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Badger Meter (BMI) Acquires Network Monitoring Solutions

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Badger Meter (BMI - Free Report) recently announced that it acquired select remote water monitoring hardware and software solutions from Trimble. The acquired solutions also include the Telog brand of remote telemetry units or RTUs and Trimble Unity Remote Monitoring software.

The acquisition will offer customers to monitor hardware and software for distributed data collection for applications in water, stormwater wastewater and environmental water monitoring in real time.

BMI noted that these additional “hardware-enabled software” for network monitoring solutions augment the scope of data, information and analytics for customers and help them to achieve greater efficiency, improve asset performance and lower risk across their entire enterprise.

Strategic and tuck-in acquisitions have played a pivotal role in expanding business operations for BMI. In January 2023, the company acquired a U.K.-based intelligent water monitoring solutions company — Syrinix — for £15 million in an all-cash deal.

Syrinix offers leak exposure and pressure monitoring solutions within water distribution and collection networks. The company’s cloud-powered software platform generates data, and customized alerts and insights to aid asset monitoring in real time for clients.

The integration of Syrinix’s solutions will aid Badger Meter to provide its clients with an expanded portfolio that will aid in preserving precious resources like water, as well as improve asset life.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Badger Meter provides flow measurement, control and communications solutions, serving water and gas utilities to municipalities and industrial customers worldwide.

Badger Meter’s performance is being driven by robust demand across business segments coupled with improving supply-chain dynamics. Continued strength in E-Series ultrasonic meters, cellular AMI solution, ORION Cellular endpoint sales and higher BEACON Software-as-a-Service revenues bodes well, along with rising demand for water quality and pressure monitoring systems. We expect revenues in 2023 to be up 21.2% year over year.

Margins are being cushioned by higher volumes and structural positive sales-mix trends. Going ahead, the company is making considerable efforts to reduce its elevated backlog amid improving operating environment.

However, uncertain global macro environment and unfavorable foreign currency movement continue to be major concerns. Stiff competition, and rising research and development costs are added headwinds.

At present, Badger Meter carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Shares of the company have gained 41.7% compared with the sub-industry’s growth of 26.3% in the past year.

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Other Stocks to Consider

Some other top-ranked stocks worth consideration in the broader technology space are Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) , NETGEAR (NTGR - Free Report) and Blackbaud (BLKB - Free Report) . While NETGEAR sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, Cadence and Blackbaud carry a Zacks Rank #2 each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cadence’s 2023 EPS has remained unchanged in the past 60 days at $5.10. CDNS’ long-term earnings growth rate is 17.9%.

Cadence’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 4.1%. Shares of CDNS have gained 64.1% in the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2023 is pegged at a loss of 9 cents per share for NETGEAR, which remained unchanged in the past 30 days. NTGR’s earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters while missing once. The average surprise was 127.5%. Shares of NTGR were down 23.3% in the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Blackbaud’s 2023 EPS has improved by 1.3% in the past 60 days to $3.86.

BLKB’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 10.6%. Shares of BLKB have jumped 41.2% in the past year.

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