Badger Meter Q4 2025 Badger Meter Inc Earnings Call | AllMind AI Earnings | AllMind AI
Q4 2025 Badger Meter Inc Earnings Call
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us, and welcome to the BMI Q4 and full year 2025 earnings call.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us, and welcome to the BMI Q4 and full year 2025 earnings call.
Speaker #1: Ladies and gentlemen , thank you for joining us . And welcome to the BMI , Q4 and full year 2025 Earnings Call . After today's prepared remarks , we will question host a and answer session .
Kenneth Bockhorst: ... After today's prepared remarks, we will host a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please, please press star one to raise your hand. I will now hand the conference over to Barbara Novarini, Head of Investor Relations. Barbara, please go ahead.
Ken Bockhorst: ... After today's prepared remarks, we will host a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please, please press star one to raise your hand. I will now hand the conference over to Barbara Novarini, Head of Investor Relations. Barbara, please go ahead.
Speaker #1: If you would like to ask a question , please , please press star one to raise your hand . I will now hand the conference over to Barbara Noverini , Head of Investor Relations .
Speaker #1: Barbara , please go ahead .
Barbara Noverini: Thank you for joining the Badger Meter fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings conference call. I'm here today with Ken Bockhorst, our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Bob Wrocklage, our new Executive Vice President of North America Municipal Utility, and Dan Weltzien, our recently appointed Chief Financial Officer. This morning, we made the earnings release and related slide presentation available on our website at investors.badgermeter.com. As a reminder, any forward-looking statements made on this call are subject to various risks and uncertainties, the most important of which are outlined in our news release and SEC filings. On today's call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial metrics, including certain base metrics. Use of the term base for these purposes is intended to refer to certain financial metrics excluding the SmartCover acquisition.
Barbara Noverini: Thank you for joining the Badger Meter fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings conference call. I'm here today with Ken Bockhorst, our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Bob Wrocklage, our new Executive Vice President of North America Municipal Utility, and Dan Weltzien, our recently appointed Chief Financial Officer.
Speaker #2: you for Thank joining the Badger Meter fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings conference call . I'm today with here Kenneth Bockhorst . Our chairman , president and Chief Executive Officer .
Speaker #2: Bob , our new Executive North President of Vice municipal America utility . And Dan Weltzin , our appointed recently chief financial officer . This morning , we made the earnings release and related slide presentation available on our website at Investors Badger Meter .
This morning, we made the earnings release and related slide presentation available on our website at investors.badgermeter.com. As a reminder, any forward-looking statements made on this call are subject to various risks and uncertainties, the most important of which are outlined in our news release and SEC filings.
Speaker #2: As a reminder , any forward looking statements this made on call are subject to various risks and uncertainties . The most important of which are outlined in our news release and SEC filings .
On today's call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial metrics, including certain base metrics. Use of the term base for these purposes is intended to refer to certain financial metrics excluding the SmartCover acquisition. Our earnings presentation provides a reconciliation between the most directly comparable GAAP measure and any non-GAAP or base financial measures discussed. With that, I'll turn the call over to Ken.
Speaker #2: On today's call , we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial metrics , including certain base metrics , use of the term base for these purposes is intended to refer to certain financial metrics , excluding the Smart Cover acquisition .
Barbara Noverini: Our earnings presentation provides a reconciliation between the most directly comparable GAAP measure and any non-GAAP or base financial measures discussed. With that, I'll turn the call over to Ken.
Speaker #2: Our earnings presentation provides a reconciliation between the most directly comparable GAAP measure and non-GAAP or base financial measures discussed with I'll turn the that , call over to Ken .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Thanks, Barb, and thank you all for joining our call. Turning to slide 3, we delivered solid financial results in Q4, capping off another full year of record sales, profitability, and cash flow. We continue to see robust demand for our industry-leading cellular AMI solution, and the recent addition of SmartCover to our BlueEdge suite of smart water management solutions positions us well for long-term growth across the water cycle. I'm thankful for the dedication and perseverance demonstrated by the entire Badger Meter team during a year marked by global trade uncertainty, exciting acquisition integration, and many ongoing AMI projects in various stages of deployment. I'll be back to provide a recap of the year and discuss our outlook later in the call, but for now, I'll introduce you to Dan Weltzien.
Ken Bockhorst: Thanks, Barb, and thank you all for joining our call. Turning to slide 3, we delivered solid financial results in Q4, capping off another full year of record sales, profitability, and cash flow. We continue to see robust demand for our industry-leading cellular AMI solution, and the recent addition of SmartCover to our BlueEdge suite of smart water management solutions positions us well for long-term growth across the water cycle.
Speaker #3: Thanks , Barb , and thank you all for joining our call . Turning to slide three , we delivered solid financial fourth quarter , results in the capping off another full year of sales , profitability and cash flow .
Speaker #3: record continue to see robust demand for our industry leading cellular army solution . And the recent addition of Smart Cover to our blue edge suite of smart water management solutions positions us well for long term growth across the water cycle .
I'm thankful for the dedication and perseverance demonstrated by the entire Badger Meter team during a year marked by global trade uncertainty, exciting acquisition integration, and many ongoing AMI projects in various stages of deployment. I'll be back to provide a recap of the year and discuss our outlook later in the call, but for now, I'll introduce you to Dan Weltzien.
Speaker #3: I'm thankful for the dedication and perseverance demonstrated by the entire Badger Meter team during a year marked by global trade uncertainty and exciting acquisition , integration and many ongoing Ami projects in various stages of deployment .
Speaker #3: I'll be back to provide a recap of the year and discuss our outlook later in the call. But for now, I'll introduce you to Dan Weltzin.
Kenneth Bockhorst: As announced in December, Dan became our new CFO on January 1, 2026, following 7 years as vice president and controller. Dan, welcome to the earnings call. Bob Wrocklage is also here today in his new capacity as Executive Vice President, North America Municipal Utility. Bob will join me later in the call to provide more detail about the significant AMI project for PRASA that we mentioned in today's press release. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Dan to cover the numbers.
As announced in December, Dan became our new CFO on January 1, 2026, following 7 years as vice president and controller. Dan, welcome to the earnings call. Bob Wrocklage is also here today in his new capacity as Executive Vice President, North America Municipal Utility. Bob will join me later in the call to provide more detail about the significant AMI project for PRASA that we mentioned in today's press release. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Dan to cover the numbers.
Speaker #3: As announced in December, Dan became our new CFO on January 1, 2026, following seven years as Vice President and Controller.
Speaker #3: Dan , welcome to the earnings call . Robert Wrocklage is also here today in his new capacity as executive Vice president , North America municipal Utility .
Speaker #3: Bob will join me later in the call to provide more detail about the significant Ami project for we mentioned in today's press release Prasa that .
Speaker #3: With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Dan to cover the numbers.
Dan Weltzien: Thank you, Ken. I'm truly honored to serve as Badger Meter's Chief Financial Officer. I've benefited personally and professionally from the strong relationships I've had with both Ken and Bob for many years, and remain excited by the opportunity we have ahead of us to build upon our long track record of market leadership and success. So let's go ahead and start by reviewing another quarter of solid financial performance. Turning to slide four, total sales of $221 million in the Q4 2025 represented an increase of 8% year-over-year, or 2% base sales growth. Total utility water product line sales increased year-over-year by 9%, or 2%, excluding SmartCover.
Dan Weltzien: Thank you, Ken. I'm truly honored to serve as Badger Meter's Chief Financial Officer. I've benefited personally and professionally from the strong relationships I've had with both Ken and Bob for many years, and remain excited by the opportunity we have ahead of us to build upon our long track record of market leadership and success.
Speaker #4: Thank you . Ken . I'm truly honored to serve as Badger Meter Chief Financial Officer . I've benefited personally and professionally from the strong relationships I've had with both Ken and Bob for many years , and remain excited by the opportunity we have ahead of build upon our long track us to record of market leadership and success .
So let's go ahead and start by reviewing another quarter of solid financial performance. Turning to slide four, total sales of $221 million in the Q4 2025 represented an increase of 8% year-over-year, or 2% base sales growth. Total utility water product line sales increased year-over-year by 9%, or 2%, excluding SmartCover.
Speaker #4: So, let's go ahead and start by reviewing another quarter of solid financial performance. Turning to slide four, total sales of $221 million in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Speaker #4: This represented an increase of 8% year over year, or 2% base sales growth. Total utility water product line sales increased year over year by 9%, or 2%, excluding Smart Cover.
Dan Weltzien: As expected, fewer operating days in the fourth quarter and previously communicated project pacing effects resulted in a 6.6% 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 2025 has everything to do with the calendar and quarter-specific customer and project mix, and very little to do with other influences, such as underlying market conditions, customer demand trends, utility budgets, or the broader funding environment. On the last point, though not all that relevant to metering, recent congressional actions support funding of State Revolving Funds consistent with historic levels.
As expected, fewer operating days in the fourth quarter and previously communicated project pacing effects resulted in a 6.6% 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.
Speaker #4: As expected, fewer operating days in the fourth quarter and previously communicated project pacing effects resulted in a 66% sequential decline in utility water sales versus the third quarter of 2025.
Speaker #4: 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 2025 has everything to do with the calendar and quarter-specific customer and project mix, and very little to do with other influences, such as underlying market conditions, customer demand trends, utility budgets, or the broader funding environment. On the last point, though not all that relevant to metering, recent congressional actions support funding of State Revolving Funds consistent with historic levels.
Speaker #4: Simply put , the sequential quarterly sales decline between the third and fourth quarters of 2025 has everything to do with the calendar and quarter specific customer and project mix , and very little to do with other influences such as underlying market conditions , customer demand trends , utility budgets , or the broader funding environment .
Speaker #4: On the last point , though , not all that relevant to metering , recent congressional actions support funding of state revolving funds . Consistent with historic levels .
Dan Weltzien: This should allay some broader water industry funding reduction concerns. Sales for the flow instrumentation product line were flat year-over-year, with modest growth in water-focused end markets, offsetting declines across the array of de-emphasized applications. Turning to profitability, we were very pleased with the year-over-year operating earnings growth of 10%, which outpaced revenue growth. Operating profit margins increased 40 basis points from 19.1% to 19.5%. Base operating earnings increased 9% year-over-year, expanding base operating profit margins by 140 basis points to 20.5%. Gross margins expanded 180 basis points to 42.1% in the fourth quarter from 40.3% in the prior year quarter.
This should allay some broader water industry funding reduction concerns. Sales for the flow instrumentation product line were flat year-over-year, with modest growth in water-focused end markets, offsetting declines across the array of de-emphasized applications.
Speaker #4: This should allay some broader water industry funding reduction concerns . Sales for the flow Instrumentation product line were flat year over year , with modest growth in water focused end markets offsetting declines across the array of de-emphasized applications to .
Turning to profitability, we were very pleased with the year-over-year operating earnings growth of 10%, which outpaced revenue growth. Operating profit margins increased 40 basis points from 19.1% to 19.5%. Base operating earnings increased 9% year-over-year, expanding base operating profit margins by 140 basis points to 20.5%. Gross margins expanded 180 basis points to 42.1% in the fourth quarter from 40.3% in the prior year quarter.
Speaker #4: profitability , Turning we were very pleased with the year over year operating earnings growth of 10% , which outpaced revenue growth . Operating profit margins increased 40 basis points from 19.1% to 19.5% .
Speaker #4: Base operating earnings increased 9% year over year . Expanding base operating profit margins by 140 basis points to 20.5% . Gross margins expanded 180 basis points to 42.1% in the fourth quarter , from 40.3% in the prior year quarter .
Dan Weltzien: Gross margin continued to benefit from structural mix driven by ultrasonic meters, cellular AMI, water quality, and SmartCover sales, which were all above line average profitability. It's also important to mention that the same project pacing effects that impacted utility water sales also benefited margins in the fourth quarter. This is because when we act as prime contractor during certain turnkey projects, sales often include pass-through activities, such as outsourced meter installation, labor, and ancillary meter pit supplies, which tend to have a lower margin profile.
Gross margin continued to benefit from structural mix driven by ultrasonic meters, cellular AMI, water quality, and SmartCover sales, which were all above line average profitability. It's also important to mention that the same project pacing effects that impacted utility water sales also benefited margins in the fourth quarter.
Speaker #4: Gross margin continued to benefit from mix , driven structural meters ultrasonic by , cellular Ami water quality and smart cover were sales , which all above line average profitability .
Speaker #4: It's also important to mention that the same project pacing effects that impacted utility water sales also benefited margins in the fourth quarter . This is because when we act as prime contractor during certain turnkey projects , sales often include pass through activities such as outsourced meter installation , labor and ancillary meter pit supplies , which tend to have a lower margin profile .
This is because when we act as prime contractor during certain turnkey projects, sales often include pass-through activities, such as outsourced meter installation, labor, and ancillary meter pit supplies, which tend to have a lower margin profile.
Robert Wrocklage: ... Separately, while we now have largely reached price cost parity on 2025 tariff and trade-related cost impacts and related price mitigation actions, we do expect global tariff and trade conditions to remain fluid in 2026. In addition, we expect elevated prices of copper and certain other components of our Bialloy ingot material cost to be a gross margin headwind in 2026. We factor all of these components, along with other puts and takes, into our normalized gross margin range of 39% to 42% and into ongoing and routine price mitigation actions. SCA expenses in the fourth quarter were $49.9 million, with the $6.4 million year-over-year increase driven primarily by the SmartCover acquisition.
Separately, while we now have largely reached price cost parity on 2025 tariff and trade-related cost impacts and related price mitigation actions, we do expect global tariff and trade conditions to remain fluid in 2026. In addition, we expect elevated prices of copper and certain other components of our Bialloy ingot material cost to be a gross margin headwind in 2026.
Speaker #4: Separately , while we now have largely reached price cost parity on 2025 tariff and trade related cost impacts and related price mitigation actions , we do expect global tariff and trade conditions to remain fluid in 2026 .
Speaker #4: In addition , we expect elevated prices of copper and certain other components of our bioloid material cost to be a gross margin headwind in 2026 .
We factor all of these components, along with other puts and takes, into our normalized gross margin range of 39% to 42% and into ongoing and routine price mitigation actions. SCA expenses in the fourth quarter were $49.9 million, with the $6.4 million year-over-year increase driven primarily by the SmartCover acquisition.
Speaker #4: We factor all of these components , along with other puts and takes into our normalized gross margin range of 39 to 42% and into ongoing and routine price mitigation actions .
Speaker #4: SCA expenses in the fourth quarter were $49.9 million , with the $6.4 million year over year increase driven primarily by the Cover Smart acquisition .
Robert Wrocklage: When excluding SmartCover related expenses, including $1.6 million of intangible asset amortization, base SCA expenses increased $1.3 million, or 2.9% year-over-year. The year-over-year increase in base SCA expense was mainly driven by higher personnel costs to support normal course growth of the business. The income tax provision in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 24.8% versus the prior year's 27.1%. Consolidated EPS was $1.14 versus $1.04 in the prior year quarter, representing a 10% year-over-year increase. Primary working capital as a percentage of sales at December 31, 2025, was 20.9%, largely consistent with the comparable prior year period. Record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million increased by approximately $3.4 million year-over-year.
When excluding SmartCover related expenses, including $1.6 million of intangible asset amortization, base SCA expenses increased $1.3 million, or 2.9% year-over-year. The year-over-year increase in base SCA expense was mainly driven by higher personnel costs to support normal course growth of the business.
Speaker #4: When excluding Smart Cover . Related expenses , including $1.6 million of intangible asset amortization base , SCA expenses , increased $1.3 million , or 2.9% , year over year .
Speaker #4: The year over year increase in base SCA expense was mainly driven by higher personnel costs to support normal course growth of the business .
The income tax provision in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 24.8% versus the prior year's 27.1%. Consolidated EPS was $1.14 versus $1.04 in the prior year quarter, representing a 10% year-over-year increase. Primary working capital as a percentage of sales at December 31, 2025, was 20.9%, largely consistent with the comparable prior year period. Record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million increased by approximately $3.4 million year-over-year. With that, I'll turn the call back over to Ken.
Speaker #4: The income tax provision in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 24.8% , versus the prior year's 27.1% . Consolidated EPs was $1 . 14 versus $1 four in the prior year quarter , representing a 10% year over year increase .
Speaker #4: Primary working capital . As a percentage of sales at December 31st , 2025 was 20.9% , largely consistent with the comparable prior year period .
Speaker #4: Record quarterly free cash flow of $50.8 million increased by approximately $3.4 million year over year. With that, I'll turn the call back over to Ken.
Robert Wrocklage: With that, I'll turn the call back over to Ken.
Kenneth Bockhorst: Thanks, Dan. For those of you who followed our story and interacted with Bob over the years, you've certainly experienced the passion and knowledge he has for our business, extending well beyond the traditional CFO focus. Badger Meter will benefit greatly from Bob's business acumen, customer focus, and growth mindset as the leader of our largest line of business. I'm now going to hand it over to Bob so he can talk specifically about the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, or PRASA, AMI project.
Ken Bockhorst: Thanks, Dan. For those of you who followed our story and interacted with Bob over the years, you've certainly experienced the passion and knowledge he has for our business, extending well beyond the traditional CFO focus. Badger Meter will benefit greatly from Bob's business acumen, customer focus, and growth mindset as the leader of our largest line of business. I'm now going to hand it over to Bob so he can talk specifically about the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, or PRASA, AMI project.
Speaker #3: Thanks , Dan , for those of you who followed our story and interacted with Bob over the years , you've certainly experienced the passion and knowledge he has for our business , extending well beyond the traditional CFO focus .
Speaker #3: Badger Meter will benefit from Bob's greatly business acumen . Customer focus and growth mindset . As the leader of our largest line of business .
Speaker #3: I'm now going to hand it over to Bob so he can talk specifically about the Puerto Rico Sewer Aqueduct Authority, or PRASA AMI project.
Robert Wrocklage: Thanks, Ken. From the CFO's chair, it's been gratifying to be part of more than doubling our top-line revenue over the past seven years. In my new role, I'm excited about further expanding our market leadership as cellular AMI technology continues to increasingly be adopted by North American water utilities as the industry standard for AMI. Consistent with our Choice Matters BlueEdge portfolio, we continue to enable our customers to walk up the technology curve at a pace that's right for them. Our blueprint for growth begins with cellular AMI as the foundation to real-time insights and analytics, and expands through the BlueEdge suite of smart water management solutions, enabling visibility and efficiency throughout the entire water cycle. A very recent example of our success with cellular AMI is the announced award for the PRASA AMI project, which will be one of the largest deployments in the world.
Bob Wrocklage: Thanks, Ken. From the CFO's chair, it's been gratifying to be part of more than doubling our top-line revenue over the past seven years. In my new role, I'm excited about further expanding our market leadership as cellular AMI technology continues to increasingly be adopted by North American water utilities as the industry standard for AMI. Consistent with our Choice Matters BlueEdge portfolio, we continue to enable our customers to walk up the technology curve at a pace that's right for them.
Speaker #3: Thanks .
Speaker #5: Ken . From the CFO been part doubling our chair . of more It's than gratifying top line revenue over the seven years . past In my new role , I'm about excited further market expanding our leadership as cellular Ami technology continues to increasingly be adopted by North American water utilities as the industry standard for Ami our , consistent with choice matters , Blue Edge portfolio .
Speaker #5: We continue to enable our customers to walk up the technology curve at a pace that's right for them . Our blueprint for growth begins with cellular Ami as the foundation to real time insights and analytics , and expands through the Blue edge suite of smart water management solutions , enabling visibility and efficiency throughout the entire water cycle .
Our blueprint for growth begins with cellular AMI as the foundation to real-time insights and analytics, and expands through the BlueEdge suite of smart water management solutions, enabling visibility and efficiency throughout the entire water cycle. A very recent example of our success with cellular AMI is the announced award for the PRASA AMI project, which will be one of the largest deployments in the world.
Speaker #5: A very recent example of our success with cellular AMI is the announced award for the Prasa AMI project, which will be one of the largest deployments in the world.
Robert Wrocklage: An overview of the project is provided on slide 5. This transformative multi-year project will include E-Series Ultrasonic Meters, ORION Cellular AMI Radios, and BEACON SaaS across the island of Puerto Rico, representing approximately 1.6 million service connections. Badger Meter's role in the project will be supply only, and we will not assume any prime contractor or installation or ancillary product supply responsibilities. Those activities will be handled by others. We will be utilizing our Racine, Wisconsin, facility for production. Over the past year, investors have understandably focused on assessing the installed base of AMI and the remaining AMI adoption potential in North America, along with the underlying customer demand drivers and typical time horizons for AMI projects. To provide color on these factors, let's use the PRASA award as an example of a large project. PRASA's planning for the project began over 5 years ago.
An overview of the project is provided on slide 5. This transformative multi-year project will include E-Series Ultrasonic Meters, ORION Cellular AMI Radios, and BEACON SaaS across the island of Puerto Rico, representing approximately 1.6 million service connections. Badger Meter's role in the project will be supply only, and we will not assume any prime contractor or installation or ancillary product supply responsibilities. Those activities will be handled by others.
Speaker #5: An overview of the project is provided on slide five . This transformative multi-year project will include a series ultrasonic meters , Orion radios , and SaaS island of Ami Cellular beacon across the Puerto Rico , representing approximately 1.6 million service connections .
Speaker #5: Badger Meter role in the project will be only , and we will supply not assume any prime contractor or ancillary installation or product supply responsibilities .
Speaker #5: Those activities will be handled by others . We will be utilizing our Racine , Wisconsin facility for production . Over the past year , investors have understandably focused on assessing the installed base of Ami and the remaining Ami adoption potential in North America .
We will be utilizing our Racine, Wisconsin, facility for production. Over the past year, investors have understandably focused on assessing the installed base of AMI and the remaining AMI adoption potential in North America, along with the underlying customer demand drivers and typical time horizons for AMI projects. To provide color on these factors, let's use the PRASA award as an example of a large project. PRASA's planning for the project began over 5 years ago.
Speaker #5: Along with the underlying customer demand drivers and typical time horizons for Ami projects . To provide color on these factors , let's use the Lasso Award as an example of a large project planning process for the project began over five years ago .
Robert Wrocklage: That planning materialized into a technology pilot and RFP, which Badger Meter, along with its partners, first participated in beginning in 2021. The pilot deployment began in 2023, and the project award occurred in 2025. We expect the PRASA project to translate into product shipments in 2026, with an initial ramp earlier in the year and more meaningful revenue contributions in the second half of 2026, when project deployment begins, is expected to begin in earnest. To be clear, project awards of this nature, PRASA or otherwise, underpin our long-term high single-digit outlook over the next five years, and the PRASA project specifically is not additive to that, either in a single year or over the long-term horizon.
That planning materialized into a technology pilot and RFP, which Badger Meter, along with its partners, first participated in beginning in 2021. The pilot deployment began in 2023, and the project award occurred in 2025. We expect the PRASA project to translate into product shipments in 2026, with an initial ramp earlier in the year and more meaningful revenue contributions in the second half of 2026, when project deployment begins, is expected to begin in earnest.
Speaker #5: That planning materialized into a technology pilot and RFP, which Badger Meter, along with its partners, first participated in beginning in 2021.
Speaker #5: The pilot deployment began in project award occurred 2023 , in and the We 2025 . expect the price of project to translate into product shipments in 2026 , with an initial ramp earlier in the year and more meaningful revenue contributions in the second half of 2026 , when project deployment begins .
To be clear, project awards of this nature, PRASA or otherwise, underpin our long-term high single-digit outlook over the next five years, and the PRASA project specifically is not additive to that, either in a single year or over the long-term horizon.
Speaker #5: As expected to begin in earnest . To be clear , project awards of this nature Prasa or otherwise , underpin our long term high single digit outlook over the next five years and the of project specifically is not additive to that single either .
Speaker #5: In a year or over the long term horizon . While we don't regularly share customer specific wins and project awards , we're highlighting process due to its scope and scale .
Robert Wrocklage: While we don't regularly share customer-specific wins and project awards, we're highlighting PRASA due to its scope and scale, to illustrate the drivers behind the uneven project nature of our business, and to acknowledge that even today, there are many PRASA project variables, known and unknown, that will influence near-term 2026 revenue contributions, the year-to-year project pacing thereafter, and the duration of the project deployment. Explicitly stated, for these reasons, we will not be sizing the revenue impact of this project on 2026 or more broadly. On that note, I'll pass it over to Ken for his closing remarks.
While we don't regularly share customer-specific wins and project awards, we're highlighting PRASA due to its scope and scale, to illustrate the drivers behind the uneven project nature of our business, and to acknowledge that even today, there are many PRASA project variables, known and unknown, that will influence near-term 2026 revenue contributions, the year-to-year project pacing thereafter, and the duration of the project deployment.
Speaker #5: To illustrate , the drivers behind the uneven project nature of our business and to acknowledge that even today , there are many project variables known and unknown , that will influence near-term 2026 revenue contributions .
Speaker #5: The year to year project pacing thereafter and the duration of project the we will not these stated . For reasons , sizing the revenue impact of this project .
Explicitly stated, for these reasons, we will not be sizing the revenue impact of this project on 2026 or more broadly. On that note, I'll pass it over to Ken for his closing remarks.
Speaker #5: On 2026 or more broadly . On that note , I'll pass it over to Ken for his closing remarks .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Thanks, Bob. I'd like to take a moment to review our full year 2025 performance against the five-year trend line. Please turn to slide 6. In 2025, we delivered 11% sales growth, surpassing $900 million in revenue. This reflects a 17% compounded annual growth rate over the past 5 years. Our software revenue, which includes SmartCover, now exceeds $74 million and represents 8% of sales. Software revenues, largely driven by cellular AMI, have grown at a 28% compounded annual growth rate over the past 5 years. In 2025, operating profit margins expanded 90 basis points to 20%, despite the initially dilutive impact of the SmartCover acquisition. Base operating profit margins increased 200 basis points year-over-year.
Ken Bockhorst: Thanks, Bob. I'd like to take a moment to review our full year 2025 performance against the five-year trend line. Please turn to slide 6. In 2025, we delivered 11% sales growth, surpassing $900 million in revenue. This reflects a 17% compounded annual growth rate over the past 5 years. Our software revenue, which includes SmartCover, now exceeds $74 million and represents 8% of sales.
Speaker #3: Thanks , Bob . I'd like to take a moment to review our full year 2025 performance against a five year trend line . Please turn to slide six .
Speaker #3: In 2025 , we delivered 11% sales growth , surpassing $900 million in revenue . This reflects a 17% compounded annual growth rate over the past five years .
Speaker #3: software revenue , Our which includes Smart Cover , now exceeds $74 million and represents 8% of sales software revenues , largely driven by cellular Ami , have grown at a 28% compounded annual growth rate over the past five years .
Software revenues, largely driven by cellular AMI, have grown at a 28% compounded annual growth rate over the past 5 years. In 2025, operating profit margins expanded 90 basis points to 20%, despite the initially dilutive impact of the SmartCover acquisition. Base operating profit margins increased 200 basis points year-over-year.
Speaker #3: In 2020 . Five , operating profit margins expanded 90 basis points to 20% , despite the initially dilutive impact of the Smart Cover acquisition .
Speaker #3: Base profit operating margins increased 200 basis points year over year . Over the last five years . Both gross margin improvement and leverage contributed to 470 basis points of operating margin expansion .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Over the last 5 years, both gross margin improvement and SCA leverage contributed to 470 basis points of operating margin expansion. Finally, we continued to manage our working capital intensity and again generated free cash flow in excess of 100% of net earnings. Our clean balance sheet, with more than $225 million of cash on hand, continues to provide significant financial flexibility to reinvest in our business, both organically and inorganically. In Q3, we increased our dividend for the 33rd consecutive year, and in Q4, we opportunistically repurchased $15 million in shares when the market price implied an attractive long-term return on capital. Turning to slide 7. I'm proud of what we accomplished in just 11 short months as we integrated SmartCover into the Badger Meter organization.
Over the last 5 years, both gross margin improvement and SCA leverage contributed to 470 basis points of operating margin expansion. Finally, we continued to manage our working capital intensity and again generated free cash flow in excess of 100% of net earnings. Our clean balance sheet, with more than $225 million of cash on hand, continues to provide significant financial flexibility to reinvest in our business, both organically and inorganically.
Speaker #3: And finally, we continued to manage our working capital intensity, and again generated free cash flow in excess of 100% of net.
Speaker #3: earnings Our clean balance sheet , with more than $225 million of cash on hand , continues to provide significant financial flexibility to reinvest in our business , both organically and inorganically .
In Q3, we increased our dividend for the 33rd consecutive year, and in Q4, we opportunistically repurchased $15 million in shares when the market price implied an attractive long-term return on capital. Turning to slide 7. I'm proud of what we accomplished in just 11 short months as we integrated SmartCover into the Badger Meter organization.
Speaker #3: In the third quarter, we increased our dividend for the 33rd consecutive year, and in the fourth quarter, we opportunistically repurchased $15 million in shares.
Speaker #3: When the market price implied an attractive long term return on capital . Turning to slide seven . I'm proud of what we accomplished in just 11 short months as we integrated Smart Cover into the Badger Meter organization delivered cover , Smart $40 million of sales in 2025 , or 25% , on an annualized basis .
Kenneth Bockhorst: SmartCover delivered $40 million of sales in 2025, or 25% on an annualized basis. Over this time, SmartCover's profitability improved, driven by both higher sales volumes and focused cost management. We successfully transferred SmartCover's manufacturing operations to our facility in Racine, Wisconsin, and we're on track for earnings accretion in 2026, as expected. And finally, I'll conclude with some thoughts on both our near-term and long-term outlook. As we mentioned in our press release this morning, the second half of 2025 included a concentrated mix of concluding AMI turnkey projects, resulting in base revenue growth of 6%, which was lower than our 5-year forward outlook. We expect this project pacing dynamic to extend throughout the first half of 2026, until several awarded projects, including PRASA, begin multiyear turnkey deployments.
SmartCover delivered $40 million of sales in 2025, or 25% on an annualized basis. Over this time, SmartCover's profitability improved, driven by both higher sales volumes and focused cost management. We successfully transferred SmartCover's manufacturing operations to our facility in Racine, Wisconsin, and we're on track for earnings accretion in 2026, as expected. And finally, I'll conclude with some thoughts on both our near-term and long-term outlook.
Speaker #3: Over this time . Smart covers profitability driven by both improved , higher sales volumes and focused cost management . We successfully transferred Smart Covers manufacturing operations to our facility in Racine , Wisconsin , and we're on track for earnings accretion in 2026 .
Speaker #3: As expected . And finally , I'll conclude with some thoughts on both our near term and long term outlook . As we mentioned in our press release this morning , the second half of 2025 included a concentrated mix of concluding Ami turnkey projects , resulting in base revenue growth of 6% , which was lower than our five year forward outlook .
As we mentioned in our press release this morning, the second half of 2025 included a concentrated mix of concluding AMI turnkey projects, resulting in base revenue growth of 6%, which was lower than our 5-year forward outlook. We expect this project pacing dynamic to extend throughout the first half of 2026, until several awarded projects, including PRASA, begin multiyear turnkey deployments.
Speaker #3: We expect this project pacing dynamic to extend throughout the first half of 2026 . Until several awarded projects , including Prasa , begin multi-year , turnkey deployments .
Kenneth Bockhorst: We'd like to remind investors that it is not unusual to experience certain quarters or even whole years that are above or below our expectation of high single-digit sales growth over a five-year forward period. Quarter-to-quarter variation in project pacing is typical in our industry, and attempting to precisely time it can cause those who follow us to miss the big picture. Our products and solutions support critical elements of the water infrastructure, and the long-term secular trends impacting the water industry will continue to influence our customers to plan for better resiliency. We are actively involved in enabling that change. For example, we created the market for cellular AMI against an incumbent technology and have since demonstrated success at gaining share. Via acquisition and internal development, we've expanded our opportunity set to include solutions across the entire water cycle.
We'd like to remind investors that it is not unusual to experience certain quarters or even whole years that are above or below our expectation of high single-digit sales growth over a five-year forward period. Quarter-to-quarter variation in project pacing is typical in our industry, and attempting to precisely time it can cause those who follow us to miss the big picture.
Speaker #3: I'd like to remind investors that it is not unusual to experience quarters, or even whole years, that are above or below our expectation of high single-digit sales growth over a five-year forward period.
Speaker #3: Quarter to quarter variation in project pacing typical in is our industry , and attempting to precisely time it can cause those who follow us to miss the big picture .
Our products and solutions support critical elements of the water infrastructure, and the long-term secular trends impacting the water industry will continue to influence our customers to plan for better resiliency. We are actively involved in enabling that change.
Speaker #3: Our products solutions and support critical elements of the water infrastructure and the long term secular trends impacting the water industry will continue to influence our customers to plan for better resiliency .
Speaker #3: We are active. We are actively involved in enabling that change. For example, we created the market for cellular AMI against an incumbent technology and have since demonstrated success at gaining share via acquisition and internal development.
For example, we created the market for cellular AMI against an incumbent technology and have since demonstrated success at gaining share. Via acquisition and internal development, we've expanded our opportunity set to include solutions across the entire water cycle.
Speaker #3: We've expanded our opportunity set to include solutions across the entire water cycle. Long, enduring secular trends support demand for smart water management solutions.
Kenneth Bockhorst: Long-enduring secular trends support demand for smart water management solutions. When speaking directly with our customers, we have not seen meaningful evidence that real or perceived federal funding constraints will impact our ability to generate high single-digit sales growth, operating profit margin expansion, and free cash flow conversion in excess of earnings over a five-year forward time horizon. In summary, I'm proud of our performance in 2025, look forward to what's ahead in 2026, and see great opportunity for the execution of our long-term strategy to compound value for both our customers and shareholders. With that, operator, please open the line for questions.
Long-enduring secular trends support demand for smart water management solutions. When speaking directly with our customers, we have not seen meaningful evidence that real or perceived federal funding constraints will impact our ability to generate high single-digit sales growth, operating profit margin expansion, and free cash flow conversion in excess of earnings over a five-year forward time horizon.
Speaker #3: When speaking directly with our have not seen evidence that real or we meaningful customers , perceived federal funding will constraints impact our ability to generate high single digit sales growth .
Speaker #3: Operating profit margin expansion and free cash flow conversion in excess of earnings over a five year forward time horizon . In summary , I'm proud of our performance in 2025 .
In summary, I'm proud of our performance in 2025, look forward to what's ahead in 2026, and see great opportunity for the execution of our long-term strategy to compound value for both our customers and shareholders. With that, operator, please open the line for questions.
Speaker #3: Look forward to what's ahead in 2026 and see great opportunity for the execution of our long term strategy . To compound value for both our customers and shareholders .
Speaker #3: With that , operator , please open the line for questions .
Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. Please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one to raise your hand. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Robert Mason with Baird. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. Please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one to raise your hand. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Robert Mason with Baird. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Thank you . We will now begin the question and answer session . Please limit yourself to one question and one follow up . If you would like to ask a question , please press star one to raise your hand .
Speaker #1: Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster . first question Your comes from of Robert the line Mason with Baird . Your ahead go line is open .
Speaker #1: Please .
[Analyst] (Baird): Yes, good morning. Thanks for taking the question, and, congratulations, Bob and Dan, on your new roles. Kim, just, you know, to touch on, you know, the, the topic around the, you know, the timing of projects, understandable, that, you know, it's not gonna be always an even flow there. But I'm just curious, did we see the full impact of the conclusion of those projects in Q4? Just trying to think about maybe, you know, we normally see a sequential, you know, rise in the number of operating days in the first quarter, you know, how that dynamic may play into the, you know, the first part of 2026.
Robert Mason: Yes, good morning. Thanks for taking the question, and, congratulations, Bob and Dan, on your new roles. Kim, just, you know, to touch on, you know, the, the topic around the, you know, the timing of projects, understandable, that, you know, it's not gonna be always an even flow there.
Speaker #6: Yes . Good morning . taking the Thanks for question . And congratulations , Bob and Dan , on your new roles . Ken , just to touch on , you know , the .
Speaker #6: Topic around the , you know , the timing of projects . Understandable that , you know , it's not going to be always an even flow there .
But I'm just curious, did we see the full impact of the conclusion of those projects in Q4? Just trying to think about maybe, you know, we normally see a sequential, you know, rise in the number of operating days in the first quarter, you know, how that dynamic may play into the, you know, the first part of 2026.
Speaker #6: But I'm just curious , did we see the full of the impact conclusion of those projects Q in four ? just trying to think about maybe , you know , we normally see a sequential , you know , rise in the number of operating days in the first quarter .
Speaker #6: You know , how that dynamic may play into the , you know , the first part of 2026 ?
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah. So, so first off, Rob, you know, there's several projects that can be at play at any given time, some large, some medium, some small, so it's hard to, it's hard to really nail down exactly that point. But if I could take just a little look back to some of the earlier calls. If you recall, in Q2 of the year, we talked about project pacing and timing and some of those, some of those issues that we thought we might see in the second half. And then, and then additionally, we talked about the, the fewer working days that you start to see in Q4. So it isn't unexpected to us that the second half of the year was, was a lower growth than the first half.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah. So, so first off, Rob, you know, there's several projects that can be at play at any given time, some large, some medium, some small, so it's hard to, it's hard to really nail down exactly that point. But if I could take just a little look back to some of the earlier calls.
Speaker #3: Yeah . So so first off , Rob , there's several projects that can be at play at any given time . Some large , some medium , some small .
Speaker #3: So it's hard to it's hard to really nail down exactly that point . could take just a But if I little look back to some of the earlier calls , if you Q2 of the year , we talked about and some timing project of those some of those issues that we thought we might see in the second half .
If you recall, in Q2 of the year, we talked about project pacing and timing and some of those, some of those issues that we thought we might see in the second half. And then, and then additionally, we talked about the, the fewer working days that you start to see in Q4. So it isn't unexpected to us that the second half of the year was, was a lower growth than the first half.
Speaker #3: And then and then additionally , we talked about the fewer working days that you start to see in Q4 . So it isn't unexpected to us that the second half of the year was was a lower growth than the first half .
Kenneth Bockhorst: So, nothing specific on any individual project, but just the nature of the business that can be uneven from time to time.
So, nothing specific on any individual project, but just the nature of the business that can be uneven from time to time.
Speaker #3: So so nothing specific on any individual but project , just the nature of the business that can be uneven from time to time .
[Analyst] (Baird): But, okay, fair enough. I guess, you know, did we, I guess, did more of those conclude in the third quarter versus the fourth quarter? Or, and if we're looking at another step down...
Robert Mason: But, okay, fair enough. I guess, you know, did we, I guess, did more of those conclude in the third quarter versus the fourth quarter? Or, and if we're looking at another step down as those, you know, have now fully concluded.
Speaker #6: But fair enough . I guess just , you know , did we I guess did more of those conclude in the third quarter versus the fourth quarter or we're looking at , you know , if another step down as those , you know , have now fully concluded .
Dan Weltzien: ... as those, you know, have now fully concluded.
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah, so what I would think about if you look at 2025 and how it played out in 2026 and how we see it happening, you know, the first half started out with a higher growth rate, the second half of the year with a lower growth rate. I think the way we see 2026 is a lower growth rate in the first half and a higher growth rate in the second half. And that's something that is driven by the confidence that we have in projects that are in flight, awarded projects that haven't yet started. So we have visibility to some of those projects, and we do see how they're layering out in the year.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah, so what I would think about if you look at 2025 and how it played out in 2026 and how we see it happening, you know, the first half started out with a higher growth rate, the second half of the year with a lower growth rate. I think the way we see 2026 is a lower growth rate in the first half and a higher growth rate in the second half. And that's something that is driven by the confidence that we have in projects that are in flight, awarded projects that haven't yet started. So we have visibility to some of those projects, and we do see how they're layering out in the year.
Speaker #3: Yeah . So so what I would think about if you look at 2025 and how it played out in 2026 and how we see it happening , you know , the first half started out with a higher growth rate .
Speaker #3: The second half of the year with a lower growth rate . I think the way we see 26 is a lower growth rate in in and a the first half higher growth rate in the second half .
Speaker #3: And and that's something that is driven by the confidence that we have in projects that are in flight . Awarded projects that haven't yet started .
Speaker #3: So so we have visibility to some of those projects . And we do see how they're how they're layering out in the year .
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Nathan Jones with Stifel. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Nathan Jones with Stifel. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Nathan Jones with Stifel . Your line is open . Please go ahead .
[Analyst] (Stifel): Good morning, everyone.
Nathan Jones: Good morning, everyone.
Kenneth Bockhorst: Hi, Nathan.
Ken Bockhorst: Hi, Nathan.
Speaker #7: Good morning everyone .
[Analyst] (Stifel): I, I guess I'll start. I know you don't want to talk about the size of this Puerto Rico project, so maybe I'll ask another question that you have answered previously. I think, Ken, you've said over the years that the size of the US market is about 6 million meters per year, and Badger's share is roughly about 30%. Are those numbers still accurate for what the size of the overall US market is?
Nathan Jones: I, I guess I'll start. I know you don't want to talk about the size of this Puerto Rico project, so maybe I'll ask another question that you have answered previously. I think, Ken, you've said over the years that the size of the US market is about 6 million meters per year, and Badger's share is roughly about 30%. Are those numbers still accurate for what the size of the overall US market is?
Speaker #3: Nathan .
Speaker #7: I guess I'll start . I know you don't want to talk about the size of this Puerto Rico project , so maybe I'll ask another question that you have answered previously .
Speaker #7: I think , Ken , you've said over that the size of the years the US market is about 6,000,000m per year , and Badgers share is about 30% , are roughly those numbers still accurate ?
Speaker #7: For what the size of the overall US market is ?
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah, give or take, you know, 85% of the market every year is replacement, and it's roughly in that space. Yep.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah, give or take, you know, 85% of the market every year is replacement, and it's roughly in that space. Yep.
Speaker #3: Yeah , give or take . You know , 85% of the market every year is replacement . And it's roughly in that space .
[Analyst] (Stifel): Okay, so Badger ships-
Nathan Jones: Okay, so Badger ships- Give or take 2 million meters a year. So, Badger ships about, you know, give or take 2 million meters a year, is the rough way that would break down for what the overall US market is.
Speaker #3: Yeah okay .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Go ahead.
[Analyst] (Stifel): Give or take 2 million meters a year. So, Badger ships about, you know, give or take 2 million meters a year, is the rough way that would break down for what the overall US market is.
Speaker #7: So, Badger ships 2,000,000 meters a year. So Badger ships about, you know, give or take, 2,000,000 meters a year. That's the rough way that would break down for what the overall US market is.
Dan Weltzien: Yeah, I mean, it's not far off. But again, the indicated general volume that you alluded to flexes year to year. It's probably a little bit higher than 6 million. That reference figure is dated. But at the same time, the share element that you mentioned is still relevant.
Dan Weltzien: Yeah, I mean, it's not far off. But again, the indicated general volume that you alluded to flexes year to year. It's probably a little bit higher than 6 million. That reference figure is dated. But at the same time, the share element that you mentioned is still relevant.
Speaker #5: Yeah . I mean it's not far off . But again , the indicated general volume that you alluded to flexes year to year .
Speaker #5: It's probably a little bit higher than 6 million— that reference figure is dated. But at the same time, the share element that you mentioned is still relevant.
[Analyst] (Stifel): Got it. I'm just trying to give people a general sense for, you know, how big a project 1.6 million connections is for Badger Meter, even over a 3- to 5-year period. I guess my-
Nathan Jones: Got it. I'm just trying to give people a general sense for, you know, how big a project 1.6 million connections is for Badger Meter, even over a 3- to 5-year period. I guess my-
Speaker #7: just trying to give Got it . I'm people a general sense for how big a project . 1.6 million connections is for Badger Meter , even over a 3 to 5 year period .
Kenneth Bockhorst: And Nathan, one thing is, you know, the reason we mention PRASA is because, as you know, we don't get into the habit of announcing projects because there's so many. But obviously, this one is pretty meaningful in size, as you point out. And to just give it some reference, and the reason we're talking about it more publicly is, we never announced the win and the project that we did recently complete in Orlando. So everyone's aware Orlando is a pretty large city. To put it in scope and scale, the PRASA award is the equivalent to 8 Orlandos.
Ken Bockhorst: And Nathan, one thing is, you know, the reason we mention PRASA is because, as you know, we don't get into the habit of announcing projects because there's so many. But obviously, this one is pretty meaningful in size, as you point out.
Speaker #7: I Yeah , think .
Speaker #3: Nathan , And one thing is , you know , the reason we mentioned Processa is because , as you know , we don't we don't get into the habit of of announcing projects because there's so many .
Speaker #3: But obviously this one is pretty meaningful in size point out . And to , as you just give it some reference . And the reason we're talking about it more publicly is we never announced the win and the project that we did recently .
And to just give it some reference, and the reason we're talking about it more publicly is, we never announced the win and the project that we did recently complete in Orlando. So everyone's aware Orlando is a pretty large city. To put it in scope and scale, the PRASA award is the equivalent to 8 Orlandos.
Speaker #3: Recently complete in Orlando . So everyone's aware Orlando is a pretty large city to put it in , in scope and scale . The process award is the equivalent to eight Orlando's .
[Analyst] (Stifel): That's extremely helpful. My next question is gonna be around gross margins. Obviously, gross margins are very strong. There's probably a few headwinds as we go through the year. I mean, second half of 2026, you're talking about some more turnkey projects, which will be headwinds to gross margins. You've obviously seen a big spike in copper prices that will come through your business on a delay. But the first half is, you know, as you said, is gonna have an absence of some of these turnkey projects, which is a tailwind for margins. Any help you can give us with how we should think about, you know, first half versus second half gross margins in terms of that mix?
Nathan Jones: That's extremely helpful. My next question is gonna be around gross margins. Obviously, gross margins are very strong. There's probably a few headwinds as we go through the year. I mean, second half of 2026, you're talking about some more turnkey projects, which will be headwinds to gross margins.
Speaker #7: That's extremely helpful . My next question is going to be around gross margins . Obviously , gross margins are very strong . There's probably a few headwinds as we go through the year .
Speaker #7: I mean , second half of 26 , you're talking about some more turnkey projects , which will be headwinds to gross margins . You've obviously seen a big spike in copper prices come through that your business on a delay .
You've obviously seen a big spike in copper prices that will come through your business on a delay. But the first half is, you know, as you said, is gonna have an absence of some of these turnkey projects, which is a tailwind for margins. Any help you can give us with how we should think about, you know, first half versus second half gross margins in terms of that mix?
Speaker #7: But the , you know , as you said , is going to first half is have an absence of some of these turnkey projects , which is a tailwind for margins .
Speaker #7: Any help you can give us with how we should think about , you know , first half or second half , gross margins in terms of that mix or how we should think about the full year for gross margins given you're at the very high end of the gross margin target range in 2025 , thanks .
[Analyst] (Stifel): Or, how we should think about the full year for gross margins, given you are at the very high end of the gross margin target range in 2025? Thanks.
Or, how we should think about the full year for gross margins, given you are at the very high end of the gross margin target range in 2025? Thanks.
Dan Weltzien: Yeah, Nathan, this is Dan. I think a couple of things to point out. I think as we think about it quarter to quarter, there's nothing that we would specifically point to, to say there's gonna be variability from quarter to quarter. But I think you're thinking about the right topics, being we continue to see structural mix impacting margins in a positive way in 2026. And I think you highlighted a couple of the areas that we're continuing to watch, which are the commodity input costs into our ingot recipe, and then certainly tariffs is, you know, something that we continue to monitor. We've gotten to price cost parity on tariffs in 2025, and we'll continue to manage whatever comes our way in 2026 from that perspective.
Dan Weltzien: Yeah, Nathan, this is Dan. I think a couple of things to point out. I think as we think about it quarter to quarter, there's nothing that we would specifically point to, to say there's gonna be variability from quarter to quarter. But I think you're thinking about the right topics, being we continue to see structural mix impacting margins in a positive way in 2026.
Speaker #4: Nathan , this is Yeah . Dan . I think a couple things to point out . I think as we think about it , quarter to quarter , there's nothing that we would specifically point to to say there's going to be variability from quarter to quarter .
Speaker #4: But I think you're thinking about the right topics. Me being, we continue to see structural mix impacting margins in a positive way in 2026.
And I think you highlighted a couple of the areas that we're continuing to watch, which are the commodity input costs into our ingot recipe, and then certainly tariffs is, you know, something that we continue to monitor. We've gotten to price cost parity on tariffs in 2025, and we'll continue to manage whatever comes our way in 2026 from that perspective.
Speaker #4: And I think you highlighted a couple of the areas that we're continuing to watch, which are the commodity input costs into our ingot recipe.
Speaker #4: And then certainly tariffs is , you know continue to monitor , something that we . We've gotten to price cost parity on tariffs 2025 .
Speaker #4: in And we'll manage continue to whatever comes our way in 2026 . From that perspective .
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Jeffrey Reive with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Jeffrey Reive with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Jeff Reeve with RBC Capital Markets . Your line is open . Please go ahead .
[Analyst] (RBC Capital Markets): Thanks for all the color thus far. I had another one on the Puerto Rico project. I mean, this is a really sizable win. Can you walk us through the typical timing and phasing of a large AMI project like this? How do the deployments ramp? Are they smooth or chunky? How much is in, you know, year one, two versus three, four, five, just over the life?
Jeffrey Reive: Thanks for all the color thus far. I had another one on the Puerto Rico project. I mean, this is a really sizable win. Can you walk us through the typical timing and phasing of a large AMI project like this? How do the deployments ramp? Are they smooth or chunky? How much is in, you know, year one, two versus three, four, five, just over the life?
Speaker #8: Thanks for all the color thus far. I had another one on the Puerto Rico project. I mean, this is a really sizable win.
Speaker #8: Can you walk us through the typical timing and phasing of a large army project like this ? How do deployments ramp smooth or ?
Speaker #8: Are they chunky ? How much is in year one , two versus 345 ? Just over the life ?
Kenneth Bockhorst: Andrew, that's a fantastic question, and I would say you're a straight man for why we don't provide guidance from quarter to quarter. You know, the project ramp-ups, oftentimes, you know, there's a plan. There's so much that goes into an AMI project in terms of going through all the budget cycling and then having to align all the resources, because you need people out on the street doing installations, and then you might have weather factors from quarter to quarter. So it's not as smooth as people might think that it would be to do a large deployment, whether that's something the size of Puerto Rico or something the size of a, you know, medium town anywhere in the United States. So, typically, people look at these things, and they expect them to be done over a five-year period.
Ken Bockhorst: Andrew, that's a fantastic question, and I would say you're a straight man for why we don't provide guidance from quarter to quarter. You know, the project ramp-ups, oftentimes, you know, there's a plan. There's so much that goes into an AMI project in terms of going through all the budget cycling and then having to align all the resources, because you need people out on the street doing installations, and then you might have weather factors from quarter to quarter.
Speaker #3: Andrew . That's a fantastic question . And I would say you're a straight man for why we don't provide guidance from quarter to quarter .
Speaker #3: You know the project ramp ups oftentimes , you know , there's a plan . There's so much that goes into an Army project in terms of going through budget , cycling , and then all the having to all the align you need people out resources because on the street doing installations .
Speaker #3: And then you have might weather factors from quarter to quarter . So it's not as smooth as as people might think that it would be to do a large deployment , whether that's something the size of Puerto Rico or something the size of a , you know , medium town anywhere in the United States .
So it's not as smooth as people might think that it would be to do a large deployment, whether that's something the size of Puerto Rico or something the size of a, you know, medium town anywhere in the United States. So, typically, people look at these things, and they expect them to be done over a five-year period.
Speaker #3: So typically people look at these things and they expect them to be done over a five year period . If everything goes really smoothly , it could potentially go faster .
Kenneth Bockhorst: If everything goes really smoothly, it could potentially go faster. If you have issues, it could go longer, but there's no real blueprint. But generally, we're thinking of this over a five-year horizon for PRASA.
If everything goes really smoothly, it could potentially go faster. If you have issues, it could go longer, but there's no real blueprint. But generally, we're thinking of this over a five-year horizon for PRASA.
Speaker #3: If you have issues , it could go longer . But there's no blueprint . real But but generally we're thinking of this over , over a five year horizon for .
[Analyst] (RBC Capital Markets): Got it. And I think you said in the prepared remarks, the meters are being manufactured in Racine, not your Mexico facility. Is there a margin differential happening there?
Jeffrey Reive: Got it. And I think you said in the prepared remarks, the meters are being manufactured in Racine, not your Mexico facility. Is there a margin differential happening there?
Speaker #8: Got it. And I think you said in the prepared remarks, meters are being manufactured in Racine, not your Mexico facility. Is there a margin differential happening there?
Robert Wrocklage: ... Yeah, I mean, I think you can imply just from, you know, labor cost differential, there'd be a potential margin impact. Of course, that was all contemplated in the contracting stage. And so ultimately, the location of manufacture is being driven by US-made manufacturing requirements. So that's part of the reason why we made an investment in that facility and continue to invest there. That's what dictates where it's made, and we understand that cost footprint, and we're able to engage and embed that, if you will, into the RFP process.
Bob Wrocklage: Yeah, I mean, I think you can imply just from, you know, labor cost differential, there'd be a potential margin impact. Of course, that was all contemplated in the contracting stage. And so ultimately, the location of manufacture is being driven by US-made manufacturing requirements. So that's part of the reason why we made an investment in that facility and continue to invest there. That's what dictates where it's made, and we understand that cost footprint, and we're able to engage and embed that, if you will, into the RFP process.
Speaker #5: Yeah . I mean , I think you can imply just you can imply just from , you know , labor cost there'd differential , be a potential margin impact , all of course , that was contemplated in the contracting stage .
Speaker #5: And so, ultimately, the location of manufacture is being driven by US-made manufacturing requirements. So that's part of the reason why we made an investment in that facility and continue to invest there.
Speaker #5: That's what dictates where it's made . And we understand that cost footprint and we're able to engage and embed that , if you will , into the RFP process .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah, and I'm sure, I'm jumping the route here on anticipating the margin question on the project, which, of course, we won't, which we won't disclose. But, you know, since we're not-- since it's not full turnkey and there's a whole lot of different factors in here, but this is one where I think we've struck a really good value proposition where PRASA sees their value in what we're offering, and they're happy to buy it, and we're happy to sell it at the margin it's going for.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah, and I'm sure, I'm jumping the route here on anticipating the margin question on the project, which, of course, we won't, which we won't disclose. But, you know, since we're not-- since it's not full turnkey and there's a whole lot of different factors in here, but this is one where I think we've struck a really good value proposition where PRASA sees their value in what we're offering, and they're happy to buy it, and we're happy to sell it at the margin it's going for.
Speaker #3: Yeah . And I'm sure I'm jumping the route here on anticipating the margin question on the project , which of course , we won't , which we won't disclose , but , you know , since we're not since it's not full turnkey and there's a whole lot of different factors in here , but this is one where I think we've struck a really good value proposition where Prasa sees the we're value in what offering , and they're happy to buy it , and we're happy to sell it at the margin , it's going for .
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Andrew Krill with Deutsche Bank. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Andrew Krill with Deutsche Bank. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Andrew Crill with Deutsche Bank . Your line is open . Please go ahead .
[Analyst] (Deutsche Bank): Hi, thanks. Good morning, everyone. So wanted to go back to the base sales. Ken, I think you used the word growth rate for this year. So just wanted to confirm, you know, I think that would, you know, you feel pretty confident sales should grow this year, even if they're below that high single digits for the cycle target?
Andrew Krill: Hi, thanks. Good morning, everyone. So wanted to go back to the base sales. Ken, I think you used the word growth rate for this year. So just wanted to confirm, you know, I think that would, you know, you feel pretty confident sales should grow this year, even if they're below that high single digits for the cycle target?
Speaker #9: Hi . Thanks , morning , everyone . Want to go to the back Alex for sales ? One of your competitors yesterday suggested , you know , their revenue could be slightly to modestly down year over year .
Speaker #9: I think you used the word growth rate for this year . So just wanted to confirm . I think that would you know , you feel pretty confident sales should grow this year even if they're below that high single digits through the cycle .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah. So real quick, I know people really enjoy the read-throughs and trying to do the comparisons and see how things will work. First of all, there could be inherent unevenness in their business that's different than the mix of customers that we have that is hard to do just to begin with industry-wide. Secondly, the particular competitor you're talking about, I think we have several differences that have been built over the last several years. You know, we have an industry-leading AMI offering that has several in-flight projects and awarded, not started projects. Informing our view, we've got a really exciting software business at 8% of our revenue now that's 100% recurring.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah. So real quick, I know people really enjoy the read-throughs and trying to do the comparisons and see how things will work. First of all, there could be inherent unevenness in their business that's different than the mix of customers that we have that is hard to do just to begin with industry-wide.
Speaker #9: Target .
Speaker #3: Yeah, so real quick, I know people really enjoy the read-through and trying to do the comparisons and see how things will work.
Speaker #3: First of all, there could be inherent unevenness in their business that's different than the mix of customers that we have, that is hard to do.
Secondly, the particular competitor you're talking about, I think we have several differences that have been built over the last several years. You know, we have an industry-leading AMI offering that has several in-flight projects and awarded, not started projects. Informing our view, we've got a really exciting software business at 8% of our revenue now that's 100% recurring.
Speaker #3: Just to begin with . Industry wide . Secondly , the particular competitor you're talking about , I think we have several differences that have that have been been built over the last several years .
Speaker #3: You know , we have an industry leading , industry leading army offering that has in-flight awarded and projects several projects not started informing our view .
Speaker #3: We've got a really exciting software business at 8% of our revenue . Now that's 100% recurring . We're really excited about what's happening with sewer line monitoring and water quality monitoring and network monitoring , and these are things that I believe the competitor you're talking about doesn't have .
Kenneth Bockhorst: We're really excited about what's happening with sewer line monitoring, water quality monitoring, and network monitoring, and these are things that I believe the competitor you're talking about doesn't have. So the read-through that people are getting, I would say, isn't the same. So when we look at all those factors that we're talking about, again, I would think you should view 26 as the inverse effect of 25, like I had talked about before.
We're really excited about what's happening with sewer line monitoring, water quality monitoring, and network monitoring, and these are things that I believe the competitor you're talking about doesn't have. So the read-through that people are getting, I would say, isn't the same. So when we look at all those factors that we're talking about, again, I would think you should view 26 as the inverse effect of 25, like I had talked about before.
Speaker #3: So so the read through that , that , that people are getting , I would say isn't the same . So when we look at those factors that all we're talking about .
Speaker #3: Again, I would think you should view Q, you should view 26 as the inverse effect of 25, like I talked about before.
[Analyst] (Deutsche Bank): Okay.
Andrew Krill: Okay.
Kenneth Bockhorst: But we, you know, we feel confident given what we're seeing. You know, our conviction on high single digits through the five-year horizon is as strong today as it was yesterday, as it was 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months ago, based on all the same factors we use to think about that five-year horizon.
Ken Bockhorst: But we, you know, we feel confident given what we're seeing. You know, our conviction on high single digits through the five-year horizon is as strong today as it was yesterday, as it was 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months ago, based on all the same factors we use to think about that five-year horizon.
Speaker #3: But we you know , we feel confident given what we're seeing . You know , I our conviction on high single digits through the five year horizon is is strong today as it was yesterday as it was three months , six months or 12 months ago .
Speaker #3: Based on all the same factors we use to think about that five year horizon , you know ? But some years not to here on this follow it one thing question , all up and but everyone who's talked to us know , we've before , you never pegged and said every single going to be 8% .
[Analyst] (Deutsche Bank): Okay.
Andrew Krill: Okay.
Kenneth Bockhorst: You know, but some years—and one thing, not to follow it all up here on this question, but everyone who's talked to us before, you know, we've never pegged and said every single year is gonna be 8%. We've said some years might be 12, some years might be 5. We just came off a 6 that I'm pretty proud of, and I think this next year is gonna be exciting, and our five-year conviction is as strong as it's ever been.
Ken Bockhorst: You know, but some years—and one thing, not to follow it all up here on this question, but everyone who's talked to us before, you know, we've never pegged and said every single year is gonna be 8%. We've said some years might be 12, some years might be 5. We just came off a 6 that I'm pretty proud of, and I think this next year is gonna be exciting, and our five-year conviction is as strong as it's ever been.
Speaker #3: We've said some years might be 12 , some years might be five . We just came off a six that I'm pretty proud of .
Speaker #3: And and I think this next year is going to be exciting . And our five year conviction is as strong as it's ever been .
[Analyst] (Deutsche Bank): Great. Very helpful. And then a quick one on pricing, and, you know, I know you don't disclose that exactly, but just can you remind us, has it been primarily or all list price increases thus far to deal with tariffs mostly, or have you been using surcharges as well? And in the event, you know, tariffs were ruled illegal, like, do you expect you can hold on to this, price looking forward and any conversations with customers, you know, looking for kind of some discounts at this point? Thanks.
Andrew Krill: Great. Very helpful. And then a quick one on pricing, and, you know, I know you don't disclose that exactly, but just can you remind us, has it been primarily or all list price increases thus far to deal with tariffs mostly, or have you been using surcharges as well? And in the event, you know, tariffs were ruled illegal, like, do you expect you can hold on to this, price looking forward and any conversations with customers, you know, looking for kind of some discounts at this point? Thanks.
Speaker #9: Great . Very helpful . And then a quick one on pricing . And , you know , you don't disclose that exactly . But just can you remind us , has it been primarily or all list price increases thus far to deal with tariffs mostly .
Speaker #9: Or have you been using surcharges as well . And in the event tariffs were ruled illegal , like do you expect you can hold on to this price ?
Speaker #9: Looking forward, in any conversations with customers, you know, looking for kind of some discounts at this point? Thanks.
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah. So, in our pricing, keeping in mind, 75% of our revenue is sold direct, and so when we're in a constant state of doing, you know, project pricing based on real-time output, so that helps us in some ways. Too, yeah, we do list price increases. What we didn't do was, you know, temporary tariff add-ons or tariff issues that could be challenged in court or could be reversed once a customer says tariffs are gone, or could be demanded back because tariffs have been rolled back. So ours is pretty clean, I think, compared to how other people have handled the pricing aspects of tariffs.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah. So, in our pricing, keeping in mind, 75% of our revenue is sold direct, and so when we're in a constant state of doing, you know, project pricing based on real-time output, so that helps us in some ways. Too, yeah, we do list price increases.
Speaker #3: Yeah . So so in our pricing , keeping in mind revenue is sold 75% of our direct . when And we're we're in so a constant state of doing , you know , project pricing based on real time outputs .
Speaker #3: So that that helps us in some ways . Two yeah , we do list price increases , but we didn't do was , you know , temporary tariff add ons or tariff issues that could be challenged in court or could be reversed once a customer says tariffs are gone or could be demanded back because tariffs have been rolled back .
What we didn't do was, you know, temporary tariff add-ons or tariff issues that could be challenged in court or could be reversed once a customer says tariffs are gone, or could be demanded back because tariffs have been rolled back. So ours is pretty clean, I think, compared to how other people have handled the pricing aspects of tariffs.
Speaker #3: So ours is pretty clean, I think, compared to how other people have handled the pricing aspects of tariffs.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of James Ko with Jefferies. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of James Ko with Jefferies. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of James Koh with Jefferies. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Robert Wrocklage: Good morning. Thanks for taking questions. I guess I wanted to kind of follow up on the project pacing dynamic here. So what was this like dynamic kind of extending into first half 2026 expected, or is this something new kind of developed? And kind of how much confidence do you have in kind of project converting into revenue in second half 2026?
James Ko: Good morning. Thanks for taking questions. I guess I wanted to kind of follow up on the project pacing dynamic here. So what was this like dynamic kind of extending into first half 2026 expected, or is this something new kind of developed? And kind of how much confidence do you have in kind of project converting into revenue in second half 2026?
Speaker #10: Good morning . Thanks for taking questions . I guess I wanted to kind of follow up on the project pacing dynamic here . So was this like dynamic kind of extending into first half 2026 expected , or is this new something kind of developed and kind of how kind of do you have much confidence in kind of project converting into revenue in second half 2026 ?
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah, there, there can always be some variability. So in full disclosure, some of the projects that are starting in the second half, we thought would have started in the first half. So, so things can slide, sometimes from a quarter or two out. And this is why we talk so much about the five-year horizon. I'm absolutely confident all those things are gonna happen within the five-year. I'm confident what's gonna happen in the year, but trying to peg it from quarter to quarter can be, can be difficult.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah, there, there can always be some variability. So in full disclosure, some of the projects that are starting in the second half, we thought would have started in the first half. So, so things can slide, sometimes from a quarter or two out. And this is why we talk so much about the five-year horizon. I'm absolutely confident all those things are gonna happen within the five-year. I'm confident what's gonna happen in the year, but trying to peg it from quarter to quarter can be, can be difficult.
Speaker #3: Yeah , there can always be some variability . So in full disclosure , some of the projects that are starting in the second half , we thought would have started in the first half .
Speaker #3: So , so things can slide sometimes from a quarter or two out . And this is why we talk so much about the five year horizon .
Speaker #3: I'm absolutely confident all those things are going to happen within the five years. I'm confident what's going to happen in the year.
Speaker #3: But trying to peg it from quarter to quarter can be difficult.
Robert Wrocklage: I just wanna clarify, too, that when Ken says a project slides, you know, to the right, for example, it's not related to funding. Each one of these projects is different. Every customer is different. There's contracting phases, there's initial deployment areas, there's full rollout. So there's multiple steps to these projects, and everyone is different, and that's the largest impact to the timing of them.
James Ko: I just wanna clarify, too, that when Ken says a project slides, you know, to the right, for example, it's not related to funding. Each one of these projects is different. Every customer is different. There's contracting phases, there's initial deployment areas, there's full rollout. So there's multiple steps to these projects, and everyone is different, and that's the largest impact to the timing of them.
Speaker #4: I just want to clarify , too , that when Ken says a project slides , you know , to the right , for example , it's not related to funding each one of these projects is different .
Speaker #4: Every customer is different . There's contracting phases , there's initial deployment areas , there's full , full rollout . So there's multiple steps to these projects .
Speaker #4: And everyone is different . And that's the largest impact to the timing of them .
Kenneth Bockhorst: ... I think the point that I would like to maybe emphasize here is that these aren't hoping for backlog increases. These aren't hoping for things to happen. These are known, awarded, not started projects, that even if they have some variability in where they move, they're in our pocket.
Ken Bockhorst: I think the point that I would like to maybe emphasize here is that these aren't hoping for backlog increases. These aren't hoping for things to happen. These are known, awarded, not started projects, that even if they have some variability in where they move, they're in our pocket.
Speaker #3: The point I think that I like to, that I would maybe emphasize here, is that these aren't hoping for backlog increases, these aren't for hoping things to happen.
Speaker #3: These are known , awarded , not started projects that even if they have some variability in where they move , they're in our pocket .
[Analyst] (Seaport Research Partners): Got it. Yeah, thanks for the color. And I guess similar questions. You kind of reiterated high single-digit kind of organic growth over the four- or five-year horizon. So, like, how much of that outlook is kind of supported by awarded but not executed project versus kind of broader just funnel opportunities?
James Ko: Got it. Yeah, thanks for the color. And I guess similar questions. You kind of reiterated high single-digit kind of organic growth over the four- or five-year horizon. So, like, how much of that outlook is kind of supported by awarded but not executed project versus kind of broader just funnel opportunities?
Speaker #10: Got it . Yeah . Thanks for the color . And I guess similar questions . You kind of reiterated high single digit organic growth over the 4 or 5 year horizon .
Speaker #10: So like how much of that outlook is kind of supported by awarded but not executed project versus kind of broader , just funeral opportunities ?
Kenneth Bockhorst: Well, so it's a great question. I mean, this is how we, you know, when we think about our five-year view and what we've talked about, you know, in several, several meetings is, you know, we're looking at, you know, several segmentations of how many people are looking, working with consultants and working on budget, which are items that turn into revenue three, four, and five years out. We've got the whole bucket of things that are in RFP today that become revenue in the next year to two. Then we've got in-flight projects. We've got awarded, not started projects. So it's this whole funnel of, of activity that we look at.
Ken Bockhorst: Well, so it's a great question. I mean, this is how we, you know, when we think about our five-year view and what we've talked about, you know, in several, several meetings is, you know, we're looking at, you know, several segmentations of how many people are looking, working with consultants and working on budget, which are items that turn into revenue three, four, and five years out.
Speaker #3: Well , so it's a great question . I mean , this is how we , you know , when we think about our five year view and what we've talked about , you know , in several , several meetings is , you know , we're looking at several segmentations of how many people are looking , working with consultants and working on budget , which are items that turn into revenue three , four and five years out .
We've got the whole bucket of things that are in RFP today that become revenue in the next year to two. Then we've got in-flight projects. We've got awarded, not started projects. So it's this whole funnel of, of activity that we look at.
Speaker #3: We've got the whole bucket of things that are in RFP today that become revenue in the next year to two , then we've got in-flight projects , we've got awarded projects .
Speaker #3: this whole not started So it's funnel of of activity that we look at and , you know , but what underpins it all that's that's really helpful for us is we're confident that no matter what happens with these project cycles , 85% of what we're going to of what we're going to take orders and ship for every year , our replacement by nature , in terms of meters and radios .
Kenneth Bockhorst: And, you know, but what underpins it all that's really helpful for us is we're confident that no matter what happens with these project cycles, 85% of what we're gonna take orders and ship for every year are replacement by nature in terms of meters and radios. So the project stuff is all very interesting, but the bottom line is very strong. And then, of course, the software continues to grow the last five years at a 28% CAGR. So it's a multivariable, you know, equation, and one that we feel good about how those come together.
And, you know, but what underpins it all that's really helpful for us is we're confident that no matter what happens with these project cycles, 85% of what we're gonna take orders and ship for every year are replacement by nature in terms of meters and radios.
So the project stuff is all very interesting, but the bottom line is very strong. And then, of course, the software continues to grow the last five years at a 28% CAGR. So it's a multivariable, you know, equation, and one that we feel good about how those come together.
Speaker #3: the So , so project stuff is all very interesting . But the bottom line is very strong . And then of course , the software continues to grow .
Speaker #3: The last five years at a 28% kegger . So it's a multi-variable it's a multi-variable , you know , equation and one that we feel good about how those , how those come together .
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Bobby Zolper with Raymond James. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Bobby Zolper with Raymond James. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Bobby Zappala with Raymond James . Your line is open . Please go ahead .
[Analyst] (Raymond James): Thanks for taking the question. It looks like there's about $1 billion of metering projects in the ARPA data, which all needs to be spent by the end of 2026. How have you reflected that in your 2026 commentary?
Bobby Zolper: Thanks for taking the question. It looks like there's about $1 billion of metering projects in the ARPA data, which all needs to be spent by the end of 2026. How have you reflected that in your 2026 commentary?
Speaker #11: Thanks for taking the question . It looks like $1 billion of metering about in the projects there's Arpa data , which all needs to be spent by the end of 2026 .
Speaker #11: How have you reflected that in your 2026 commentary ?
Kenneth Bockhorst: So, we haven't. I mean, so when we sit here and we talk about what's fueled our growth for the last five or six years, it's really informed by the, the buckets I just walked you through. And when we look at who's planning for projects, who's actually doing RFPs for projects, what we have in known projects, there's so many, there's so many ways that funding is done, especially around the AMI side, whether that be SRFs, WIFIA loans, rate-based increases, municipal bonds. That is one factor, you're right, but it certainly is not an outsized consideration for us at all when we think about our forecast.
Ken Bockhorst: So, we haven't. I mean, so when we sit here and we talk about what's fueled our growth for the last five or six years, it's really informed by the, the buckets I just walked you through. And when we look at who's planning for projects, who's actually doing RFPs for projects, what we have in known projects, there's so many, there's so many ways that funding is done, especially around the AMI side, whether that be SRFs, WIFIA loans, rate-based increases, municipal bonds. That is one factor, you're right, but it certainly is not an outsized consideration for us at all when we think about our forecast.
Speaker #3: So we haven't I mean , so when we sit here and we talk about what's fueled our growth for the last 5 or 6 years , it's really informed by the buckets I just walked you through .
Speaker #3: And when we look at who's planning for projects , who's actually doing projects , what we have in known projects , there's so many , there's so many that ways funding is done , especially around the army side , whether that be SRF , WiFi loans , rate based increases , municipal bonds .
Speaker #3: That is one factor . You're right . But it certainly is not an outsized consideration for us at all . When we think about our forecast .
Robert Wrocklage: I'd also be cautious about taking something that's listed in an ARPA database with reference to the word metering, and assuming that that whole total of money is related to metering. It's oftentimes considerably larger than the actual metering spend. So a headline-grabbing number or question like that is not necessarily indicative of the true metering content on those line items.
I'd also be cautious about taking something that's listed in an ARPA database with reference to the word metering, and assuming that that whole total of money is related to metering. It's oftentimes considerably larger than the actual metering spend. So a headline-grabbing number or question like that is not necessarily indicative of the true metering content on those line items.
Speaker #5: I'd also be cautious about taking something that's listed in a database with reference to the word 'meeting metering' and assuming that that whole total of money is related to metering.
Speaker #5: is oftentimes considerably larger than the spend metering So a headline grabbing number or question like that is not necessarily indicative of the true metering content on those line items .
[Analyst] (Raymond James): All right, I appreciate it. And then I have a two-part question on the PRASA project. I guess, one, how is PRASA funding that project? And then secondarily, what is the legal status of that project?
Bobby Zolper: All right, I appreciate it. And then I have a two-part question on the PRASA project. I guess, one, how is PRASA funding that project? And then secondarily, what is the legal status of that project?
Speaker #11: All right . I appreciate it . And then I have a two part question on the project . I guess one , how is funding that project .
Speaker #11: And then secondarily , what is the legal status of that project .
Robert Wrocklage: Yeah, the first part of that question shouldn't surprise anyone. Part of the project purpose and intent is in response to Hurricane Maria, which took place in 2017, so over eight years ago. The funding of that project, in part, is coming from FEMA dollars. That is a FEMA-funded project, which ultimately drives the Buy American requirement I mentioned earlier, which then drives our location of manufacture. To the second part of your question. First of all, we don't comment certainly on litigation of ourselves or, and/or the legal status, if you will, of even our customers or potential customers.
Bob Wrocklage: Yeah, the first part of that question shouldn't surprise anyone. Part of the project purpose and intent is in response to Hurricane Maria, which took place in 2017, so over eight years ago. The funding of that project, in part, is coming from FEMA dollars.
Speaker #5: Yeah , the first part of that question shouldn't surprise anyone . Part of the project purpose and intent is in response to Hurricane Maria , which took place in 2017 .
Speaker #5: So over eight years ago . And so the funding of that project , in part , is coming from FEMA dollars . And so that is a FEMA funded project , which ultimately drives the Buy American requirement .
That is a FEMA-funded project, which ultimately drives the Buy American requirement I mentioned earlier, which then drives our location of manufacture. To the second part of your question. First of all, we don't comment certainly on litigation of ourselves or, and/or the legal status, if you will, of even our customers or potential customers.
Speaker #5: I mentioned earlier , which then drives our location of manufacture in our to the second part of your question in our first of all , we don't comment certainly on litigation of ourselves or , and or the legal status .
Speaker #5: If you will , of even our customers or potential customers . But in the , in the , in the direct sense , in our commentary , we mentioned there's a lot of variables related to this project .
Robert Wrocklage: But in the direct sense, in our commentary, we mentioned there's a lot of variables related to this project, and certainly those variables could impact the pace at which that project gets deployed, whether it be here in the immediate term of 2026 or thereafter. And so I'm not making that statement generally, not specific to your legal question, but ultimately there are a lot of variables at play. But what is known is the award and our participation in that award.
But in the direct sense, in our commentary, we mentioned there's a lot of variables related to this project, and certainly those variables could impact the pace at which that project gets deployed, whether it be here in the immediate term of 2026 or thereafter. And so I'm not making that statement generally, not specific to your legal question, but ultimately there are a lot of variables at play. But what is known is the award and our participation in that award.
Speaker #5: And certainly those variables could impact the pace at which that project gets deployed , whether it be here the in immediate term of 2026 or thereafter .
Speaker #5: And so I'm not making statement that generally not specific to your legal question , but ultimately , there are a lot of variables at play .
Speaker #5: But what is known is the award, and our participation in that award.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Scott Graham with Seaport Research Partners. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Scott Graham with Seaport Research Partners. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question the line comes from of Scott Graham with Seaport Research Partners . Your line is open . Please go ahead .
[Analyst] (Seaport Research Partners): Hey, good morning, and thanks for taking the question. I wanna understand a little bit more, Ken, about, you know, some of your statements in the press release, and then follow up on the call here about the first half versus second half. It seemed in the press release to suggest that your second half growth was slower than your high single digit long term, and that that decrement was either because of the roll-off projects, as you've discussed, and the days in the fourth quarter, and that the first half of this year will essentially be the same, you know, the roll-off of the projects.
Scott Graham: Hey, good morning, and thanks for taking the question. I wanna understand a little bit more, Ken, about, you know, some of your statements in the press release, and then follow up on the call here about the first half versus second half.
Speaker #12: Hey , good morning and thanks for taking the question . I want to understand a little bit a little bit more . Ken , about some of your statements in the press release and then followed up on the call here about first half versus second half .
It seemed in the press release to suggest that your second half growth was slower than your high single digit long term, and that that decrement was either because of the roll-off projects, as you've discussed, and the days in the fourth quarter, and that the first half of this year will essentially be the same, you know, the roll-off of the projects.
Speaker #12: It seemed in the press release to suggest that your second half growth was slower than your high single digit long term and that that decrement was either because of the roll off projects , as you've discussed , and the days in the fourth quarter , and that the first half of this year will essentially be the same .
Speaker #12: You know , the roll off of the projects , does that suggest can that the organic growth that you're expecting in the first half of the year will be the same amount lower on a percent basis as the second half was versus the high single ?
[Analyst] (Seaport Research Partners): Does that suggest, Ken, that the organic growth that you're expecting in the first half of the year will be the same amount lower on a percent basis as the second half was versus the high single?
Does that suggest, Ken, that the organic growth that you're expecting in the first half of the year will be the same amount lower on a percent basis as the second half was versus the high single?
Kenneth Bockhorst: So, Scott, as you, I'm sure, expect, we're not gonna get that granular with you. But when I had mentioned previously that I think you'll see 2026 play out in a similar fashion, except the inverse of how 2025 did. I would just expect a lower growth rate in the first half of the year, and a higher growth rate in the second half of the year.
Ken Bockhorst: So, Scott, as you, I'm sure, expect, we're not gonna get that granular with you. But when I had mentioned previously that I think you'll see 2026 play out in a similar fashion, except the inverse of how 2025 did. I would just expect a lower growth rate in the first half of the year, and a higher growth rate in the second half of the year.
Speaker #3: So Scott , as you I'm sure , expect we're not going to get that granular with you . But when mentioned previously I had that I think you'll see 2026 play out in a similar fashion , except the inverse of how 2025 did , I would just expect a lower growth rate in the first half of the year , and a higher growth rate in the second half of the year .
[Analyst] (Seaport Research Partners): I had to try. Okay. So, you know, the stock is obviously seems to not be reflecting what you're saying in this call. And I'm just wondering, as you know, you've been buying back some stock the last couple of quarters. Is the plan here with that, you know, the stock where it is, is there an opportunity to maybe restrain some costs from the first half of the year to boost earnings? Or will we continue to see share repurchases to boost earnings or both?
Scott Graham: I had to try. Okay. So, you know, the stock is obviously seems to not be reflecting what you're saying in this call. And I'm just wondering, as you know, you've been buying back some stock the last couple of quarters. Is the plan here with that, you know, the stock where it is, is there an opportunity to maybe restrain some costs from the first half of the year to boost earnings? Or will we continue to see share repurchases to boost earnings or both?
Speaker #12: I had to try . Okay . so you know , the the stock is obviously seems to not be reflecting what you're saying in this call .
Speaker #12: And I'm just wondering , you know , you've been buying back some stock last couple quarters is the plan here with that . You know the stock where it is .
Speaker #12: Is there an opportunity to maybe restrain some costs in the first half of the year to boost earnings? Or will we continue to see share repurchases to boost earnings, or both?
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah, so a couple of things. So first off, you know, obviously, with our great balance sheet, we still feel 100% positive about our capital allocation priorities. So we're gonna continue to invest organically and inorganically in the business. So what that means is, we'll do the right things to continue to drive long-term strategy and growth. So we would never do any short-sighted cost-cutting type things to try to short-circuit a result. So we're gonna continue to invest in the business. Two, returning cash to shareholders, that's traditionally for us been, you know, 33rd consecutive year of increased dividends.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah, so a couple of things. So first off, you know, obviously, with our great balance sheet, we still feel 100% positive about our capital allocation priorities. So we're gonna continue to invest organically and inorganically in the business. So what that means is, we'll do the right things to continue to drive long-term strategy and growth. So we would never do any short-sighted cost-cutting type things to try to short-circuit a result. So we're gonna continue to invest in the business. Two, returning cash to shareholders, that's traditionally for us been, you know, 33rd consecutive year of increased dividends.
Speaker #3: Yeah, so first off, obviously, with a lot of things—you know, with our great balance sheet, we still feel 100% positive about our capital allocation priorities.
Speaker #3: So we're going to continue to invest organically and inorganically in the business . So what that means is we'll do the right things to continue to to drive long term strategy and growth .
Speaker #3: we would So never do any short sighted cost cutting type things to try to to short circuit a resort a result . So we're going to continue to invest in the business Two returning .
Speaker #3: cash to shareholders . That's traditionally for us been , you know , 33rd consecutive year of increased dividends . We did buy some shares back in Q4 as we talked about .
Kenneth Bockhorst: We did buy some shares back in Q4, as we talked about, and certainly we, we have the authorization to purchase more, and, and, you know, if we thought it was attractive in Q4, I'm not, you know, forecasting anything for you, but I would think you'd think we'd think it's attractive now, too, to, to repurchase shares. And then on the M&A funnel, you know, we're really, really thrilled with the, the deals that we've done over the last five years, and we continue to have a really exciting funnel. So the capital allocation priorities are still gonna be aligned to support growth, return value to shareholders, and, and do more M&A.
We did buy some shares back in Q4, as we talked about, and certainly we, we have the authorization to purchase more, and, and, you know, if we thought it was attractive in Q4, I'm not, you know, forecasting anything for you, but I would think you'd think we'd think it's attractive now, too, to, to repurchase shares.
Speaker #3: And certainly we we have the authorization to purchase more and and , you know , if we thought it was attractive in Q4 , I'm not , you know , forecasting anything for you , but I would think you'd think we'd think it's attractive now to , to to repurchase shares .
And then on the M&A funnel, you know, we're really, really thrilled with the, the deals that we've done over the last five years, and we continue to have a really exciting funnel. So the capital allocation priorities are still gonna be aligned to support growth, return value to shareholders, and, and do more M&A.
Speaker #3: And then on the M&A funnel , you know , we're really , really with thrilled the deals that we've done over the last five continue to have a years .
Speaker #3: And then on the M&A funnel , you know , we're really , really with thrilled the deals that we've done over the last five continue to have a years . we And really exciting funnel .
Speaker #3: So the capital allocation priorities are still going to be aligned to support growth , return value to shareholders and do more M&A .
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Michael Fairbanks with J.P. Morgan. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Michael Fairbanks with J.P. Morgan. Your line is open. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Michael Fairbanks with J.P. Morgan . Your line is open . Please go ahead .
[Analyst] (J.P. Morgan): Hey, thanks for taking our questions. My first question is on SmartCover. So that was up 25% annualized and profitable in Q4. I guess now that the integration is 12 months in, can you just give us an update on what you now see as the potential in that business? And how we should think about the growth algorithm there going forward? Thank you.
Michael Fairbanks: Hey, thanks for taking our questions. My first question is on SmartCover. So that was up 25% annualized and profitable in Q4. I guess now that the integration is 12 months in, can you just give us an update on what you now see as the potential in that business? And how we should think about the growth algorithm there going forward? Thank you.
Speaker #13: Hey , thanks for taking our questions . My first question is on Smartcover . So I was up 25% annualized and profitable in four .
Speaker #13: Q I guess now that the integration is 12 months in , can you just give us an update on what you now see as the potential in that business ?
Speaker #13: And how we should think about the growth algorithm there going forward ? Thank you .
Kenneth Bockhorst: Yeah, you cut out there a little bit, but I think what you asked was, we saw a 25% growth in SmartCover, and you're asking how we see the future of sewer line monitoring growth rate. So the thing that we were excited about SmartCover to begin with is that, you know, before we acquired it, it was growing at a 20% CAGR for multiple years. So that's the first point. Second point is, we're still so early in adoption of sewer line monitoring, that there's still so much more room to grow, which is why we really wanted to get into that space and acquiring a known brand like SmartCover, the leader in North America, was really important to us.
Ken Bockhorst: Yeah, you cut out there a little bit, but I think what you asked was, we saw a 25% growth in SmartCover, and you're asking how we see the future of sewer line monitoring growth rate. So the thing that we were excited about SmartCover to begin with is that, you know, before we acquired it, it was growing at a 20% CAGR for multiple years. So that's the first point.
Speaker #3: You Yeah . cut out there a little bit , but I think what you asked was we 25% growth in saw Smartcover . And asking how see the we of of you're future sewer line monitoring the growth rates .
Speaker #3: So we thing that were excited about Smartcover to begin with is that , you know , before we acquired it , it was growing at a 20% kegger for multiple years .
Second point is, we're still so early in adoption of sewer line monitoring, that there's still so much more room to grow, which is why we really wanted to get into that space and acquiring a known brand like SmartCover, the leader in North America, was really important to us. So we fully expect to continue to grow our sewer line monitoring at a higher rate than average.
Speaker #3: So that's the first point . Second point is we're still so early in adoption of sewer line monitoring that there's still so much more room to grow , which is which is why we really wanted to get into that space .
Speaker #3: And acquiring a known brand like Smartcover , the leader in North America , was , was really important to us . So we fully , fully expect to continue to grow our sewer line monitoring at a at a higher rate than than average .
Kenneth Bockhorst: So we fully expect to continue to grow our sewer line monitoring at a higher rate than average.
[Analyst] (J.P. Morgan): Great. Thank you. And then on PRASA, can you maybe just talk about how you could use essentially an AMI deployment like that to expand the reach of the other offerings in the portfolio, just in the BlueEdge portfolio broadly? Thank you.
Michael Fairbanks: Great. Thank you. And then on PRASA, can you maybe just talk about how you could use essentially an AMI deployment like that to expand the reach of the other offerings in the portfolio, just in the BlueEdge portfolio broadly? Thank you.
Speaker #13: Great . Thank you . And then on process , can you maybe just talk about how you could use potentially an army deployment like that to expand the reach the other offerings in the portfolio .
Speaker #13: Just in the portfolio, Blue Edge broadly. Thank you.
Robert Wrocklage: Yeah, and in fact, the answer doesn't even need to be PRASA specific. I think we have multiple examples where AMI adoption by a utility ultimately serves as the catalyst to the extension of other beyond the meter technologies. Essentially, AMI becomes a an implementation that, in many cases, a utility grows into having data availability and the insights and analytics to influence how they run, primarily their meter billing operations, but then having cascading effects into the remainder of the utility. And once that kind of capability or core discipline is in place, it then becomes very clear that marrying up that meter and flow data with other pressure management and/or water quality data becomes a very valuable value proposition, if you will.
Bob Wrocklage: Yeah, and in fact, the answer doesn't even need to be PRASA specific. I think we have multiple examples where AMI adoption by a utility ultimately serves as the catalyst to the extension of other beyond the meter technologies.
Speaker #13: . in fact ,
Speaker #5: the Yeah . And answer doesn't even need to be process specific . I think we have multiple examples where Army adoption by a utility ultimately serves as the catalyst to the extension of other beyond the meter technologies .
Essentially, AMI becomes a an implementation that, in many cases, a utility grows into having data availability and the insights and analytics to influence how they run, primarily their meter billing operations, but then having cascading effects into the remainder of the utility. And once that kind of capability or core discipline is in place, it then becomes very clear that marrying up that meter and flow data with other pressure management and/or water quality data becomes a very valuable value proposition, if you will.
Speaker #5: Essentially army becomes a implementation that in many cases , a utility grows into having data availability and the insights and analytics to influence how they run .
Speaker #5: Primarily , the meter billing operations . But then having cascading effects into the remainder of the utility . And once that kind of capability or corps discipline is in place , then becomes very clear that marrying up that meter and flow data with other pressure management and or water quality data becomes very valuable value proposition , if you will .
Robert Wrocklage: So whether it's PRASA or any other AMI customers of ours, that's oftentimes the foundation or the springboard to the broader beyond the meter technologies. We often talk about Galveston. We've talked about Galveston historically over time, but that is the exact scenario that played out there. AMI was the first technology adoption, and then other use cases followed in short order as data and analytics became a primary point of emphasis with the utility.
So whether it's PRASA or any other AMI customers of ours, that's oftentimes the foundation or the springboard to the broader beyond the meter technologies. We often talk about Galveston. We've talked about Galveston historically over time, but that is the exact scenario that played out there. AMI was the first technology adoption, and then other use cases followed in short order as data and analytics became a primary point of emphasis with the utility.
Speaker #5: And so whether it's Prasa or any other customers of ours , that's oftentimes the foundation or the meter beyond the broader springboard to the technologies .
Speaker #5: We often talk Galveston , we've about talked about Galveston historically over time , but that is the exact scenario that played out there .
Speaker #5: Army was the first technology adoption, and then other use cases followed in. In short order, as data and analytics became a primary point of emphasis with the utility.
Operator: There are no further questions at this time. I will now pass the call back to Barbara for closing remarks.
Operator: There are no further questions at this time. I will now pass the call back to Barbara for closing remarks.
Speaker #1: There are no further questions at this time . I will now pass the call back to Barbara for closing remarks .
[Analyst] (Seaport Research Partners): Thank you, operator. Badger Meter's Q1 2026 earnings release is tentatively scheduled for 16 April 2026. In addition, please save the date for Badger Meter's Inaugural Investor Day, which will be held on 21 May in New York City. During the event, we will provide greater color and tangible examples of the evolution of our BlueEdge portfolio, along with the discussion of the key drivers enabling growth of our comprehensive suite of Smart Water Management solutions. Information about how to attend and what more to expect will be available in early March. Thanks for your interest in Badger Meter, and have a great day.
Barbara Noverini: Thank you, operator. Badger Meter's Q1 2026 earnings release is tentatively scheduled for 16 April 2026. In addition, please save the date for Badger Meter's Inaugural Investor Day, which will be held on 21 May in New York City.
Speaker #2: Thank you . Operator . Badger Meter first quarter 2026 earnings release is tentatively scheduled for April 16th , 2026 , in addition , please save the date for Badger Meter inaugural Investor Day , which will be held on May 21st in New York City during event , we will provide the greater color and tangible examples of the evolution of our blue edge portfolio , along with the discussion of the key drivers enabling growth of our comprehensive suite of smart water management solutions .
During the event, we will provide greater color and tangible examples of the evolution of our BlueEdge portfolio, along with the discussion of the key drivers enabling growth of our comprehensive suite of Smart Water Management solutions. Information about how to attend and what more to expect will be available in early March. Thanks for your interest in Badger Meter, and have a great day.
Speaker #2: Information about how to attend and what more to expect will be available in early March. Thank you for your interest in Badger Meter, and have a great day!
Operator: This concludes today's call. Thank you for attending. You may now disconnect.
Operator: This concludes today's call. Thank you for attending. You may now disconnect.
