Crane Company Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Results, Provides 2024 Guidance, and Raises Annual Dividend by 14%

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Earnings from continuing operations per diluted share (EPS) of $0.86 and adjusted EPS of $0.90.
• Core year-over-year sales growth of 5% and core year-over-year backlog growth of 8%.
• Year-over-year growth in operating profit from continuing operations of 38%, and year-over-year growth in adjusted operating profit from continuing operations of 14%.
• Introducing 2024 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.55-$4.85 reflecting 10% growth compared to 2023 adjusted EPS.
• Declaring first quarter 2024 dividend of $0.205 per share, and raising the annual dividend by 14% to $0.82 per share.
• Demonstrated significant progress on capital deployment and acquisition strategy with the October 2023 acquisition of Baum lined piping GmbH and the January 2024 acquisition of Vian Enterprises, Inc.

Crane Company ("Crane," NYSE: CR) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2023 and provided guidance for 2024.

Max Mitchell, Crane's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Crane delivered yet another impressive quarter, with continued evidence of differentiated execution and accelerating results from growth initiatives. Throughout the year, we had strong operational performance across all businesses with 2023 financial highlights including record adjusted segment operating margins at Process Flow Technologies of 19.9%, a record backlog of $701 million at Aerospace & Electronics, and 7% core sales growth driving a 28% increase in adjusted operating profit from continuing operations.”

Mr. Mitchell added: “During the fourth quarter, we also made additional progress on our capital deployment plans with the previously announced acquisition of Vian Enterprises by our Aerospace & Electronics segment, following the October Process Flow Technologies acquisition of Baum lined piping GmbH. Both acquisitions meet all of our strategic and financial criteria, and both strengthen our product and technology portfolio. We have a robust pipeline of similar M&A opportunities that we will continue to pursue in 2024, and we are confident that we will continue to drive shareholder value creation through further capital deployment.”

Mr. Mitchell concluded: “We remain very excited about our opportunities and prospects in the quarters and years ahead. Our outlook for 2024 reflects our strong positioning and the momentum we are seeing across our businesses balanced with continued mixed demand signals in certain industrial markets. Consistent with our customary convention, our initial 2024 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.55-$4.80 reflects what we have confidence in delivering, and reflects solid 10% adjusted EPS growth at the midpoint. We believe there may be potential upside to that range from further easing of Aerospace & Electronics supply chain constraints, stronger than expected demand at Process Flow Technologies, and further capital deployment options.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Results From Continuing Operations

Fourth quarter 2023 GAAP earnings from continuing operations per diluted share (EPS) was $0.86, and adjusted EPS was $0.90.

Fourth quarter sales increased 10%, with 5% core sales growth, a 3% benefit from the Baum acquisition, and a 1% benefit from favorable foreign exchange. Operating profit from continuing operations of $67 million increased 38% from $49 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations of $75 million increased 14% from the prior year.

Summary of Fourth Quarter 2023 Results from Continuing Operations

Cash Flow, Financing Activities and Other Financial Metrics

During the fourth quarter of 2023, cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $160 million, capital expenditures were $13 million, and free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital spending) was $147 million. Adjusted free cash flow (free cash flow excluding transaction-related cash outflows) was $152 million. (Please see the attached non-GAAP Financial Measures tables.)

As of December 31, 2023, the Company's cash balance was $330 million with total debt of $249 million.

Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter, on January 2, 2024, the Company borrowed $100 million under its existing revolving credit facility, and on the same day, the Company completed the acquisition of Vian Enterprises, Inc. for approximately $103 million on a cash-free and debt-free basis.

Rich Maue, Crane Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, added: "Following the Vian acquisition, our net debt to EBITDA is less than 0.1x. That very low leverage level, paired with consistently robust free cash flow generation, gives us substantial financial flexibility for further capital deployment. We are very pleased with the progress we have made to date with the integration of both the Baum and Vian transactions, further reinforcing our lengthy track record as a successful acquirer. We will deploy our capital with the same strict financial and strategic discipline that we have always employed, and we see numerous opportunities for similar value-creating acquisitions to further accelerate our growth, with the ability to generate enhanced returns given our lengthy track record of successful acquisition integration and synergy generation."

Fourth Quarter 2023 Segment Results

All comparisons detailed in this section refer to operating results for the fourth quarter 2023 versus the fourth quarter 2022.

Aerospace & Electronics

Sales of $213 million increased 17% compared to the prior year. Operating profit margin of 20.2% increased 40 basis points from last year, primarily reflecting higher volumes, productivity, and the non-repeat of certain repositioning expenses, partially offset by higher engineering expense. Adjusted operating profit margin of 20.2% declined 40 basis points from last year. Aerospace & Electronics' order backlog was $701 million as of December 31, 2023 compared to $613 million as of December 31, 2022, and $678 million as of September 30, 2023.

Process Flow Technologies

Sales of $272 million increased 8%, driven by a 6% benefit from the Baum acquisition a 2% benefit from favorable foreign exchange, partially offset by slightly negative core growth. Operating profit margin increased 120 basis points to 16.0% driven by strong pricing and productivity, partially offset by lower volumes and unfavorable mix. Adjusted operating profit margin increased 90 basis points to 17.0%. Process Flow Technologies order backlog was $379 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $369 million as of December 31, 2022, and $353 million as of September 30, 2023. Order backlog at December 31, 2023 included $12 million related to the Baum acquisition.

Engineered Materials

Sales of $49 million decreased 7% compared to the prior year. Operating profit margin declined 170 basis points to 9.3%. Adjusted operating profit margin declined 250 basis points to 9.3%.

Introducing 2024 Guidance

We are introducing full year 2024 EPS guidance in a range of $4.55-$4.85, and free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) guidance of $240-$265 million.

Key assumptions for our guidance include:

• Sales of approximately $2.25 billion, up 8% compared to 2023 driven by core sales growth of approximately 3% to 5% (10% at Aerospace & Electronics, and flat at Process Flow Technologies and Engineered Materials) and an acquisition benefit of approximately 4% (4.5% at each Aerospace & Electronics and Process Flow Technologies).
• Operating margins of approximately 20.1%
• Corporate cost of ~$75 million
• Net non-operating expense of ~$20 million
• Tax rate of ~23.5%
• Diluted shares of ~58 million

Additional details of our outlook and guidance are included in the presentation that accompanies this earnings release available on our website at www.craneco.com in the "investors" section.

Declaring First Quarter Dividend

Crane's Board of Directors has declared a 14% increase in the Company's quarterly dividend, to $0.205 per share, from $0.18 per share. The regular quarterly dividend of $0.205 per share for the first quarter of 2024 is payable on March 13, 2024 to shareholders of record as of February 29, 2024.

Additional Information

Crane Company operated as part of Crane Holdings, Co. for the entire first quarter of 2023 prior to completion of the separation transaction on April 3, 2023. Crane Holdings, Co.'s (now renamed Crane NXT, Co.) results are now reflected as the historical results of Crane Company, with the Payment & Merchandising Technologies segment presented as discontinued operations. Certain current year year-to-date and prior year quarterly and year-to-date non-GAAP information is not presented due to this change in reporting methodology.

Conference Call

Crane has scheduled a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter financial results on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern). All interested parties may listen to a live webcast of the call at www.craneco.com. An archived webcast will also be available to replay this conference call directly from the Company’s website under Investors, Events & Presentations. Slides that accompany the conference call will be available on the Company’s website.

About Crane Company

Crane Company has delivered innovation and technology-led solutions to its customers since its founding in 1855. Today, Crane is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered components for challenging, mission-critical applications focused on the aerospace, defense, space and process flow industry end markets. The Company is comprised of two strategic growth platforms, Aerospace & Electronics and Process Flow Technologies, as well as the Engineered Materials segment. Crane has approximately 7,000 employees in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. For more information, visit www.craneco.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding our intent, belief, or expectations, including, but not limited to: statements regarding Crane’s portfolio composition and its relationship with Crane NXT, Co. following the business separation; benefits and synergies of the separation transaction; strategic and competitive advantages of Crane; future financing plans and opportunities; and business strategies, prospects and projected operating and financial results. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.

Words such as “anticipate(s),” “expect(s),” “intend(s),” “believe(s),” “plan(s),” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seek(s),” and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained.

Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to: changes in global economic conditions (including inflationary pressures) and geopolitical risks, including macroeconomic fluctuations that may harm our business, results of operation and stock price; the continuing effects from the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global and U.S. economies generally; information systems and technology networks failures and breaches in data security, theft of personally identifiable and other information, non-compliance with our contractual or other legal obligations regarding such information; our ability to source components and raw materials from suppliers, including disruptions and delays in our supply chain; demand for our products, which is variable and subject to factors beyond our control; governmental regulations and failure to comply with those regulations; fluctuations in the prices of our components and raw materials; loss of personnel or being able to hire and retain additional personnel needed to sustain and grow our business as planned; risks from environmental liabilities, costs, litigation and violations that could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and reputation; risks associated with conducting a substantial portion of our business outside the U.S.; being unable to identify or complete acquisitions, or to successfully integrate the businesses we acquire, or complete dispositions; adverse impacts from intangible asset impairment charges; potential product liability or warranty claims; being unable to successfully develop and introduce new products, which would limit our ability to grow and maintain our competitive position and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow; significant competition in our markets; additional tax expenses or exposures that could affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; inadequate or ineffective internal controls; specific risks relating to our reportable segments, including Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies and Engineered Materials; the ability and willingness of Crane Company and Crane NXT, Co. to meet and/or perform their obligations under any contractual arrangements that are entered into among the parties in connection with the separation transaction and any of their obligations to indemnify, defend and hold the other party harmless from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities; and the ability to achieve some or all the benefits that we expect to achieve from the separation transaction.

Readers should carefully review Crane’s financial statements and the notes thereto, as well as the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Crane’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the other documents Crane and its subsidiaries file from time to time with the SEC. Readers should also carefully review the “Risk Factors” section of the information statement filed as an exhibit to Crane’s registration statement on Form 10. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements reflect management’s judgment as of this date, and Crane assumes no (and disclaims any) obligation to revise or update them to reflect future events or circumstances.

We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of any projections, statements or information contained in this document. It is understood and agreed that any such projections, targets, statements and information are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant business, financial, economic, operating, competitive and other risks, uncertainties and contingencies many of which are beyond our control, that no assurance can be given that any particular financial projections ranges, or targets will be realized, that actual results may differ from projected results and that such differences may be material. While all financial projections, estimates and targets are necessarily speculative, we believe that the preparation of prospective financial information involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out the projection, estimate or target extends from the date of preparation. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected, expected or target results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the financial projections, estimates and targets. The inclusion of financial projections, estimates and targets in this press release should not be regarded as an indication that we or our representatives, considered or consider the financial projections, estimates and targets to be a reliable prediction of future events.

(Financial Tables Follow)