{
  "id": 2123911,
  "title": "Badger Meter is Quietly Building a Strong Dividend Growth Record",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/badger-meter-is-quietly-building-a-strong-dividend-growth-record",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-19T01:28:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Finance",
    "slug": "yahoo-finance",
    "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/badger-meter-quietly-building-strong-012808841.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Badger Meter, Inc. has been steadily raising its dividend for 34 consecutive years, culminating in a 10% increase to $1.76 per share in 2026. This aligns with the company's 34-year history of raising its annual dividend, showing a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders. The latest increase is supported by a robust business that consistently generates significant cash flow, with $183.7 million in operating cash flow and $169.7 million in free cash flow in 2025. The balance sheet provides a solid cushion, with $226 million in net cash and no borrowings at the end of 2025. The payout ratio remains conservative, with the new dividend being about 37% of diluted earnings per share. While the dividend appears well-supported, investors should consider the company's acquisition strategy, as recent deals have consumed significant cash. Despite some short-term earnings weakness, Badger Meter's dividend looks safe and has the potential for continued growth, making it an attractive option for long-term dividend growth investors.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}