IDEX Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

Fourth Quarter Highlights

(All comparisons against the fourth quarter of 2022 unless otherwise noted)

• Sales of $789 million, down 3% overall and 6% organically
• Reported diluted EPS of $1.43, down 16%; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.83, down 9%
• Strong operating cash flow of $201 million, up 20%; free cash flow of $179 million, up 22%
• Completed acquisition of STC Material Solutions on December 14, 2023 for $202 million

Full Year Highlights

(All comparisons against full year 2022 unless otherwise noted)

• Record reported sales of $3.3 billion, up 3% overall and down 1% organically
• Record reported diluted EPS of $7.85, up 2%; record adjusted diluted EPS of $8.22, up 1%
• Record operating cash flow of $717 million, up 29%; record free cash flow of $627 million, up 28%
• Invested approximately $425 million for acquisitions, capital projects and share repurchases

IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

“IDEX businesses weathered an unprecedented year of global recalibration, which played out differently across our segments. Our team’s agility and core execution capabilities, combined with the quality of our underlying assets, enabled us to deliver strong results in a challenging environment,” said Eric D. Ashleman, IDEX Corporation Chief Executive Officer and President.

“Now, the majority of our end markets are stable, supporting the early stages of focused organic growth to drive our next chapter of outperformance. However, the timing of market recovery within our Life Sciences and Analytical Instrumentation businesses remains uncertain, moderating our overall full year growth outlook.”

“We continue to aggressively pursue inorganic opportunities within advantaged, fast-growing markets, as demonstrated by our purchase of STC Material Solutions in December. Our funnel of potential acquisitions is strong and our efforts are well supported by ample capacity on our balance sheet.”

2024 Outlook

Full year 2024 organic sales growth is projected to be 0% to 2% over the prior year, with GAAP diluted EPS of $7.15 to $7.45 (adjusted diluted EPS of $8.15 to $8.45).

First quarter 2024 organic sales are projected to decline 6% to 7% from the prior year period, with GAAP diluted EPS of $1.45 to $1.50 (adjusted diluted EPS of $1.70 to $1.75).

Consolidated Results

Orders

Fourth quarter 2023 orders of $753.9 million reflected a 6% decrease compared with the prior year period (-10% organic, +3% acquisitions/divestitures and +1% foreign currency translation).

Full year 2023 orders of $3,057.6 million reflected a 7% decrease compared with 2022 (-11% organic, -1% impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023 and +5% acquisitions/divestitures).

Net Sales

Fourth quarter 2023 sales of $788.9 million reflected a 3% decrease compared with the prior year period (-6% organic and +3% acquisitions/divestitures).

Full year 2023 sales of $3,273.9 million reflected a 3% increase compared with 2022 (+5% acquisitions/divestitures, -1% organic and -1% impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application).

Gross Margin

Fourth quarter 2023 gross margin of 42.7% increased 10 basis points compared with the prior year period primarily due to strong price/cost, lower fair value inventory step-up charges and favorable operational productivity, partially offset by lower volume leverage, higher employee-related costs partly mitigated by lower variable compensation, the dilutive impact of acquisitions and unfavorable mix. Adjusted gross margin, which excludes fair value inventory step-up charges, decreased 90 basis points compared with the prior year period.

Full year 2023 gross margin of 44.2% decreased 60 basis points compared with 2022 primarily due to lower volume leverage, the dilutive impact of acquisitions, higher employee-related costs partly mitigated by lower variable compensation, unfavorable mix and the acceleration of previously deferred revenue related to the exit of a COVID-19 testing application in 2022 that did not reoccur in 2023, partially offset by strong operational productivity and price/cost as well as lower fair value inventory step-up charges. Adjusted gross margin, which excludes the acceleration of previously deferred revenue discussed above and fair value inventory step-up charges, decreased 60 basis points compared with 2022.

Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share Attributable to IDEX and Net Income Margin

Fourth quarter 2023 net income attributable to IDEX decreased $21.4 million to $108.6 million, which resulted in diluted EPS attributable to IDEX of $1.43 per share, a decrease of $0.28 per share, or 16%, from the prior year period. Fourth quarter 2023 net income margin of 13.7% decreased 230 basis points compared with the prior year period. These decreases were primarily driven by lower operating results discussed above as well as a loss on the sale of Novotema, SpA ("Novotema") and amortization on new acquisitions, partially offset by higher fair value inventory step-up charges in the prior year period. The fourth quarter 2023 effective tax rate of 22.7% increased compared with the fourth quarter 2022 effective tax rate of 20.5% primarily due to the one-time foreign currency benefits realized in 2022 in connection with the funding of the acquisition of Muon B.V. and its subsidiaries ("Muon Group") as well as the impact of the loss recorded on the sale of Novotema during 2023, for which no related tax benefit was realized due to the type of consolidated group in which it participated.

Full year 2023 net income attributable to IDEX increased $9.2 million to $596.1 million, which resulted in diluted EPS attributable to IDEX of $7.85 per share, an increase of $0.14 per share, or 2%, compared with 2022. Full year 2023 net income margin of 18.2% decreased 20 basis points compared with 2022. The increase in net income attributable to IDEX was primarily driven by higher gains on the sale of businesses and lower fair value inventory step-up charges, partially offset by lower operating results discussed above, amortization on new acquisitions, higher interest expense and a reserve recorded on an investment with a collaborative partner. The full year 2023 GAAP effective tax rate of 21.7% was flat when compared with the full year 2022 GAAP effective tax rate. Both years included one-time benefits that lowered the effective tax rate.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Diluted EPS Attributable to IDEX

Fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin of 25.8% decreased 120 basis points compared with the prior year period driven by lower volume leverage, higher employee-related costs partly mitigated by lower variable compensation, unfavorable mix and the dilutive impact of acquisitions, partially offset by strong price/cost and operational productivity. Adjusted diluted EPS attributable to IDEX was $1.83 per share, a decrease of $0.18 per share, or 9%, from the prior year period reflecting the operating results previously discussed. Adjusted diluted EPS excludes the impacts of the sale of Novotema discussed above.

Full year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin of 27.5% decreased 40 basis points compared with 2022 driven by lower volume leverage, higher employee-related costs and unfavorable mix, partially offset by strong price/cost and operational productivity. Adjusted diluted EPS attributable to IDEX was $8.22 per share, an increase of $0.10 per share, or 1%, compared with 2022 reflecting higher operating results. Additionally, 2023 included higher interest expense, which was mostly offset by the 9 cent impact of a lower adjusted effective tax rate in 2023, which excludes the impacts of the sale of businesses.

Cash Flow

Fourth quarter and full year 2023 cash from operations of $201.0 million and $716.7 million, respectively, were up compared with the prior year period primarily due to lower working capital driven by inventory reductions in 2023 as compared to 2022. Fourth quarter 2023 free cash flow was $179.4 million, up 22% compared with the prior year period and constituted 129% of adjusted net income attributable to IDEX, while full year 2023 free cash flow of $626.8 million, up 28% compared with 2022, constituted 101% of adjusted net income attributable to IDEX.

Segment Highlights

Fluid & Metering Technologies ("FMT")

• Fourth quarter 2023 sales of $299.1 million reflected a 4% increase compared with the prior year period (+3% organic and +1% foreign currency translation).
• Fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin was 30.8%, up 80 basis points compared with the prior year period primarily due to strong operational productivity and price/cost, partially offset by unfavorable mix, higher employee-related costs and lower volume leverage.

Health & Science Technologies ("HST")

• Fourth quarter 2023 sales of $312.7 million reflected an 11% decrease compared with the prior year period (-19% organic, +7% acquisitions/divestitures and +1% foreign currency translation).
• Fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.8%, down 450 basis points compared with the prior year period primarily due to lower volume leverage, the dilutive impact of acquisitions and higher employee-related costs, partially offset by strong operational productivity and price/cost.

Fire & Safety/Diversified Products ("FSDP")

• Fourth quarter 2023 sales of $179.0 million reflected a 5% increase compared with the prior year period (+3% organic and +2% foreign currency translation).
• Fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.9%, up 160 basis points compared with the prior year period primarily due to strong price/cost and operational productivity, partially offset by lower volume leverage and higher employee-related costs.

Corporate Costs

Corporate costs included in consolidated Adjusted EBITDA were $20.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, a decrease of $0.2 million compared with the same prior year period. The change was primarily driven by lower employee-related costs, partially offset by higher legal related expenditures.

Acquisition

On December 14, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of STC Material Solutions (“STC”). STC specializes in the design and manufacturing of technical ceramics and hermetic sealing products for the most extreme, mission critical applications in the semiconductor, aerospace and defense, industrial technology, medical technology and energy sectors. Headquartered in St. Albans, Vermont with operations in Santa Ana, California, STC operates in the Company's Scientific Fluidics & Optics reporting unit within the HST segment. STC was acquired for cash consideration of $202.0 million, net of cash acquired. The entire purchase price was funded with cash on hand.

Divestitures

On December 29, 2023, the Company completed the sale of Novotema for proceeds of $8.3 million, net of cash remitted, resulting in a loss on the sale of $9.1 million. The results of Novotema were reported within the HST segment.

Conference Call to be Broadcast over the Internet

IDEX will broadcast its fourth quarter earnings conference call over the Internet on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. CT. Chief Executive Officer and President Eric Ashleman and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Abhi Khandelwal will discuss the Company’s recent financial performance and respond to questions from the financial analyst community. IDEX invites interested investors to listen to the call and view the accompanying slide presentation, which will be carried live on its website at www.idexcorp.com. Those who wish to participate should log on several minutes before the discussion begins. After clicking on the presentation icon, investors should follow the instructions to ensure their systems are set up to hear the event and view the presentation slides or download the correct applications at no charge. Investors will also be able to hear a replay of the call by dialing 877.660.6853 (or 201.612.7415 for international participants) using the ID #13742102.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements may relate to, among other things, the Company’s first quarter 2024 and full year 2024 outlook including expected organic sales projections, expected earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share, and the assumptions underlying these expectations, anticipated future acquisition behavior, anticipated trends in end markets, and the anticipated benefits of the Company’s recent acquisitions, and are indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “guidance,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “believes,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. These statements are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the date of this news release.

The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: levels of industrial activity and economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries around the world, including uncertainties in the financial markets and adverse developments affecting the financial services industry; pricing pressures, including inflation and rising interest rates, and other competitive factors and levels of capital spending in certain industries, all of which could have a material impact on order rates and the Company’s results; the impact of health epidemics and pandemics and terrorist attacks and wars, which could have an adverse impact on the Company's business by creating disruptions in the global supply chain and by potentially having an adverse impact on the global economy; the Company’s ability to make acquisitions and to integrate and operate acquired businesses on a profitable basis; the relationship of the U.S. dollar to other currencies and its impact on pricing and cost competitiveness; political and economic conditions in foreign countries in which the Company operates; developments with respect to trade policy and tariffs; capacity utilization and the effect this has on costs; labor markets; supply chain conditions; market conditions and material costs; risks related to environmental, social and corporate governance issues, including those related to climate change and sustainability; and developments with respect to contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters.

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the “Risk Factors” section included in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and the Company’s subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the other risks discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included here are only made as of the date of this news release, and management undertakes no obligation to publicly update them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented here.

About IDEX

IDEX (NYSE: IEX) makes thousands of products and mission-critical components that improve everyday life all around you. If you enjoy chocolate, it quite possibly passed through a Viking® internal gear pump at the candy factory. If you were ever in a car accident, emergency workers may have used the Hurst Jaws of Life® rescue tool to save your life. If your doctor ordered a DNA test to predict your risk of disease or determine a course of treatment, the lab may have used equipment containing components made by IDEX Health & Science. Founded in 1988 with three small, entrepreneurial manufacturing companies, we’re proud to say that we now call over 50 diverse businesses around the world part of the IDEX family. With more than 8,500 employees and manufacturing operations in more than 20 countries, IDEX is a high-performing, global company with over $3.2 billion in annual sales, committed to making trusted solutions that improve lives. IDEX shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IEX”.

For further information on IDEX Corporation and its business units, visit the company’s website at www.idexcorp.com.

(Financial reports follow)

Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance

The Company prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The Company supplements certain GAAP financial performance metrics with non-GAAP financial performance metrics. Management believes these non-GAAP financial performance metrics provide investors with greater insight, transparency and a more comprehensive understanding of the financial information used by management in its financial and operational decision making because certain of these adjusted metrics exclude items not reflective of ongoing operations, as identified in the reconciliations below. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial performance metrics to their most directly comparable GAAP financial performance metrics are defined and presented below and should not be considered a substitute for, nor superior to, the financial data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up or recalculate precisely. There were no adjustments to GAAP financial performance metrics other than the items noted below.

• Organic orders and net sales are calculated excluding amounts from acquired or divested businesses during the first twelve months of ownership or prior to divestiture, the impact of foreign currency translation and the impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application.
• Adjusted net sales is calculated as net sales less the acceleration of previously deferred revenue related to the exit of a COVID-19 testing application.
• Adjusted gross profit is calculated as gross profit less the impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application plus fair value inventory step-up charges.
• Adjusted gross margin is calculated as adjusted gross profit divided by adjusted net sales.
• Adjusted net income attributable to IDEX is calculated as net income attributable to IDEX plus fair value inventory step-up charges, plus restructuring expenses and asset impairments, less the net impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application, less the gain on sale of businesses - net, less gains on sales of assets, plus the credit loss on a note receivable from a collaborative partner, plus acquisition-related intangible asset amortization, all net of the statutory tax expense or benefit.
• Adjusted diluted EPS attributable to IDEX is calculated as adjusted net income attributable to IDEX divided by the diluted weighted average shares outstanding.
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or consolidated EBITDA, plus fair value inventory step-up charges, plus restructuring expenses and asset impairments, less the net impact from the exit of a COVID-19 testing application, less the gain on sale of businesses - net, less gains on sales of assets plus the credit loss on a note receivable from a collaborative partner.
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA divided by adjusted net sales.
• Free cash flow is calculated as cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures.

All table footnotes can be found at the end of the Non-GAAP section.

Table 1: Reconciliations of the Change in Net Sales to Organic Net Sales

Table 2: Reconciliations of Reported-to-Adjusted Gross Profit, Net Sales and Gross Margin (dollars in millions)

Table 3: Reconciliations of Reported-to-Adjusted Net Income Attributable to IDEX and Diluted EPS Attributable to IDEX (in millions, except per share amounts)

Table 3: Reconciliations of Reported-to-Adjusted Net Income Attributable to IDEX and Diluted EPS Attributable to IDEX (in millions, except per share amounts) (continued)

Table 4: Reconciliations of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Net Sales to Adjusted Net Sales (dollars in millions)