• Franklin Electric Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 18 Feb 2025 08:00:18   America/New_York

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $485.7 million, an increase of 3% to the prior year
    • Energy Systems and Distribution net sales increased 5% and 6%, respectively, while Water Systems net sales were flat
    • Operating income was $43.0 million with operating margin of 8.9%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.72

    Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $2.0 billion, a decrease of 2% to the prior year
    • Distribution net sales increased 2%, while Water Systems and Energy Systems net sales decreased 2% and 8%, respectively
    • Operating income was $243.6 million with operating margin of 12.1%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.86
    • Cash flows from operating activities were $261.4 million

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Electric Co., Inc. today announced its fourth quarter and full year financial results for fiscal year 2024.

    Fourth quarter 2024 net sales were $485.7 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 net sales of $473.0 million. Fourth quarter 2024 operating income was $43.0 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 operating income of $50.8 million. Fourth quarter 2024 EPS was $0.72, versus EPS in the fourth quarter 2023 of $0.82.

    Full year 2024 net sales were $2.0 billion, compared to full year 2023 net sales of $2.1 billion. Full year 2024 operating income was $243.6 million, compared to full year 2023 operating income of $262.4 million. Full year 2024 EPS was $3.86, versus EPS in the full year 2023 of $4.11.

    “The fourth quarter marked a solid finish to a challenging year. Our results were driven by strong performance in our newly renamed Energy Systems segment. While we have worked through the elevated post-COVID backlogs at this time, underlying demand remains healthy, and we continue to execute on productivity initiatives as we align our businesses with the more normalized environment,” commented Joe Ruzynski, Franklin Electric’s CEO.

    “Our resiliency is supported by the breadth of our global portfolio, which has proven to be a strategic asset as we closed out a year shaped by macroeconomic pressures. Order trends have improved, and with the support of a very healthy balance sheet, we are well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the year ahead. In 2025, our focus turns to driving revenue growth and margin expansion as we accelerate innovation and growth,” concluded Mr. Ruzynski.

    Segment Summaries

    Water Systems net sales were $279.6 million in the fourth quarter, flat compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Results were driven by higher sales of groundwater products, water treatment products and all other surface products. These sales increases were offset by lower sales of large dewatering pumps, which had a record fourth quarter last year. Water Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was $35.6 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Water Systems operating income was $44.1 million.

    Distribution net sales were $157.2 million, an increase of $9.2 million or 6 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by higher volumes and the incremental impact from a recent acquisition. The Distribution segment operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was $0.5 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Distribution operating income was $1.0 million.

    Energy Systems net sales were $68.8 million in the fourth quarter 2024, an increase of $3.1 million or 5 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by higher volumes and price realization. Energy Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was a record for any fourth quarter at $24.7 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Energy Systems operating income was $19.4 million. The Company has changed the name of the Fueling Systems segment to Energy Systems to reflect its diverse portfolio and growth strategy, as well as to better reflect the markets and customers served by the segment.

    Cash Flow

    The Company ended 2024 with a cash balance of $220.5 million, an increase of $135.5 million compared to the end of 2023. Net cash flows from operating activities for 2024 were $261.4 million versus $315.7 million in the same period in 2023. Cash flow in 2023 benefitted from actions the Company took to improve working capital including inventory reductions as its supply chain resiliency and lead times improved during the year.

    2024 Guidance

    The Company expects its full year 2025 sales including the impact of its recently announced acquisitions to be in the range of $2.09 billion to $2.15 billion and full year 2025 EPS to be in the range of $4.05 to $4.25.

    Earnings Conference Call

    A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The fourth quarter 2024 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/9jnstij5

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BI4b232e4ceea6435ba8f046e92e18e563

    All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

    A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, February 18, 2025, through 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

    Forward Looking Statements

    "Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases,  raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    About Franklin Electric

    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2024 and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    Franklin Electric Contact:

    Jeffery L. Taylor
    Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
    InvestorRelations@fele.com

     
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)
            
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)       
            
     Fourth Quarter Ended Fiscal Year End
     December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
     2024 2023 2024 2023
            
    Net sales$485,745  $472,970  $2,021,341  $2,065,133 
            
    Cost of sales 321,505   312,961   1,304,061   1,368,125 
            
    Gross profit 164,240   160,009   717,280   697,008 
            
    Selling, general, and administrative expenses 117,846   108,825   470,136   433,476 
            
    Restructuring expense 3,360   356   3,499   1,091 
            
    Operating income 43,034   50,828   243,645   262,441 
            
    Interest expense (1,339)  (1,481)  (6,319)  (11,790)
    Other income, net 630   1,831   1,339   3,696 
    Foreign exchange expense, net (1,590)  (4,026)  (6,818)  (12,124)
            
    Income before income taxes 40,735   47,152   231,847   242,223 
            
    Income tax expense 6,443   8,322   50,238   47,489 
            
    Net income$34,292  $38,830  $181,609  $194,734 
            
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (637)  (281)  (1,300)  (1,462)
            
    Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.$33,655  $38,549  $180,309  $193,272 
            
    Income per share:       
    Basic$0.73  $0.83  $3.92  $4.17 
    Diluted$0.72  $0.82  $3.86  $4.11 
            


    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)
        
    (In thousands)   
        
     December 31, December 31,
     2024 2023
    ASSETS   
        
    Cash and cash equivalents$220,540  $84,963 
    Receivables (net) 226,826   222,418 
    Inventories 483,875   508,696 
    Other current assets 32,950   37,718 
    Total current assets 964,191   853,795 
        
    Property, plant, and equipment, net 223,566   229,739 
    Lease right-of-use Assets, net 62,637   57,014 
    Goodwill and other assets 570,212   587,574 
    Total assets$1,820,606  $1,728,122 
        
        
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   
        
    Accounts payable$157,046  $152,419 
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 139,989   104,949 
    Current lease liability 18,878   17,316 
    Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings 117,814   12,355 
    Total current liabilities 433,727   287,039 
        
    Long-term debt 11,622   88,056 
    Long-term lease liability 43,304   38,549 
    Income taxes payable non-current -   4,837 
    Deferred income taxes 10,193   29,461 
    Employee benefit plans 29,808   35,973 
    Other long-term liabilities 22,118   33,914 
     
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest 1,224   1,145 
        
    Total equity 1,268,610   1,209,148 
    Total liabilities and equity$1,820,606  $1,728,122 
        


    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)   
        
     2024 2023
    Cash flows from operating activities:   
    Net income$181,609  $194,734 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:   
    Depreciation and amortization 56,073   52,260 
    Non-cash lease expense 21,438   18,852 
    Share-based compensation 12,061   10,133 
    Other (13,327)  10,259 
    Changes in assets and liabilities:   
    Receivables (17,045)  19,150 
    Inventory 10,889   48,176 
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses 15,285   (23,085)
    Operating leases (21,129)  (18,874)
    Income taxes-U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (3,870)  (2,902)
    Other 19,369   7,007 
        
    Net cash flows from operating activities 261,353   315,710 
        
    Cash flows from investing activities:   
    Additions to property, plant, and equipment (41,682)  (41,415)
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment 1,182   1,494 
    Acquisitions and investments (5,201)  (34,831)
    Other investing activities 73   463 
        
    Net cash flows from investing activities (45,628)  (74,289)
        
    Cash flows from financing activities:   
    Net change in debt 29,235   (115,529)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock 7,204   9,193 
    Purchases of common stock (61,041)  (43,332)
    Dividends paid (46,876)  (41,723)
    Deferred payments for acquisitions (2,591)  (802)
        
    Net cash flows from financing activities (74,069)  (192,193)
        
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (6,079)  (10,055)
    Net change in cash and cash equivalents 135,577   39,173 
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 84,963   45,790 
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$220,540  $84,963 
        

    Key Performance Indicators: Net Sales Summary

     Net Sales For the Fourth Quarter
     United
    States
    LatinEurope,
    Middle
    AsiaTotal    
    (in millions)& CanadaAmericaEast & AfricaPacificWaterEnergy**DistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
              
    Q4 2023$161.2 $46.6 $45.5 $26.3 $279.6 $65.7 $148.0 ($20.3)$473.0 
    Q4 2024$158.5 $44.3 $49.7 $27.1 $279.6 $68.8 $157.2 ($19.9)$485.7 
    Change($2.7)($2.3)$4.2 $0.8 $0.0 $3.1 $9.2 $0.4 $12.7 
    % Change -2% -5% 9% 3% 0% 5% 6%  3%
              
    Foreign currency translation, net*($0.4)($5.5)($0.8)($0.8)($7.5)$0.0 $0.0  ($7.5)
    % Change 0% -12% -2% -3% -3% 0% 0%  2%
              
    Acquisitions$3.1 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $3.1 $0.0 $4.0  $7.1 
    % Change 2% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 3%  2%
              
    Volume/Price($5.4)$3.2 $5.0 $1.6 $4.4 $3.1 $5.2 $0.4 $13.1 
    % Change -3% 7% 11% 6% 2% 5% 4% -2% 3%
              


     Net Sales For the Full Year
     United
    States
    LatinEurope,
    Middle
    AsiaTotal    
    (in millions)& CanadaAmericaEast & AfricaPacificWaterEnergy**DistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
              
    FY 2023$744.4 $174.2 $198.3 $86.8 $1,203.7 $296.5 $673.3 ($108.4)$2,065.1 
    FY 2024$708.5 $170.9 $211.4 $93.2 $1,184.0 $273.7 $685.5 ($121.9)$2,021.3 
    Change($35.9)($3.3)$13.1 $6.4 ($19.7)($22.8)$12.2 ($13.5)($43.8)
    % Change -5% -2% 7% 7% -2% -8% 2%  -2%
              
    Foreign currency translation, net*($0.9)($9.7)($6.3)($2.4)($19.3)$0.0 $0.0  ($19.3)
    % Change 0% -6% -3% -3% -2% 0% 0%  -1%
              
    Acquisitions$17.6 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $17.6 $0.0 $17.1  $34.7 
    % Change 2% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 3%  2%
              
    Volume/Price($52.6)$6.4 $19.4 $8.8 ($18.0)($22.8)($4.9)($13.5)($59.2)
    % Change -7% 4% 10% 10% -1% -8% -1% 12% -3%
              

    *The Company has presented local currency price increases used to offset currency devaluation in the Argentina and Turkey hyperinflationary economies within the foreign currency translation, net row above.
    ** Recognizing the Company’s diverse portfolio and growth strategy, it renamed its Fueling Systems segment to Energy Systems to better reflect the markets and customers served by this business.

    Key Performance Indicators: Operating Income and Margin Summary

    Operating Income and Margins      
    (in millions)For the Fourth Quarter 2024
     WaterEnergyDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss)$35.6 $24.7 $0.5 $(17.8)$43.0 
    % Operating Income To Net Sales 12.7% 35.9% 0.3%  8.9%
          
    Operating Income and Margins      
    (in millions)For the Fourth Quarter 2023
     WaterEnergyDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss)$44.1 $19.4 $1.0 $(13.7)$50.8 
    % Operating Income To Net Sales 15.8% 29.5% 0.7%  10.7%
          
    Operating Income and Margins      
    (in millions)For the Full Year of 2024
     WaterEnergyDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss)$197.9 $93.6 $24.3 $(72.2)$243.6 
    % Operating Income To Net Sales 16.7% 34.2% 3.5%  12.1%
          
    Operating Income and Margins      
    (in millions)For the Full Year of 2023
     WaterEnergyDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss)$196.6 $92.7 $34.3 $(61.2)$262.4 
    % Operating Income To Net Sales 16.3% 31.3% 5.1%  12.7%
          

    Primary Logo

Share on,