Third Quarter Financial Highlights
Third quarter 2024 performance relative to third quarter 2023
Sales of $544 million increased 8% on a reported basis and were down 4% organically. Sales from acquisitions within the Americas totaled $59 million and contributed 12% to reported growth. Organic sales growth within APMEA was more than offset by declines in the Americas and Europe. Foreign exchange movements had an immaterial impact on sales growth.
Operating margin decreased 20 basis points on a reported basis and 90 basis points on an adjusted basis. Adjusted operating margin decreased primarily due to the dilutive impact of acquisitions, volume deleverage, inflation and incremental investments, which more than offset favorable price and productivity. Reported operating margin was favorably impacted by a non-recurring gain on the settlement of Bradley’s frozen pension plan that offset an increase in restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.
Regional Performance
Americas
Sales of $400 million increased 14% on a reported basis and declined 3% on an organic basis. The acquisitions of Bradley and Josam contributed $59 million in sales, or 17% to reported growth. Organic sales decreased as price realization was more than offset by volume declines, primarily due to project timing and wholesale channel safety stock resets within the quarter as our lead times normalized.
Operating margin decreased 170 basis points on a reported basis and 260 basis points on an adjusted basis as benefits from price realization and productivity were more than offset by inflation, incremental investments, volume deleverage and the dilutive impact of the Bradley acquisition. Reported operating margin benefitted from the non-recurring gain on the settlement of Bradley’s frozen pension plan, which more than offset incremental restructuring and acquisition-related charges.
Europe
Sales of $107 million decreased 11% on a reported basis and 12% on an organic basis. Favorable foreign exchange movements increased reported sales by 1%. Organic sales declined as price realization and growth in our drains products were more than offset by lower volumes in fluid solutions products, particularly in the OEM channel, which was impacted by reduced government energy incentives and heat pump destocking.
Operating margin decreased 220 basis points on a reported basis and increased 20 basis points on an adjusted basis. Adjusted operating margin increased as price realization, product mix and productivity offset inflation, volume deleverage and investments. Reported operating margin was unfavorably impacted by incremental restructuring charges.
APMEA
Sales of $36 million increased 10% on a reported basis and 8% on an organic basis. Favorable foreign exchange movements increased reported sales by 2%. Sales increased due to growth in China, New Zealand and the Middle East, partly offset by a slight decline in Australia.
Operating margin increased 230 basis points on a reported basis and 130 basis points on an adjusted basis as benefits from volume leverage and productivity more than offset inflation, incremental investments and the dilutive impact of the Enware acquisition. Reported operating margin was favorably impacted by the reduction in acquisition charges.
Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
For the first nine months of 2024, operating cash flow was $222 million and net capital expenditures were $17 million, resulting in free cash flow of $204 million. In the comparable period last year, operating cash flow was $201 million and net capital expenditures were $19 million, resulting in free cash flow of $182 million. Operating and free cash flow increased primarily due to cash flow from acquisitions. We expect normal seasonality to result in solid operating and free cash flow in the fourth quarter.
The Company repurchased approximately 26,000 shares of Class A common stock at an aggregate cost of $4.9 million during the third quarter of 2024. For the first nine months of 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 66,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $13.0 million. The stock repurchase program authorized in 2019 has been exhausted. Approximately $149 million remains available under the stock repurchase program authorized in 2023. There is no expiration date for this program.