/ Corporate / Xylem Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Xylem Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Parul Dubey on April 29, 2025 - in Corporate, Financial, News
  • Revenue of $2.1 billion, up 2% on a reported and 3% on an organic basis
  • Earnings per share of $0.69, up 10%; $1.03 on an adjusted basis, up 14%
  • Reaffirming full-year 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance

Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water solutions company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, today reported first-quarter 2025 results. The Company delivered total revenue of $2.1 billion, on strong execution and demand, partially offset by foreign exchange headwinds. First-quarter earnings per share were up 10 percent on a reported basis and 14 percent on an adjusted basis.

“The team’s first-quarter results exceeded expectations, continuing our momentum and delivering a strong start to 2025,” said Matthew Pine, Xylem’s president and CEO. “Organic revenue grew across all segments on healthy demand, with our book-to-bill ratio exceeding one. The team’s operating discipline drove 120 basis points of margin expansion and double-digit EPS growth.”

“Our operating model transformation – including our high-impact culture, process simplification initiatives, and segment-oriented restructuring – is progressing well, strengthening our agility and driving improved profitability in an increasingly dynamic environment. We are serving our customers more effectively and seeing a reduction in wasted time and effort internally, enabling our colleagues to move faster, with more focus and accountability. Despite current market volatility, we anticipate continued resilience in volumes, supported by the essential nature of our customers’ services and Xylem’s strong alignment with opex-driven spending. We are offsetting the current tariff impacts with strategic pricing and proactive supply chain management. As a result, we are reaffirming our full-year adjusted EPS guidance.”

Net income attributable to Xylem for the quarter was $169 million, or $0.69 per share. Net income margin increased 70 basis points to 8.2 percent. These results are driven by strong operational performance and decreased interest expense, partially offset by increased restructuring and realignment costs, tax expense and loss on sale of businesses. Adjusted net income was $251 million, or $1.03 per share, which excludes the impacts of purchase accounting intangible amortization, restructuring and realignment costs, special charges, the loss on sale of businesses and the net tax impact of these adjustments.

First-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin was 20.4 percent, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 120 basis points. Productivity savings and strong price realization drove the margin expansion, exceeding the impact of inflation and mix.

Outlook

Xylem forecasts full-year 2025 revenue of approximately $8.7 to $8.8 billion, up approximately 1 to 2 percent on a reported basis, versus 0 to 2 percent previously guided, and up approximately 3 to 4 percent on an organic basis, in line with the previous guidance.

Full-year 2025 adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be approximately 21.3 to 21.8 percent, an increase of 70 to 120 basis points from Xylem’s 2024 adjusted results. This results in full-year adjusted earnings per share of $4.50 to $4.70, in line with the previous guidance range. Full-year free cash flow margin is expected to be approximately 9 to 10 percent.

Further 2025 planning assumptions are included in Xylem’s first-quarter 2025 earnings materials posted at www.xylem.com/investors. Excluding revenue, Xylem provides guidance only on a non-GAAP basis due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that would be included in GAAP earnings, such as discrete tax items, without unreasonable effort. Outlook is being provided in the context of the current volatility, including due to geopolitical, trade, macroeconomic and regulatory uncertainty.

Supplemental information on Xylem’s first-quarter earnings, as well as definitions of and reconciliations for certain non-GAAP items, is posted at www.xylem.com/investors.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company that empowers customers and communities to build a more water-secure world. Our 23,000 diverse employees delivered revenue of $8.6 billion in 2024, optimizing water and resource management with innovation and expertise. Join us at www.xylem.com and Let’s Solve Water.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Generally, the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “predict,” “forecast,” “likely,” “believe,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “potential,” “may” and similar expressions or their negative, may, but are not necessary to, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements address uncertain matters and include any statements that: are not historical, such as statements about our strategy, financial plans, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals (including those related to our social, environmental and other sustainability goals); or address possible or future results of operations or financial performance, including statements relating to orders, revenues, operating margins and earnings per share growth.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in or implied by our forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the impact of overall industry and general economic conditions, including industrial, governmental, and public and private sector spending, interest rates, inflation and related monetary policy by governments in response to inflation, and the strength of the residential and commercial real estate markets, on economic activity and our operations; geopolitical events, including ongoing, possible escalation or outbreak of international conflicts, as well as regulatory, economic and other risks associated with our global sales and operations, including those related to domestic content requirements applicable to projects receiving governmental funding; manufacturing and operating cost increases due to macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, energy supply, supply chain shortages, logistics challenges, tight labor markets, prevailing price changes, tariffs, trade policies and other factors; demand for our products, disruption, competition or pricing pressures in the markets we serve; cybersecurity incidents or other disruptions of information technology systems on which we rely, or involving our connected products and services; lack of availability or delays in receiving parts and raw materials from our supply chain, including electronic components (in particular, semiconductors); disruptions in operations at our facilities or that of third parties upon which we rely; uncertainty related to the realization of the benefits and synergies from our acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.; safe and compliant treatment and handling of water, wastewater and hazardous materials; failure to successfully execute large projects, including with respect to meeting performance guarantees and customers’ budgets, timelines and safety requirements; our ability to retain and attract leadership and other diverse and key talent, as well as competition for overall talent and labor; defects, security, warranty and liability claims, and recalls related to our products; uncertainty around restructuring and realignment actions and related costs and savings; our ability to execute strategic investments for growth, including related to acquisitions and divestitures; availability, regulation or interference with radio spectrum used by certain of our products; volatility in served markets or impacts on our business and operations due to weather conditions, including the effects of climate change; risks related to our sustainability commitments and related disclosures; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; difficulty predicting our financial results; risk of future impairments to goodwill and other intangible assets; changes in our effective tax rates or tax expenses; financial market risks related to our pension and other defined benefit plans; failure to comply with, or changes in, laws or regulations, including those pertaining to our business conduct, operations, products and services, including anti-corruption, data privacy and security, trade, competition, the environment, climate change and health and safety; legal, governmental or regulatory claims, investigations or proceedings and associated contingent liabilities; matters related to intellectual property infringement or expiration of rights; and other factors set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (“2024 Annual Report”) and in subsequent filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Forward-looking and other statements in this press release regarding our environmental and other sustainability plans and goals are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors, to our business, operating results, financial condition, outlook, or strategy, to our impacts on sustainability matters or other parties, or are required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking social, environmental and sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available to us as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share data)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

2025

 

2024

Revenue from products

$

1,709

   

$

1,690

 

Revenue from services

 

360

     

343

 

Revenue

 

2,069

     

2,033

 

Cost of revenue from products

 

1,041

     

1,021

 

Cost of revenue from services

 

260

     

260

 

Cost of revenue

 

1,301

     

1,281

 

Gross profit

 

768

     

752

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

460

     

474

 

Research and development expenses

 

56

     

59

 

Restructuring and asset impairment charges

 

21

     

10

 

Operating income

 

231

     

209

 

Interest expense

 

(8

)

   

(14

)

Other non-operating income, net

 

4

     

6

 

Loss on sale of businesses

 

(10

)

   

(5

)

Income before taxes

 

217

     

196

 

Income tax expense

 

(50

)

   

(43

)

Net income

$

167

   

$

153

 

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests

 

2

     

 

Net income attributable to Xylem

$

169

   

$

153

 

Earnings per share:

     

Basic

$

0.69

   

$

0.63

 

Diluted

$

0.69

   

$

0.63

 

Weighted average number of shares:

     

Basic

 

243.1

     

241.9

 

Diluted

 

243.8

     

243.0

 
 

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (in millions)

 
 

March 31,
2025

 

December 31,
2024

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,059

   

$

1,121

 

Receivables, less allowances for discounts, returns and credit losses of $53 and $59 in 2025 and 2024, respectively

 

1,743

     

1,668

 

Inventories

 

1,022

     

996

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

260

     

236

 

Assets held for sale

 

     

77

 

Total current assets

 

4,084

     

4,098

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

1,157

     

1,152

 

Goodwill

 

8,061

     

7,980

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

2,332

     

2,379

 

Other non-current assets

 

925

     

884

 

Total assets

$

16,559

   

$

16,493

 

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

$

958

   

$

1,006

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

1,167

     

1,271

 

Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt

 

41

     

38

 

Liabilities held for sale

 

     

21

 

Total current liabilities

 

2,166

     

2,336

 

Long-term debt

 

1,974

     

1,978

 

Accrued post-retirement benefit obligations

 

317

     

304

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

486

     

497

 

Other non-current accrued liabilities

 

562

     

496

 

Total liabilities

 

5,505

     

5,611

 

Redeemable non-controlling interest

 

232

     

235

 

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Common stock – par value $0.01 per share:

     

Authorized 750.0 shares, issued 259.7 shares and 259.2 shares in 2025 and 2024, respectively

 

3

     

3

 

Capital in excess of par value

 

8,705

     

8,687

 

Retained earnings

 

3,211

     

3,140

 

Treasury stock – at cost 16.3 shares and 16.2 shares in 2025 and 2024, respectively

 

(766

)

   

(753

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(337

)

   

(435

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

10,816

     

10,642

 

Non-controlling interests

 

6

     

5

 

Total equity

 

10,822

     

10,647

 

Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interest, and stockholders’ equity

$

16,559

   

$

16,493

 
 

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (in millions)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

2025

 

2024

Operating Activities

     

Net income

$

169

   

$

153

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation

 

68

     

61

 

Amortization

 

77

     

73

 

Share-based compensation

 

12

     

18

 

Restructuring and asset impairment charges

 

21

     

10

 

Loss from sale of business

 

10

     

5

 

Other, net

 

11

     

(2

)

Payments for restructuring

 

(21

)

   

(11

)

Changes in assets and liabilities (net of acquisitions):

     

Changes in receivables

 

(48

)

   

(47

)

Changes in inventories

 

(9

)

   

(52

)

Changes in accounts payable

 

(64

)

   

6

 

Other, net

 

(193

)

   

(125

)

Net Cash – Operating activities

 

33

     

89

 

Investing Activities

     

Capital expenditures

 

(71

)

   

(74

)

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(7

)

   

 

Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of cash disposed

 

48

     

11

 

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

 

5

     

1

 

Cash received from investments

 

     

2

 

Cash paid for investments

 

     

(2

)

Cash paid for equity investments

 

(1

)

   

 

Cash received from cross-currency swaps

 

12

     

11

 

Other, net

 

(1

)

   

 

Net Cash – Investing activities

 

(15

)

   

(51

)

Financing Activities

     

Short-term debt issued, net

 

1

     

 

Long-term debt repaid

 

(4

)

   

(5

)

Repurchase of common stock

 

(13

)

   

(15

)

Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options

 

6

     

33

 

Dividends paid

 

(98

)

   

(88

)

Other, net

 

(8

)

   

(7

)

Net Cash – Financing activities

 

(116

)

   

(82

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

25

     

(28

)

Changes in cash classified within assets held for sale

 

11

     

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(62

)

   

(72

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

1,121

     

1,019

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

1,059

   

$

947

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

     

Cash paid during the period for:

     

Interest

$

12

   

$

13

 

Income taxes (net of refunds received)

$

37

   

$

39

 
 
Xylem Inc. Non-GAAP Measures
 
 
Management reviews key performance indicators including revenue, gross margins, segment operating income and margins, orders growth, working capital and backlog, among others. In addition, we consider certain non-GAAP (or “adjusted”) measures to be useful to management and investors evaluating our operating performance for the periods presented, and to provide a tool for evaluating our ongoing operations, liquidity and management of assets. This information can assist investors in assessing our financial performance and measures our ability to generate capital for deployment among competing strategic alternatives and initiatives, including but not limited to, dividends, acquisitions, share repurchases and debt repayment. Excluding revenue, Xylem provides guidance only on a non-GAAP basis due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that would be included in GAAP earnings, such as discrete tax items, without unreasonable effort. These adjusted metrics are consistent with how management views our business and are used to make financial, operating and planning decisions. These metrics, however, are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for revenue, operating income, net income, earnings per share (basic and diluted) or net cash from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. We consider the following items to represent the non-GAAP measures that we consider to be key performance indicators, as well as the related reconciling items to the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
 
“Organic revenue” and “Organic orders” defined as revenue and orders, respectively, excluding the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency translation and contributions from acquisitions and divestitures. Divestitures include sales or discontinuance of insignificant portions of our business that did not meet the criteria for classification as a discontinued operation. The period-over-period change resulting from foreign currency translation impacts is determined by translating current period and prior period activity using the same currency conversion rate.
 
“Constant currency” defined as financial results adjusted for foreign currency translation impacts by translating current period and prior period activity using the same currency conversion rate. This approach is used for countries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.
 
“EBITDA”defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense.“Adjusted EBITDA”and“Adjusted Segment EBITDA”reflect the adjustments to EBITDA and segment EBITDA, respectively, to exclude share-based compensation charges, restructuring and realignment costs, gain or loss from sale of businesses and special charges.
 
“Adjusted EBITDA Margin” and“Adjusted Segment EBITDA Margin”defined as adjusted EBITDA and adjusted segment EBITDA divided by total revenue and segment revenue, respectively.
 
“Adjusted Operating Income”, “Adjusted Segment Operating Income”, “Adjusted Net Income” and “Adjusted EPS” defined as operating income, segment operating income, net income attributable to Xylem and earnings per share attributable to Xylem, adjusted to exclude restructuring and realignment costs, amortization of acquired intangible assets, gain or loss from sale of businesses, gain on remeasurement of previously held equity interest, special charges and tax-related special items, as applicable.
 
“Adjusted Operating Margin” and“Adjusted Segment Operating Margin”defined as adjusted operating income and adjusted segment operating income divided by total revenue and segment revenue, respectively.
 
“Free Cash Flow” defined as net cash from operating activities, as reported in the Statement of Cash Flows, less capital expenditures. Our definition of free cash flow does not consider certain non-discretionary cash payments, such as debt.
 
“Free Cash Flow Margin” defined as free cash flow, adjusted (as applicable) for significant cash paid or received for non-operational tax, acquisition or divestiture activities; divided by revenue.
 
“Realignment costs” defined as costs not included in restructuring costs that are incurred as part of actions taken to reposition our business, including items such as professional fees, severance, relocation, travel, facility set-up and other costs.
 
“Special charges” defined as non-recurring costs incurred by the Company, such those related to acquisitions and integrations, divestitures and non-cash impairment charges.
 
“Tax-related special items”defined as tax items, such as tax return versus tax provision adjustments, tax exam impacts, tax law change impacts, excess tax benefits/losses and other discrete tax adjustments.
 
Xylem Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Reported vs. Organic and Constant Currency Revenue ($ Millions)
                                   
 

(As Reported – GAAP)

 

(As Adjusted – Organic)

 

Constant
Currency

     

(A)

 

(B)

     

(C)

 

(D)

 

(E) = B+C+D

 

(F) = E/A

 

(G) = (E – C) / A

         

Change

 

% Change

 

Acquisitions /
Divestitures

     

Change

 

% Change

   
 

Revenue

 

Revenue

 

2025 v. 2024

 

2025 v. 2024

   

FX Impact

 

Adj. 2025 v. 2024

 

Adj. 2025 v. 2024

   
 

2025

 

2024

                           
Quarter Ended March 31                                  
Xylem Inc.

2,069

 

2,033

 

36

   

2

%

 

5

   

26

 

67

 

3%

 

3%

Water Infrastructure

581

 

574

 

7

   

1

%

 

10

   

11

 

28

 

5%

 

3%

Applied Water

435

 

436

 

(1

)

 

(0

%)

 

   

6

 

5

 

1%

 

1%

Measurement and Control Solutions

490

 

462

 

28

   

6

%

 

(5

)

 

4

 

27

 

6%

 

7%

Water Solutions and Services

563

 

561

 

2

   

0

%

 

   

5

 

7

 

1%

 

1%

 
Xylem Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Adjusted Diluted EPS
($ Millions, except per share amounts)
                         
    Q1 2025   Q1 2024
    As Reported   Adjustments   Adjusted   As Reported   Adjustments   Adjusted
  Total Revenue  

2,069

     

     

2,069

     

2,033

     

     

2,033

 
  Operating Income  

231

     

94

 

a

 

325

     

209

     

85

 

a

 

294

 
  Operating Margin  

11.2

%

       

15.7

%

   

10.3

%

       

14.5

%

  Interest Expense  

(8

)

   

     

(8

)

   

(14

)

   

     

(14

)

  Other Non-Operating Income (Expense)  

4

     

     

4

     

6

     

     

6

 
  Gain/(Loss) From Sale of Business  

(10

)

   

10

 

b

 

     

(5

)

   

5

 

b

 

 
  Income before Taxes  

217

     

104

     

321

     

196

     

90

     

286

 
  Provision for Income Taxes  

(50

)

   

(22

)

c

 

(72

)

   

(43

)

   

(24

)

c

 

(67

)

  Net Income  

167

     

82

     

249

     

153

     

66

     

219

 
  Net Loss Attributable to Non-controlling Interests  

2

     

     

2

     

     

     

 
  Net Income Attributable to Xylem  

169

     

82

     

251

     

153

     

66

     

219

 
  Diluted Shares  

243.8

         

243.8

     

243.0

         

243.0

 
  Diluted EPS

$

0.69

   

$

0.34

   

$

1.03

   

$

0.63

   

$

0.27

   

$

0.90

 
                         
                         

a

Restructuring & realignment costs: 2025 – $27 million and 2024 – $15 million

 

Special charges: 2025 – $8 million of acquisition, divestiture & integration costs and $4 million of intangible asset impairment charges; 2024 – $15 million of acquisition & integration costs and $1 million of asset impairment charges

 

Purchase accounting intangible amortization: 2025 – $55 million and 2024 – $54 million

b

Gain/(Loss) from sale of business as per income statement for all periods presented

c

2025 – Net tax impact on pre-tax adjustments (note a and b) of $22 million; 2024 – Net tax impact on pre-tax adjustments (notes a and b) of $22 million and other tax special items of $2 million

Xylem Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliation
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by Quarter ($ Millions)
                     
                     

2025

    Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   Total
                     
Net Income attributable to Xylem  

169

               

169

 
Net Income margin  

8.2

%

 

N/A

   

N/A

   

N/A

   

8.2

%

Depreciation  

68

               

68

 
Amortization  

77

               

77

 
Interest Expense (Income), net  

               

 
Income Tax Expense  

50

               

50

 
EBITDA  

364

   

   

   

   

364

 
Share-based Compensation  

12

               

12

 
Restructuring & Realignment  

27

               

27

 
Special Charges  

12

               

12

 
Loss/(Gain) from sale of business  

10

               

10

 
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest  

(2

)

             

(2

)

Adjusted EBITDA  

423

   

   

   

   

423

 
Revenue  

2,069

               

2,069

 
Adjusted EBITDA Margin  

20.4

%

 

N/A

   

N/A

   

N/A

   

20.4

%

                     
                     

2024

    Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   Total
                     
Net Income  

153

   

194

   

217

   

326

   

890

 
Net Income margin  

7.5

%

 

8.9

%

 

10.3

%

 

14.5

%

 

10.4

%

Depreciation  

61

   

62

   

68

   

67

   

258

 
Amortization  

73

   

83

   

73

   

75

   

304

 
Interest Expense (Income), net  

7

   

6

   

5

   

(2

)

 

16

 
Income Tax Expense  

43

   

53

   

52

   

49

   

197

 
EBITDA  

337

   

398

   

415

   

515

   

1,665

 
Share-based Compensation  

18

   

13

   

12

   

13

   

56

 
Restructuring & Realignment  

15

   

29

   

11

   

36

   

91

 
Special Charges  

16

   

13

   

7

   

21

   

57

 
Gain on joint venture remeasurement  

   

   

   

(152

)

 

(152

)

Loss/(Gain) from sale of business  

5

   

(1

)

 

2

   

40

   

46

 
Adjusted EBITDA  

391

   

452

   

447

   

473

   

1,763

 
Revenue  

2,033

   

2,169

   

2,104

   

2,256

   

8,562

 
Adjusted EBITDA Margin  

19.2

%

 

20.8

%

 

21.2

%

 

21.0

%

 

20.6

%

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