GORMAN RUPP CO - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

The Gorman-Rupp Company

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

THE GORMAN-RUPP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited). 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

THE GORMAN-RUPP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

THE GORMAN-RUPP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

THE GORMAN-RUPP COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

(Amounts in tables in thousands of dollars, except for per share amounts)

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Gorman-Rupp Company (the “Company” or “Gorman-Rupp”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management of the Company, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, from which related information herein has been derived.

COVID-19 Impact

In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized the current coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) as a pandemic. While the Company expects the near-term effects of the pandemic to negatively impact its financial results, the current level of uncertainty over the economic and operational impacts of COVID-19 means the ultimate related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements presented herein reflect estimates and assumptions made by management that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods presented. Such estimates and assumptions affect, among other things, the Company’s goodwill, long-lived asset and indefinite-lived intangible asset valuation; inventory valuation; assessment of the annual effective tax rate; the allowance for doubtful accounts; and pension plan assumptions. The Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require an update to its estimates or judgments or a revision of the carrying value of its assets or liabilities as of October 26, 2020, the date of issuance of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained.

NOTE 2 - RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standard Updates (“ASUs”). ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined either to be not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”, which, as part of its Simplification Initiative to reduce the cost and complexity in accounting for income taxes, removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also amends other aspects of the guidance to help simplify and promote consistent application of GAAP. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company currently does not expect the adoption of ASU 2019-12 will have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans”, which improves disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, for public business entities. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. An entity should apply the amendments in this Update on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company currently does not expect the adoption of ASU 2019-12 will have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, which replaced the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 requires use of a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of the standard requires using a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date to align existing credit loss methodology with the new standard. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. ASU 2019-11 requires entities that did not adopt the amendments in ASU 2016-13 as of November 2019 to adopt ASU 2019-11. This ASU contains the same effective dates and transition requirements as ASU 2016-13. The Company adopted Topic 326 effective January 1, 2020. The impact of adoption of these standards was not material on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTE 3 – REVENUE

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following tables disaggregate total net sales by major product category and geographic location:

International sales represented approximately 29% of total net sales for the third quarter of 2020 and approximately 30% of total net sales for the third quarter in 2019, and were made to customers in many different countries around the world.

Performance Obligations

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to a customer, and is the unit of account in ASC Topic 606. The transaction price for a customer contract is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied. For product sales, other than long-term construction-type contracts, the Company recognizes revenue once control has passed at a point in time, which is generally when products are shipped. Payments received for product sales typically occur following delivery and the satisfaction of the performance obligation based upon the terms outlined in the contracts. Substantially all of our customer contracts are fixed-price contracts and the majority of our customer contracts have a single performance obligation, as the promise to transfer the individual products or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. For customer contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price, which is generally determined based on standalone selling prices charged to customers or using expected cost plus margin.

All of the Company's performance obligations, and associated revenue, are generally transferred to customers at a point in time, with the exception of certain highly customized pump products, which are transferred to the customer over time. The Company’s method for recognizing revenue over time is the percentage of completion method, whereby progress towards completion is measured by applying an input measure based on costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion.

The Company offers standard warranties for its products to ensure that its products comply with agreed-upon specifications in its contracts. For standard warranties, these do not give rise to performance obligations and represent assurance-type warranties.

Shipping and handling activities related to products sold to customers, whether performed before or after the customer obtains control of the products, are generally accounted for as activities to fulfill the promise to transfer the products and not as a separate performance obligation.

On September 30, 2020, the Company had $102.0 million of remaining performance obligations, also referred to as backlog. The Company expects to recognize as revenue substantially all of the remaining performance obligations within one year.

Contract Estimates

Accounting for long-term contracts involves the use of various techniques to estimate total contract revenue and costs. For long-term contracts, the Company estimates the profit on a contract as the difference between the total estimated revenue and expected costs to complete a contract and recognizes that profit as performance obligations are satisfied. Contract estimates are based on various assumptions to project the outcome of future events that could span longer than one year. These assumptions include labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials, and the performance of subcontractors as applicable.

As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of our contracts, the Company reviews and updates its contract-related estimates regularly. Adjustments in estimated profit on contracts are accounted for under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date on a contract is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance are recognized using the adjusted estimate.

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances and deposits (contract liabilities) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For certain highly customized pump products, revenue is recognized over time before the customer is invoiced, resulting in contract assets. Sometimes the Company receives advances or deposits from its customers before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract liabilities. These contract assets and liabilities are reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of Other assets and Deferred revenue and customer deposits, respectively, on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period.

The Company’s contract assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:

Revenue recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 that was included in the contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the period was $4.4 million for both periods.

NOTE 4 - INVENTORIES

LIFO inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and all other inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Replacement cost approximates current cost and the excess over LIFO cost is approximately $63.8 million and $62.5 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Allowances for excess and obsolete inventory totaled $6.1 million and $5.9 million at September 30, 2020 and at December 31, 2019. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method is made at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimate of expected year-end inventory levels and costs, and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation.

Inventories are comprised of the following:

NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following:

NOTE 6 - PRODUCT WARRANTIES

A liability is established for estimated future warranty and service claims based on historical claims experience and specific product failures. The Company expenses warranty costs directly to Cost of products sold. Changes in the Company’s product warranties liability are:

NOTE 7 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan (“Plan”) covering certain domestic employees. Benefits are based on each covered employee’s years of service and compensation. The Plan is funded in conformity with the funding requirements of applicable U.S. regulations. The Plan was closed to new participants effective January 1, 2008. Employees hired after this date, in eligible locations, participate in an enhanced 401(k) plan instead of the defined benefit pension plan. Employees hired prior to this date continue to accrue benefits.

Additionally, the Company sponsors defined contribution pension plans made available to all domestic and Canadian employees. The Company funds the cost of these benefits as incurred.

The Company also sponsors a non-contributory defined benefit postretirement health care plan that provides health benefits to certain domestic and Canadian retirees and eligible spouses and dependent children. The Company funds the cost of these benefits as incurred.

The following tables present the components of net periodic benefit costs:

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded a settlement loss relating to retirees that received lump-sum distributions from the Company’s defined benefit pension plan totaling $1.0 million and $4.4 million, respectively. This charge was the result of lump-sum payments to retirees which exceeded the Plan’s actuarial service and interest cost thresholds.

NOTE 8 – ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income are:

The components of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are:

(Dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements, and notes thereto, and the other financial data included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The following discussion should also be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had an adverse effect on the Company’s reported results. This, together with the overall economic downturn that has resulted from the pandemic, slowed demand in the third quarter compared to the prior year third quarter, however demand stabilized compared the second quarter of 2020. Reduced demand when compared to the prior year will likely continue into the fourth quarter of 2020. Our facilities and supply chain have remained operational through the pandemic. The extent to which the Company’s operations continue to be impacted by the pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the pandemic and actions by government authorities to contain the pandemic or treat its impact, among other things.

Executive Overview

The following discussion of Results of Operations includes certain non-GAAP financial data and measures such as adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and adjusted earnings per share amounts which exclude non-cash pension settlement charges in 2020. 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 Gorman-Rupp Company believes that these non-GAAP financial data and measures also will be useful to investors in assessing the strength of the Company’s underlying operations from period to period. Provided below is a reconciliation of adjusted earnings per share amounts and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

The Gorman-Rupp Company (“we”, “our”, “Gorman-Rupp” or the “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 protection, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), military and other liquid-handling applications. The Company attributes its success to long-term product quality, applications and performance combined with timely delivery and service, and continually seeks to develop initiatives to improve performance in these key areas.

Gorman-Rupp actively pursues growth opportunities through organic growth, international business expansion and acquisitions.

We regularly invest in training for our employees, in new product development and in modern manufacturing equipment, technology and facilities all designed to increase production efficiency and capacity and drive growth by delivering innovative solutions to our customers. We believe that the diversity of our markets is a major contributor to the generally stable financial growth we have produced for more than 85 years.

The Company places a strong emphasis on cash flow generation and maintaining excellent liquidity and financial flexibility. This focus has afforded us the ability to reinvest our cash resources and preserve a strong balance sheet to position us to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and for future acquisition and product development opportunities. The Company had no bank debt as of September 30, 2020. The Company’s cash position increased $13.1 million during the first nine months of 2020 to $93.7 million at September 30, 2020 and the Company generated $37.0 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization during the same period.

Capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2020 were $6.3 million and consisted primarily of machinery and equipment and building improvements. Capital expenditures for the full-year 2020 are presently planned to be in the range of $8-$10 million primarily for building improvements and machinery and equipment purchases, and are expected to be financed through internally-generated funds.

Net sales for the third quarter of 2020 were $89.0 million compared to net sales of $99.3 million for the third quarter of 2019, a decrease of 10.4% or $10.3 million. Domestic sales decreased 8.9% or $6.2 million and international sales decreased 13.8% or $4.1 million compared to the same period in 2019. Sales have decreased across all of our markets primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a slowdown in the oil and gas industry. However, net sales increased by 3.7% compared to the second quarter of 2020.

Gross profit was $23.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, resulting in gross margin of 25.8%, compared to gross profit of $25.8 million and gross margin of 26.0% for the same period in 2019. Gross margin decreased 20 basis points due to a 120 basis point favorable LIFO impact in the prior year third quarter which did not recur in the current year.  Gross profit margin compared to the prior year was negatively impacted from the loss of leverage on fixed labor and overhead from lower sales volume compared to 2019 which was partially offset by favorable product mix.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $13.2 million and 14.9% of net sales for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $14.1 million and 14.3% of net sales for the same period in 2019.  SG&A expenses decreased 6.5% or $0.9 million due to reduced payroll related and travel expenses combined with overall expense management.  SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales increased 60 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume.

Operating income was $9.7 million for the third quarter of 2020, resulting in an operating margin of 10.9%, compared to operating income of $11.6 million and operating margin of 11.7% for the same period in 2019. Operating margin decreased 80 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume.

Other income (expense), net was $0.7 million of expense for the third quarter of 2020 compared to income of $0.3 million for the same period in 2019. The increase to expense was due primarily to a non-cash pension settlement charge of $1.0 million which occurred in the third quarter of 2020.

Net income was $7.3 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $9.8 million in the third quarter of 2019, and earnings per share were $0.28 and $0.37 for the respective periods. Earnings per share for the third quarter of 2020 included a non-cash pension settlement charge of $0.03 per share. Earnings per share improved over the second quarter of 2020 due to increased sales and costs containment efforts.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2020 were $266.5 million compared to net sales of $304.5 million for the first nine months of 2019, a decrease of 12.5% or $38.0 million. Domestic sales decreased 11.2% or $23.7 million and international sales decreased 15.5% or $14.3 million compared to the same period in 2019. Sales have decreased across most of our markets primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a slowdown in the oil and gas industry.

Gross profit was $68.3 million for the first nine months of 2020, resulting in gross margin of 25.6%, compared to gross profit of $77.3 million and gross margin of 25.4% for the same period in 2019. Gross margin improved 20 basis points due principally to lower material costs of 180 basis points as a result of the stabilization of material costs and favorable product mix.  Gross profit margin improvements were partially offset by the loss of leverage on fixed labor and overhead from lower sales volume compared to 2019.

SG&A expenses were $41.0 million and 15.4% of net sales for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $43.5 million and 14.3% of net sales for the same period in 2019. SG&A expenses decreased 5.9% or $2.5 million due to reduced payroll related and travel expenses combined with overall expense management. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales increased 110 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume.

Operating income was $27.3 million for the first nine months of 2020, resulting in an operating margin of 10.3%, compared to operating income of $33.8 million and operating margin of 11.1% for the same period in 2019. Operating margin decreased 80 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume partially offset by lower material costs.

Other income (expense), net was $4.4 million of expense for the first nine months of 2020 compared to income of $0.8 million for the same period in 2019. The increase to expense was due primarily to non-cash pension settlement charges of $4.4 million.

Net income was $18.4 million for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $27.5 million in the first nine months of 2019, and earnings per share were $0.70 and $1.05 for the respective periods. Earnings per share for the first nine months of 2020 included non-cash pension settlement charges of $0.13 per share.

The Company’s backlog of orders was $102.0 million at September 30, 2020 compared to $101.4 million at September 30, 2019 and $105.0 million at December 31, 2019. Incoming orders decreased 10.1% for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Incoming orders were down across most markets the Company serves driven primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic and a slowdown in the oil and gas industry.

On October 22, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized the payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share on the common stock of the Company, payable December 10, 2020, to shareholders of record as of November 13, 2020. This will mark the 283rd consecutive quarterly dividend paid by The Gorman-Rupp Company.

The Company currently expects to continue its exceptional history of paying regular quarterly dividends and increased annual dividends. However, any future dividends will be reviewed individually and declared by our Board of Directors at its discretion, dependent on our assessment of the Company’s financial condition and business outlook at the applicable time.

Outlook

While we are actively managing our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on our full-year 2020 results and beyond is uncertain. We serve as an essential business providing products that are critical to our customers. All of our manufacturing facilities continue to operate while closely following all national and local guidelines to provide for the health and safety of those working in these facilities. We expect our sales to remain challenging over the near-term as a result of uncertainty related to the ultimate impact of COVID-19 and continued oil and gas market softness. Incoming orders stabilized in the third quarter, however incoming orders during the first nine months were down compared to 2019 across most of the markets the Company serves.

Our underlying fundamentals remain strong and we believe that we remain well positioned to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to drive long-term growth. Our strong balance sheet provides us with the flexibility to continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities and new product development that we expect will help add value to our operations over the longer term.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

Net Sales

Net sales for the third quarter of 2020 were $89.0 million compared to net sales of $99.3 million for the third quarter of 2019, a decrease of 10.4% or $10.3 million. Domestic sales decreased 8.9% or $6.2 million and international sales decreased 13.8% or $4.1 million compared to the same period in 2019. Sales have decreased across all of our markets primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a slowdown in the oil and gas industry.

Sales in our water markets decreased 5.2% or $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019. Sales in the construction market decreased $1.5 million driven primarily by softness in oil and gas drilling activity. Sales decreased $1.3 million in the repair market, $0.5 million in the municipal market, $0.1 million in fire protection, and $0.1 million in agriculture primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales in our non-water markets decreased 21.6% or $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with reduced demand from midstream oil and gas customers and softness in oil and gas drilling activity.  Sales in the industrial market decreased $2.5 million, sales in the OEM market decreased $2.3 million and sales in the petroleum market decreased $2.0 million.

International sales were $25.7 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $29.8 million in the same period last year and represented 29% and 30% of total sales for both periods, respectively. The decrease in international sales was across most of the markets the Company serves, most notably in the fire protection market and in non-water markets.

Cost of Products Sold and Gross Profit

Gross profit was $23.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, resulting in gross margin of 25.8%, compared to gross profit of $25.8 million and gross margin of 26.0% for the same period in 2019. Gross margin decreased 20 basis points due to a 120 basis point favorable LIFO impact in the prior year third quarter which did not recur in the current year.  Gross profit margin compared to the prior year was negatively impacted from the loss of leverage on fixed labor and overhead from lower sales volume compared to 2019 which was partially offset by favorable product mix.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses

SG&A expenses were $13.2 million and 14.9% of net sales for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $14.1 million and 14.3% of net sales for the same period in 2019. SG&A expenses decreased 6.5% or $0.9 million due to reduced payroll related and travel expenses combined with overall expense management. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales increased 60 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume.

Operating Income

Operating income was $9.7 million for the third quarter of 2020, resulting in an operating margin of 10.9%, compared to operating income of $11.6 million and operating margin of 11.7% for the same period in 2019. Operating margin decreased 80 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume.

Net Income

The Company’s effective tax rate was 19.3% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 17.9% for the third quarter of 2019 primarily due to the impact of discrete items.

The decrease in net income in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 of $2.5 million included a non-cash pension settlement charge of $0.8 million, net of income taxes.

Earnings per share for the third quarter of 2020 included a non-cash pension settlement charge of $0.03 per share.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Net Sales

Net sales for the first nine months of 2020 were $266.5 million compared to net sales of $304.5 million for the first nine months of 2019, a decrease of 12.5% or $38.0 million. Domestic sales decreased 11.2% or $23.7 million and international sales decreased 15.5% or $14.3 million compared to the same period in 2019. Sales have decreased across most of our markets primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a slowdown in the oil and gas industry.

Sales in our water markets decreased 10.3% or $21.7 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the first nine months of 2019. Sales in the agriculture market increased $0.1 million. This increase was offset by sales decreases in the construction market of $12.1 million driven primarily by softness in oil and gas drilling activity, decreases in the repair market of $4.5 million due primarily to the COVID-19 pandemic, and decreases in the municipal market of $3.5 million driven primarily by timing of shipments related to weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, sales in the fire protection market decreased $1.7 million driven primarily by lower international shipments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales in our non-water markets decreased 17.5% or $16.3 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the first nine months of 2019 primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with reduced demand from midstream oil and gas customers and softness in oil and gas drilling activity.  Sales in the OEM market decreased $7.1 million, sales in the petroleum market decreased $5.8 million and sales in the industrial market decreased $3.4 million.

International sales were $78.2 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to $92.5 million in the same period last year and represented 29% and 30% of total sales, respectively. The decrease in international sales was across most of the markets the Company serves.

Cost of Products Sold and Gross Profit

Gross profit was $68.3 million for the first nine months of 2020, resulting in gross margin of 25.6%, compared to gross profit of $77.3 million and gross margin of 25.4% for the same period in 2019. Gross margin improved 20 basis points due principally to lower material costs of 180 basis points as a result of the stabilization of material costs and favorable product mix.  Gross profit margin improvements were partially offset by the loss of leverage on fixed labor and overhead from lower sales volume compared to 2019.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses

SG&A expenses were $41.0 million and 15.4% of net sales for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $43.5 million and 14.3% of net sales for the same period in 2019. SG&A expenses decreased 5.9% or $2.5 million due to reduced payroll related and travel expenses combined with overall expense management. SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales increased 110 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume.

Operating Income

Operating income was $27.3 million for the first nine months of 2020, resulting in an operating margin of 10.3%, compared to operating income of $33.8 million and operating margin of 11.1% for the same period in 2019. Operating margin decreased 80 basis points primarily as a result of loss of leverage from lower sales volume partially offset by lower material costs.

Net Income

The Company’s effective tax rate was 19.9% for the first nine months of 2020 compared to 20.5% for the first nine months of 2019 primarily due to favorable discrete items.

The decrease in net income in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 of $9.1 million included a non-cash pension settlement charge of $3.5 million, net of income taxes.

Earnings per share for the first nine months of 2020 included a non-cash pension settlement charge of $0.13 per share.

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $93.7 million and there was no outstanding bank debt at September 30, 2020. The Company had $24.7 million available in bank lines of credit after deducting $6.3 million in outstanding letters of credit primarily related to customer orders. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants, including limits on additional borrowings and maintenance of certain operating and financial ratios, at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure for reporting cash flow, is defined by the Company as adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization, less capital expenditures and dividends. The Company believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on cash available for investments, acquisitions and working capital requirements.

The following table reconciles adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization as reconciled above to free cash flow:

Financial Cash Flow

The decrease in cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period last year was primarily driven by lower sales volume, increased inventories and lower accounts receivable in the current period.

During the first nine months of 2020 and 2019, investing activities consisted of capital expenditures primarily for machinery and equipment and building improvements of $6.3 million and $8.0 million, respectively.

Net cash used for financing activities for the first nine months of 2020 and 2019 primarily consisted of dividend payments of $11.3 million and $10.6 million, respectively.

As we cannot predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our customers and suppliers, the ultimate negative financial impact to our results cannot be reasonably estimated, but could be material. We are actively managing the business to maintain cash flow and reduce expenses, and we have significant liquidity. We believe that these factors will allow us to meet our anticipated funding requirements.

The Company currently expects to continue its exceptional history of paying regular quarterly dividends and increased annual dividends. However, any future dividends will be reviewed individually and declared by our Board of Directors at its discretion, dependent on our assessment of the Company’s financial condition and business outlook at the applicable time.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our critical accounting policies are described in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Any new accounting policies or updates to existing accounting policies as a result of new accounting pronouncements have been discussed in the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The application of our critical accounting policies may require management to make judgments and estimates about the amounts reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management uses historical experience and all available information to make these estimates and judgments, and different amounts could be reported using different assumptions and estimates.

Cautionary Note Regarding 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 Form 10-Q contains various forward-looking statements based on assumptions concerning The Gorman-Rupp Company’s 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 factors include, but are not limited to: (1) continuation of the current and projected future business environment, including the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic; (2) highly competitive markets; (3) availability and costs of raw materials; (4) loss of key personnel; (5) cyber security threats; (6) intellectual property security; (7) acquisition performance and integration; (8) compliance with, and costs related to, a variety of import and export laws and regulations; (9) environmental compliance costs and liabilities; (10) exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (11) conditions in foreign countries in which The Gorman-Rupp Company conducts business; (12) changes in our tax rates and exposure to additional income tax liabilities; (13) impairment in the value of intangible assets, including goodwill; (14) defined benefit pension plan settlement expense; (15) family ownership of common equity; and (16) risks described from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except to the extent required by law, we do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to review or update any forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments or otherwise.

The Company is subject to market risk associated principally with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company’s foreign currency exchange rate risk is limited primarily to the Euro, Canadian Dollar, South African Rand and British Pound. The Company manages its foreign exchange risk principally through invoicing customers in the same currency as is used in the market of the source of products. The foreign currency transaction gains (losses) for the periods ending September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $(0.4) million and negligible million, respectively, and are reported within Other (expense) income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2020.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

There are no material changes from the legal proceedings previously reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.