flat year-over-year, with modest growth in water-focused end markets [9] - SmartCover generated $40 million in sales for 2025, representing a 25% annualized growth [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 17% compounded annual growth rate over the past five years, with software revenue exceeding $74 million, accounting for 8% of total sales [19] - The U.S. market for meters is approximately 6 million units per year, with Badger Meter holding about 30% market share [35][38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its cellular AMI technology as a foundation for real-time insights and analytics, expanding through the Blue Edge suite of smart water management solutions [15] - The PRASA AMI project is expected to be one of the largest deployments globally, with a focus on enhancing market leadership in cellular AMI technology [15][16] - The company emphasizes long-term growth driven by ongoing demand for smart water management solutions and the integration of SmartCover into its operations [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving high single-digit sales growth over the next five years, despite potential project pacing dynamics in the near term [24] - The company does not foresee significant impacts from federal funding constraints on its growth trajectory [24] - Management acknowledged the fluid nature of global tariff and trade conditions but indicated that they have reached price-cost parity on tariff-related impacts [10][11] Other Important Information - The company has a clean balance sheet with over $225 million in cash, providing financial flexibility for reinvestment [20] - The company has increased its dividend for 33 consecutive years and repurchased $15 million in shares in Q4 2025 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Did the company see the full impact of project conclusions in Q4? - Management noted that project pacing can vary, and the second half of the year experienced lower growth than the first half due to fewer operating days and project timing [27][29] Question: How does the company view the U.S. market size and its share? - Management confirmed that the U.S. market is approximately 6 million meters per year, with Badger Meter's share around 30% [35][38] Question: What is the expected impact of the PRASA project on revenue? - Management stated that while the PRASA project is significant, it will not add to the long-term growth outlook, which remains focused on high single-digit growth [17][24] Question: How does the company plan to manage gross margins in 2026? - Management indicated that while there are headwinds from commodity prices and project mix, they expect structural mix to positively impact margins [42][44] Question: How is the PRASA project funded? - The project is partially funded by FEMA dollars in response to Hurricane Maria, which also drives the Buy American requirement for manufacturing [70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales for Q4 2025 reached $221 million, an 8% year-over-year increase, with base sales growth of 2% [6] - Operating earnings grew by 10% year-over-year, with operating profit margins increasing by 40 basis points to 19.5% [9] - Consolidated EPS was $1.14, a 10% increase from $1.04 in the prior year quarter [12] - Record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million, up approximately $3.4 million year-over-year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility water product line sales increased by 9% year-over-year, or 2% excluding SmartCover [6] - Flow instrumentation product line sales were flat year-over-year, with modest growth in water-focused end markets [9] - SmartCover generated $40 million in sales for 2025, representing a 25% annualized growth [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. market for meters is approximately 6 million units per year, with Badger Meter holding about 30% market share [35] - 85% of the U.S. market is replacement-driven, indicating a stable demand for Badger Meter's products [63] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its cellular AMI technology as a foundation for real-time insights and analytics, expanding through the Blue Edge suite of smart water management solutions [14] - The PRASA AMI project is expected to be one of the largest deployments globally, with a focus on E-Series ultrasonic meters and ORION cellular AMI radios [15] - The company is committed to maintaining a clean balance sheet with over $225 million in cash, allowing for organic and inorganic growth investments [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving high single-digit sales growth over the next five years, despite potential project pacing dynamics in 2026 [24] - The company does not foresee significant impacts from federal funding constraints on its growth trajectory [23] - Management highlighted the importance of long-term trends in the water industry, which support demand for smart water management solutions [22] Other Important Information - The company successfully integrated SmartCover into its operations, with expectations for earnings accretion in 2026 [21] - SG&A expenses in Q4 were $49.9 million, with a year-over-year increase primarily due to the SmartCover acquisition [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Did the company see the full impact of project conclusions in Q4? - Management noted that project pacing can vary, and the second half of the year was expected to show lower growth due to fewer working days and project completions [27][28] Question: What is the expected growth rate for 2026? - Management anticipates a lower growth rate in the first half of 2026, with a higher growth rate expected in the second half due to awarded projects [30][31] Question: How does the company view the U.S. market size and its share? - Management confirmed that the U.S. market size is around 6 million meters per year, with Badger Meter's share remaining approximately 30% [35][38] Question: What is the expected impact of the PRASA project on revenue? - Management refrained from sizing the revenue impact of the PRASA project, emphasizing the variability in project deployment timelines [18][19] Question: How does the company manage pricing in relation to tariffs? - Management indicated that pricing adjustments have primarily been through list price increases, without temporary tariff add-ons, maintaining a clean pricing strategy [56][57]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales for Q2 2025 reached $238 million, representing a 10% year-over-year increase or 5% growth excluding Smart Cover sales of over $10 million [6][11] - Operating earnings increased by 8% year-over-year to $44.9 million, with operating margins slightly down to 18.8% from 19.2% in the prior year [7][11] - Gross margins expanded by 170 basis points to 41.1% from 39.4% in the prior year quarter, although this was a sequential decline from 42.9% in Q1 2025 [8][10] - Free cash flow increased by 19% year-over-year to $40.6 million, driven by higher earnings and improved working capital [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility water product line sales increased by 11% year-over-year or 6% excluding Smart Cover [6] - Sales for flow instrumentation product line remained flat year-over-year due to lower demand in certain market applications [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The competitive landscape is viewed as level, with ongoing trade uncertainties impacting tariff-related costs [10] - The company continues to see strong customer demand and momentum in technology adoption trends within the water industry [5][16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The launch of BlueEdge aims to unify a comprehensive suite of products for managing water and wastewater systems beyond the meter, with positive reception at industry events [12][13] - The company is focused on long-term growth, expecting high single-digit revenue growth driven by favorable industry fundamentals and customer demand trends [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about navigating macroeconomic uncertainties while supporting long-term customer goals [5] - Despite expected sequential sales decline in Q3 2025, year-over-year growth is still anticipated excluding Smart Cover [15] - The company emphasizes the importance of the meter as a critical investment for utilities, reinforcing confidence in sustained demand [16] Other Important Information - The company is on track to deliver anticipated sales and cost synergies from the Smart Cover acquisition, with a focus on leveraging existing resources [17][68] - The recently published sustainability report highlights achievements in greenhouse gas reduction and financial performance [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about SG&A expense increase - Management acknowledged the increase in SG&A expenses due to the full quarter of Smart Cover and a unique deferred compensation expense, indicating ongoing investments to support growth [21][22][23] Question: Clarification on deferred compensation impact - Management clarified that while the deferred compensation expense was unique to the quarter, some impact would remain due to stock price fluctuations [32][33] Question: Comments on AMI project timing and municipal activity - Management noted that project timing can be uneven, but the demand for new projects remains strong, with no long-term concerns about growth [44][45] Question: Impact of potential EPA budget cuts - Management expressed confidence that utilities will continue to prioritize investments in metering regardless of potential funding cuts, citing various funding mechanisms available [70][71]

Financial Performance - Sales reached $238 million, a 10% increase year-over-year, although 5% excluding SmartCover[7] - Operating margin decreased by 40 bps to 18.8%[7] - EPS grew by 4% year-over-year to $1.17 per share[7] - Free cash flow increased by 19% year-over-year to $41 million[7] - Gross margin improved by 170 bps to 41.1%[8] Business Segments - Utility water sales increased by 11% (6% excluding SmartCover)[8] - Flow instrumentation sales were essentially flat[8] Sustainability - The company reduced GHG emissions intensity by 55% since 2020[15] - The company reduced internal water usage intensity by 30%[15] - The company aims to reduce future GHG intensity by 30% using 2024 as the next baseline[15] Outlook - The company anticipates long-term shareholder value creation with favorable demand and industry dynamics[16]

Core Insights - Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 earnings on July 22, with revenue estimates at $234.33 million, reflecting an 8.2% year-over-year growth, and earnings per share estimated at $1.21, indicating an 8.04% increase from the previous year [1][2] Financial Performance - The company has consistently exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.88% [2] - Utility water sales are projected to rise to $210 million from $173 million year-over-year, driven by strong demand for mechanical and E-Series Ultrasonic meters, ORION Cellular endpoints, and BEACON SaaS solutions [4][10] Growth Drivers - Badger Meter is benefiting from steady customer demand for smart water solutions and disciplined operational execution, particularly in cellular AMI solutions [2] - The introduction of the BlueEdge framework in May 2024 aims to enhance the company's water solutions portfolio, allowing for customization across the entire water cycle [3] - The acquisition of SmartCover on January 30, 2025, adds advanced sewer and lift-station monitoring capabilities to Badger's offerings, with positive customer feedback reinforcing its strategic value [3] Margin and Cost Management - Gross margin is expected to be supported by higher volumes, a favorable sales mix, and effective price/cost management, with long-term expectations of 38-40% [5] - However, elevated expenses from growth investments may offset some of the gross margin benefits [10] Market Outlook - Despite facing a challenging year-over-year comparison in the second quarter, the company remains optimistic about long-term growth, anticipating continued high single-digit revenue growth driven by industry trends in water infrastructure and smart technologies [7] - The flow instrumentation segment is experiencing a decline, with sales expected to dip 5% year-over-year, reflecting challenges in certain de-emphasized markets [6]