8-K

UNITED STATES

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)	January 28, 2022

BADGER METER INC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Wisconsin	001-06706	39-0143280
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

4545 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(414) 355-0400

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

_______________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	BMI	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 2.02           Results of Operations and Financial Condition .

On January 28, 2022, Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its quarterly financial results for the 2021 fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

A copy of the press release issued by the Company announcing the foregoing is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01          Financial Statements and Exhibits .

           (a)          Not applicable.

           (b)          Not applicable.

           (c)           Not applicable.

           (d)           Exhibits .  The exhibit furnished herewith is as listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
(99.1)	Badger Meter, Inc. Press Release, dated January 28, 2022.

SIGNATURES

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.

	BADGER METER, INC.
Date: January 28, 2022	By:	/s/ Robert A. Wrocklage
		Robert A. Wrocklage
		Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Badger Meter Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results; Sales Surpass $500 Million Milestone

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 28, 2022--Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Record total sales of $135.7 million, an increase of 21% compared to $112.3 million in the comparable prior year quarter.
• Strong incremental profitability with a 170 basis point increase in operating profit margins.
• Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.59, a 31% increase compared to $0.45 in the comparable prior year period.
• Robust $27.1 million of cash provided by operations.
• Strong order momentum continued, exited quarter with a record backlog.

Full Year 2021 Highlights

• Full year 2021 record sales of $505.2 million, 19% higher than $425.5 million in 2020.
• Operating profit margins increased year-over-year by 30 basis points despite widespread supply chain and inflation dynamics.
• EPS increased 23% to $2.08 compared to $1.69 in the comparable prior year period.
• $87.5 million of cash provided by operations.

“The fourth quarter was an excellent finish to an outstanding year, where we achieved record financial results and surpassed $500 million in annual revenues,” said Kenneth C. Bockhorst, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “These results reflect the combination of strong demand and order momentum for our innovative smart water solutions, successful water quality acquisition integration activities, relentless execution in the face of acute supply-chain challenges and a world-class team committed to serving customers. We faced many challenges in 2021 and I am extremely proud of how our worldwide team rose to the occasion time and again.”

Fourth Quarter Operating Results

Utility water sales increased a robust 23.4% year-over-year, the result of strong order activity, backlog conversion and water quality acquisition-related sales. Excluding the year-over-year sales benefit from acquisitions of approximately $9 million, core utility water sales increased 14.4% over the prior year comparable quarter and established a new quarterly record. The growth was due to higher ORION^® Cellular endpoint sales as well as increased BEACON^® SaaS revenue. Backlog grew as continued strong order momentum more than offset recovering production output, as intermittent supply chain limitations continued to impact full conversion of utility water orders to net sales.

Sales of flow instrumentation products grew 8.9% year-over-year as improved demand and easier comparisons across the varied end markets was partially offset by the impact of supply chain disruptions that limited manufacturing output.

Gross margin increased $10.8 million year-over-year, with gross margin as a percent of sales of 40.4%, an increase of 120 basis points over the prior year comparable quarter. The Company executed well on pricing realization and manufacturing output optimization in the face of prevalent inflationary pressures and production volatility caused by restricted component availability. Gross margins benefitted from favorable product and acquisition mix, including higher SaaS revenues. The prior year included a non-recurring discrete network sunset provision benefitting the year-over-year comparison.

Selling, engineering and administration (“SEA”) expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $32.0 million, or 23.6% as a percent of sales, compared to $27.1 million, and 24.1% in the comparable prior year quarter. The year-over-year increase in expenses is primarily the result of the addition of the water quality acquisitions, including the related intangible asset amortization as well as higher compensation expenses. Additionally, certain pandemic-impacted expenses such as travel, returned to more normalized levels.

As a result of the above, operating margin was 16.8%, a 170 basis point increase from the prior year’s 15.1%. The tax rate of 24.5% was higher than the prior year’s 22.6%.

Full Year Recap and Outlook

Bockhorst continued, “We achieved record sales and earnings in fiscal 2021, and I am proud of the way Badger Meter employees came together to generate these strong results while navigating supply chain complexities, inflation and continued challenges from the pandemic. We capitalized on strong customer demand trends for our leading water instrumentation and software offerings. Through disciplined execution, we were are able to differentiate our performance, enhance our competitive position, and deliver for our customers.”

”Badger Meter ended 2021 with strong demand for our smart water solutions, and we are well positioned to continue to capitalize on the opportunities in front of us. Our record backlog and order momentum continue to benefit from positive industry fundamentals, including customer requirements to enhance operational efficiency, security and awareness. Leveraging our industry-leading ORION Cellular endpoints and our BEACON digital platform, Badger Meter is transforming our engagement with customers, enabling their ability to address water-related challenges. We remain focused on growth by leveraging innovative technologies, driving higher recurring software revenues and investing in developing robust digital solutions across the water eco-system.”

“Looking ahead, sporadic supply chain disruptions and inflation headwinds are expected to continue in the near term. Our teams have demonstrated nimbleness in the face of these challenges in the past, and by sustaining this execution momentum, we expect to continue to deliver strong financial results.”

Bockhorst concluded, “I want to thank our employees for putting us in an admirable position for continued success as we start the new year. We have an excellent balance sheet, enabling us to execute our growth strategies including enhancing our digital solutions portfolio, and expanding our employee talent base to address the attractive long-term growth opportunities in our market. We remain excited about the road ahead as we work to 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 2021 results today, Friday January 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM Central/11:00 AM Eastern time. The call and related presentation can be accessed via webcast through the Investor section of our website. Participants can also register to take part in the call using this online registration link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/473741639. 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, 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. Potential factors that could affect such forward-looking statements include the duration, severity and geographic spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, government actions to address or mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy, the company’s operations and those of our customers and suppliers. In addition, 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 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.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and earnings per share data)
		Three Months Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
			2021		2020		2021		2020
		(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Net sales		$	135,748	$	112,329	$	505,198	$	425,544
Cost of sales			80,913		68,274		299,714		257,295
Gross margin			54,835		44,055		205,484		168,249
Selling, engineering and administration			31,975		27,093		126,761		103,093
Operating earnings			22,860		16,962		78,723		65,156
Interest (income) expense, net			(49)		12		(20)		30
Other pension and postretirement costs			30		36		120		145
Earnings before income taxes			22,879		16,914		78,623		64,981
Provision for income taxes			5,603		3,820		17,739		15,638
Net earnings		$	17,276	$	13,094	$	60,884	$	49,343
Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.59	$	0.45	$	2.09	$	1.70
	Diluted	$	0.59	$	0.45	$	2.08	$	1.69
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
	Basic		29,194,121		29,057,249		29,144,160		29,052,301
	Diluted		29,367,693		29,257,929		29,337,586		29,229,868

BADGER METER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
Assets	December 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
	(Unaudited)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	87,174	$	72,273
Receivables		65,866		61,689
Inventories		99,611		81,586
Other current assets		8,709		8,140
Total current assets		261,360		223,688
Net property, plant and equipment		78,050		82,705
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization		64,176		53,598
Other long-term assets		22,919		22,518
Goodwill		104,313		88,708
Total assets	$	530,818	$	471,217
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Payables	$	41,859	$	34,923
Accrued compensation and employee benefits		20,644		14,617
Other current liabilities		19,643		18,496
Total current liabilities		82,146		68,036
Deferred income taxes		5,385		5,696
Long-term employee benefits and other		40,217		36,226
Shareholders' equity		403,070		361,259
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	530,818	$	471,217

BADGER METER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
	(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$	17,276	$	13,094	$	60,884	$	49,343
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation		2,672		3,121		11,291		12,253
Amortization		4,213		3,160		16,571		12,963
Deferred income taxes		(3,066)		(3,483)		(3,025)		(3,082)
Noncurrent employee benefits		(466)		(365)		(234)		206
Stock-based compensation expense		793		374		2,330		1,415
Changes in:
Receivables		7,745		(148)		(1,240)		3,036
Inventories		(7,948)		(59)		(13,633)		5,129
Payables		(415)		(6,876)		7,005		(391)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		3,367		(1,347)		(8,281)		(3,522)
Other current liabilities		2,906		8,429		15,842		12,228
Total adjustments		9,801		2,806		26,626		40,235
Net cash provided by operations		27,077		15,900		87,510		89,578
Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment expenditures		(903)		(3,204)		(6,746)		(9,059)
Proceeds from company owned life insurance plans		-		-		596		-
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		-		(29,134)		(45,273)		(29,134)
Net cash used for investing activities		(903)		(32,338)		(51,423)		(38,193)
Financing activities:
Net decrease short-term debt		-		-		-		(4,600)
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration		-		(1,001)		-		(1,001)
Dividends paid		(5,839)		(5,232)		(22,155)		(20,340)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		-		553		2,036		1,058
Repurchase of treasury stock		-		(182)		(460)		(3,116)
Issuance of treasury stock		-		54		72		180
Net cash used for financing activities		(5,839)		(5,808)		(20,507)		(27,819)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash		(199)		618		(679)		(164)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		20,136		(21,628)		14,901		23,402
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period		67,038		93,901		72,273		48,871
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	87,174	$	72,273	$	87,174	$	72,273

Contacts

Karen Bauer
(414) 371-7276
kbauer@badgermeter.com

XML

Document and Entity Information	Jan. 28, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2022
Entity Registrant Name	BADGER METER INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	WI
Entity File Number	001-06706
Entity Tax Identification Number	39-0143280
Entity Address, Address Line One	4545 W. Brown Deer Rd.
Entity Address, City or Town	Milwaukee
Entity Address, State or Province	WI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	53223
City Area Code	414
Local Phone Number	355-0400
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000009092
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	BMI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Information, Former Legal or Registered Name	Not Applicable