Crane Company Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results and Raises Full Year EPS Guidance

Crane Company ("Crane," NYSE: CR) today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2023 and updated its full-year outlook.

Max Mitchell, Crane's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Crane delivered yet another strong quarter, consistently demonstrating our differentiated execution and accelerating results from growth initiatives. Core year-over-year sales growth of 9% drove a 42% increase in adjusted operating profit from continuing operations, with strong operational performance across all businesses."

Mr. Mitchell added: “In addition to our focus on organic growth and continued margin improvement, we have also made significant progress on our capital deployment plans. Shortly after the end of the quarter, we completed the acquisition of Baum lined piping GmbH for approximately $91 million on a cash-free and debt-free basis. Baum is a perfect addition to Process Flow Technologies' chemical business, significantly expanding the geographic and product breadth of our specialized lined pipe business that serves severe service applications in highly corrosive environments. We also continue our pursuit of a number of other potential acquisitions across both Aerospace & Electronics and Process Flow Technologies, and earlier this month, we increased the size of our Revolving Credit Facility to give us additional flexibility for acquisitions. Baum, as well as the other acquisitions currently under consideration, meet our strict financial and strategic criteria, and all have substantial synergy opportunities."

Mr. Mitchell concluded: “We remain extremely excited about our opportunities and prospects in the quarters and years ahead. As we have noted in our last few quarterly earnings reports, our optimism is tempered somewhat by some signs of expected slowing order activity in a handful of our industrial and process flow markets and geographies. Balancing these factors, and supported by our extremely strong financial performance in the first three quarters of the year, we are raising and narrowing our adjusted EPS guidance range to $4.05 to $4.20 from our prior range of $3.80-$4.10."

Third Quarter 2023 Results From Continuing Operations

Third quarter 2023 GAAP earnings from continuing operations per diluted share (EPS) was $0.96, and adjusted EPS was $1.03.

Third quarter sales increased 10%, with 9% core sales growth and a 1% benefit from favorable foreign exchange. Operating profit from continuing operations of $76 million compared to an operating loss of $117 million last year, with the prior year loss related to the sale of the Company's asbestos liability. Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations of $81 million increased 42% from the prior year.

Summary of Third Quarter 2023 Results from Continuing Operations

Cash Flow, Financing Activities and Other Financial Metrics

During the third quarter of 2023, cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $87 million, capital expenditures were $9 million, and free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital spending) was $78 million. Adjusted free cash flow (free cash flow excluding cash outflows related to the separation transaction) was $82 million. (Please see the attached non-GAAP Financial Measures tables.)

As of September 30, 2023, the Company's cash balance was $274 million with total debt of $250 million.

On October 2, 2023, the Company borrowed $100 million under its existing revolving credit facility. On October 3, 2023, the Company exercised a portion of the accordion feature under its existing revolving credit facility to increase the available borrowing capacity from $500 million, to $800 million, to provide additional flexibility for acquisition activity. On October 4, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Baum lined piping GmbH for approximately $91 million on a cash-free and debt-free basis.

Third Quarter 2023 Segment Results

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

Aerospace & Electronics

Sales of $207 million increased 24% compared to the prior year. Operating profit margin of 19.4% increased 250 basis points from last year, primarily reflecting the impact of higher volumes and productivity. Aerospace & Electronics' order backlog was $678 million as of September 30, 2023 compared to $613 million as of December 31, 2022, and $592 million as of September 30, 2022.

Process Flow Technologies

Sales of $267 million increased 7%, driven by 5% core sales growth and a 2% benefit from favorable foreign exchange. Operating profit margin increased 270 basis points to 19.2% driven by strong pricing and productivity, partially offset by unfavorable mix. Adjusted operating profit margin increased 240 basis points to 19.2%. Process Flow Technologies order backlog was $353 million as of September 30, 2023 compared to $369 million as of December 31, 2022, and $354 million as of September 30, 2022.

Engineered Materials

Sales of $56 million decreased 11% compared to the prior year. Operating profit margin improved 300 basis points to 13.7% driven by lower inflation and productivity, partially offset by lower volumes. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 290 basis points to 13.7%.

Raising and Narrowing 2023 Guidance

We are raising and narrowing our adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $4.05 to $4.20, from the prior range of $3.80 to $4.10.

Key assumptions for our revised guidance include:

• Total sales growth of approximately 7.5% (prior 6%) driven by core sales growth of approximately 6% to 8% (prior 5% to 7%) and an acquisition benefit of approximately 0.5% (prior 0%).
• Adjusted operating margin of ~15.5% (prior 15.0%).
• Corporate cost of ~$72 million (prior ~$70 million).
• Net non-operating expense of ~$16 million (prior ~$15 million).
• Adjusted tax rate of ~23% (unchanged).
• Diluted shares of ~57.5 million (was ~57.3 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 Fourth Quarter Dividend

Crane announced its regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share for the fourth quarter of 2023. The dividend is payable on December 13, 2023 to shareholders of record as of November 30, 2023.

Additional Information

Crane operated as part of Crane Holdings, Co. for the entire first quarter of 2023 prior to completion of the separation transaction on April 3. Crane Holdings, Co. (now renamed Crane NXT, Co.) results are now reflected as the historical results of Crane, 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 third quarter financial results on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 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 for 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 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)