Scott A. King, President and CEO, commented, We are pleased that we achieved an improvement in gross
margin and operating income in 2024, as well as a 28% increase in adjusted earnings per share for the year. We also reduced our debt by $43 million, which along with our refinancing in the second quarter of 2024, resulted in a significant
reduction in interest expense and positions us well to further reduce our debt and interest expense going forward. In addition to our strong operating results, we were proud to increase our dividend for the 52nd consecutive year, and in January of 2025 we declared our 300th consecutive quarterly dividend, marking 75 years of continued dividends. As
we begin 2025 our outlook remains positive. While sales were less than expected in 2024, we continued to see strong incoming orders during the year and ended the year with healthy backlog to begin the new year. As demonstrated by our increase
in municipal sales in 2024, we remain well positioned to continue to benefit from infrastructure spending and the strong demand for flood control and storm water management. We remain focused on delivering long-term profitable growth.
I appreciate the Gorman-Rupp teams continued efforts to contribute to another successful year, and I am grateful to our customers, suppliers, and
shareholders for their on-going support.
About The Gorman-Rupp Company
Founded in 1933, The Gorman-Rupp Company is a leading designer, manufacturer and international marketer of pumps and pump systems for use in diverse water,
wastewater, construction, dewatering, industrial, petroleum, original equipment, agriculture, fire suppression, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), military and other liquid-handling applications.
(1) Non-GAAP Information
This release includes certain non-GAAP financial data and measures such as adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per
share, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA). Adjusted earnings is earnings excluding amortization of customer backlog, write-off of
unamortized previously deferred debt financing fees, and refinancing costs. Adjusted earnings per share is earnings per share excluding amortization of customer backlog per share, write-off of unamortized
previously deferred debt financing fees per share, and refinancing costs per share. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is net income (loss) excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to
exclude amortization of customer backlog, write-off of unamortized previously deferred debt financing fees, refinancing costs, and non-cash LIFO2 expense. Management utilizes these adjusted financial data and measures to assess comparative operations against those of prior periods without the distortion of
non-comparable factors. The inclusion of these adjusted measures should not be construed as an indication that the Companys future results will be unaffected by unusual or infrequent items or that the
items for which the Company has made adjustments are unusual or infrequent or will not recur. Further, the impact of the LIFO2 inventory costing method can cause results to vary substantially from
company to company depending upon whether they elect to utilize LIFO2 and depending upon which method they may elect. The Gorman-Rupp Company believes that these
non-GAAP financial data and measures also will be useful to investors in assessing the strength of the Companys underlying operations and liquidity from period to period. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace GAAP financial measures, and they are not necessarily standardized or comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Provided later in this
release is a reconciliation of adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per share, and adjusted EBITDA to their respective corresponding GAAP financial measures, which includes descriptions of actual adjustments made in the current period and the
corresponding prior period.
(2) LIFO Inventory Method
The
majority of the Companys inventories are valued on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method and stated at the lower of cost or market. Current cost approximates
replacement cost, or market, and LIFO cost is determined at the end of each fiscal year based on inventory levels on-hand at current replacement cost and a LIFO reserve. The Company uses the simplified LIFO
method, under which the LIFO reserve is determined utilizing the inflation factor specified in the Producer Price Index for Machinery and Equipment Pumps, Compressors and Equipment, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Interim LIFO calculations are based on managements estimate of the expected year-end inflation index and, as such, are subject to adjustment each quarter. When inflation increases, the
LIFO reserve and non-cash expense increase.
Forward-Looking Statements
In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, The Gorman-Rupp Company provides the
following cautionary statement: This news release contains various forward-looking statements based on assumptions concerning The Gorman-Rupp Companys operations, future results and prospects. These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations about important economic, political, and technological factors, among others, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results or events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by
the forward-looking statements and related assumptions. Such uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our estimates of future earnings and cash flows, general economic conditions and supply chain conditions and any related impact on costs and
availability of materials, integration of the Fill-Rite business in a timely and cost effective manner, retention of supplier and customer relationships and key