Every material Form 8-K A. O. Smith has filed with the SEC since May 09, 2024, read and summarized by AI: what happened, the key figures, whether it reads positive or negative for shareholders, and how big a deal it is (impact 1-5). Newest first; each brief links to its own page and to the filing on SEC.gov.
A. O. Smith reported third-quarter 2026 sales of $940.5 million, roughly flat from a year earlier, with net earnings down 4% to $126.3 million and diluted EPS of $0.93 versus $0.94. The company also signed definitive agreements to sell an 81% stake in its China business to CPE, valued at about $400 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis, and reset its 2026 guidance to exclude China, which matters to shareholders because the company's earnings base and capital plans are changing.
Q3 2026 net sales $940.5 million vs. $942.5 million; net earnings $126.3 million vs. $132.0 million; diluted EPS $0.93 vs. $0.94
CPE to acquire an 81% interest in the China business; A. O. Smith keeps a 19% stake and a long-term brand license; deal expected to close in the first half of 2027
China business valued at about $400 million cash-free, debt-free; total value expected to exceed $500 million including licensing economics
2026 guidance excluding China: net sales growth of about 4% and adjusted EPS of $3.42 to $3.52
A. O. Smith agreed to sell an 81% equity interest in its China business to CPE, an alternative asset manager, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The company keeps a 19% stake and a long-term brand license, and expects the deal to close in the first half of 2027. The company says it intends to use after-tax proceeds and repatriated cash mainly for share repurchases.
China business valued at about $400 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis; total value including licensing economics expected to exceed $500 million
About $80 million of cash currently held in China would be repatriated
A. O. Smith retains a 19% interest and receives royalties under a long-term brand license
Expected close in the first half of 2027; third quarter results and guidance due October 29, 2026
A. O. Smith reported second quarter 2026 net sales of $1,004.3 million, down 1% from a year earlier, and net earnings of $124.9 million, down 18%. The company narrowed its full-year 2026 sales growth outlook to 2% to 3% and its adjusted EPS outlook to $3.70 to $3.85, which lowers the top end of the prior range, while raising its share repurchase target to $300 million.
Q2 2026 net sales were $1,004.3 million, down 1% from $1,011.3 million; net earnings were $124.9 million versus $152.2 million.
Diluted EPS was $0.91 versus $1.07; adjusted EPS was $1.03, excluding $22.6 million of restructuring and impairment expenses.
Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance is $3.70 to $3.85, narrowed from $3.70 to $4.00; sales growth outlook is 2% to 3%, down from 2% to 4%.
Share repurchase target increased 50% to $300 million; quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share is payable August 17.
A. O. Smith announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1, 2026, and remain on the board. CEO Stephen Shafer will become chairman at that time while continuing as president and CEO, combining the two roles under one executive.
Kevin Wheeler retires as Executive Chairman effective July 1, 2026, and remains a board member
Stephen Shafer, president and CEO since July 1, 2025, becomes chairman upon Wheeler's retirement
Shafer joined the company as president and chief operating officer in March 2024
Lead director Chris Mapes said the combined chairman and CEO role will further strengthen alignment across strategy and operations
A. O. Smith said it selected Carrie Anderson, most recently CFO of The Campbell's Company, as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective July 1, 2026. She succeeds Charles T. Lauber, who is retiring and will temporarily stay on after July 1 to ease the transition. A CFO change is a significant leadership event for shareholders, and the filing describes her pay package, including a $1,500,000 restricted stock unit award.
Carrie Anderson becomes EVP and CFO effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Charles T. Lauber, who is retiring
Anderson, age 57, was CFO of The Campbell's Company from January 2023 to October 2025 and of Integra LifeSciences from June 2019 to January 2023
Anderson's sign-on restricted stock units are valued at $1,500,000 and vest three years after the grant date
Lauber will temporarily continue his employment after July 1, 2026, until his retirement
A. O. Smith reported first-quarter 2026 net sales of $945.6 million, down 2%, and net earnings of $118.0 million, down 14%, with diluted EPS of $0.85 versus $0.95 a year earlier. The company lowered its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $3.70 to $4.00 from $3.85 to $4.15, which it attributed primarily to continued challenges in China, and narrowed its sales growth outlook to 2% to 4%.
Q1 2026 net sales $945.6 million, down 2% from $963.9 million; net earnings $118.0 million, down 14%; diluted EPS $0.85 versus $0.95
2026 adjusted EPS outlook lowered to $3.70 to $4.00 from $3.85 to $4.15; sales growth outlook revised to 2% to 4% from 2% to 5%
Rest of World sales fell 11% to $200.7 million; China sales fell 17% in local currency
Free cash flow was $118.9 million versus $17.4 million a year earlier; restructuring and impairment expenses of about $20 million are expected in Q2
A. O. Smith reported record 2025 diluted earnings per share of $3.85, up 6%, on net earnings of $546.2 million, up 2%, with sales flat at $3.8 billion. The company also issued 2026 guidance projecting sales of $3.9 billion to $4.02 billion and diluted EPS of $3.85 to $4.15, which shareholders can compare with the record 2025 result.
2025 diluted EPS rose 6% to a record $3.85 and net earnings rose 2% to $546.2 million; net sales were $3,830 million versus $3,818 million in 2024.
Free cash flow was $546 million in 2025, and the company returned $597 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
2026 outlook: net sales of $3,900 million to $4,020 million and diluted EPS of $3.85 to $4.15, excluding future acquisitions, China assessment outcomes and tariff changes.
Leonard Valve acquisition closed in January 2026; the 2026 outlook includes approximately $70 million of Leonard Valve sales.
A. O. Smith reported third-quarter 2025 net sales of $942.5 million, up 4%, and diluted EPS of $0.94, up 15% from $0.82 a year earlier. The company lowered its full-year 2025 sales outlook to flat to up 1% and narrowed its diluted EPS range to $3.70 to $3.85, with management citing China headwinds and weaker new home construction in North America, which matters to shareholders because the outlook is weaker even as recent results grew.
Q3 2025 net sales of $942.5 million, up 4%; net earnings of $132.0 million, up 10%; diluted EPS of $0.94, up 15%
Full-year 2025 consolidated sales now projected flat to up 1% versus 2024 actual of $3,818 million
Diluted EPS outlook narrowed to $3.70 to $3.85, with the midpoint lowered according to the CEO; 2024 diluted EPS was $3.63
China sales fell 12% in local currency in the quarter; board approved a 6% dividend increase on October 13, 2025
A. O. Smith said James F. Stern, its executive vice president and general counsel, will become executive vice president of corporate development, strategy and secretary effective October 1, 2025. Paul J. Jones, currently vice president of corporate development and strategy, will become senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer on the same date. Both report to the chief executive officer, so this is an internal leadership reshuffle in the legal and strategy functions.
James F. Stern moves from executive vice president, general counsel and secretary to executive vice president, corporate development, strategy and secretary, effective October 1, 2025
Paul J. Jones moves from vice president of corporate development and strategy to senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer, effective October 1, 2025
Both executives will report to the company's chief executive officer
A. O. Smith reported second-quarter 2025 net sales of $1,011.3 million, down 1% from a year earlier, and net earnings of $152.2 million, down 3%. Diluted EPS rose 1% to $1.07, and the company raised its full-year sales outlook and the midpoint of its diluted EPS outlook, which now stands at $3.70 to $3.90. The company also said it is assessing strategic options for its China business, which matters to shareholders because the outcome and timing are not yet set.
Q2 2025 net sales were $1,011.3 million, down 1% from $1,024.3 million; net earnings were $152.2 million, down 3% from $156.2 million.
Diluted EPS was $1.07 versus $1.06 a year earlier, a 1% increase.
2025 outlook: net sales of $3,850 million to $3,930 million (growth of 1% to 3%) and diluted EPS of $3.70 to $3.90.
The company is assessing its China business, including possible strategic partnerships, with no timetable set; guidance excludes any outcome from that review.
A. O. Smith reported first-quarter 2025 sales of $964 million, down 2% from a year earlier, as lower North American water heater volumes and weaker China sales offset higher boiler sales. Net earnings fell 7% to $136.6 million and diluted EPS fell 5% to $0.95. The company kept its full-year 2025 outlook unchanged, which matters to shareholders because the earnings decline in the quarter was not paired with a guidance change.
Q1 2025 net sales $963.9 million versus $978.8 million in Q1 2024 (down 2%)
Diluted EPS $0.95 versus $1.00 a year earlier; net earnings $136.6 million versus $147.6 million
2025 outlook maintained: sales flat to up 2%, diluted EPS $3.60 to $3.90
Q1 free cash flow $17.4 million versus $84.6 million; share repurchases totaled $120.6 million, with about $400 million expected for 2025
A. O. Smith said Chairman and CEO Kevin Wheeler will become executive chairman effective July 1, 2025. President and COO Stephen Shafer will become CEO and join the Board on the same date, which moves day-to-day leadership to a new chief executive. Wheeler will remain involved in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and executive talent development.
Kevin Wheeler moves from chairman and CEO to executive chairman, effective July 1, 2025.
Stephen Shafer becomes CEO and joins the Board of Directors effective July 1, 2025, and will not serve on any Board committees.
Shafer, age 50, became president and COO on March 18, 2024, after 3M Company from 2010 to 2024.
Shafer will be the 11th CEO in the company's 151-year history.
A. O. Smith reported full-year 2024 net sales of $3.8 billion, down 1%, and diluted EPS of $3.63, down 2%, with fourth-quarter EPS down 18%. The company also gave 2025 guidance of $3.60 to $3.90 in diluted EPS, a range it describes as slightly higher than 2024 at the midpoint, which shareholders will weigh against the weaker 2024 results.
Full-year 2024 net sales were $3.8 billion, down 1%, and net earnings were $533.6 million, down 4%.
Fourth-quarter 2024 net sales were $912.4 million, down 8%, and diluted EPS was $0.75, down 18% from $0.92.
2025 outlook projects net sales of $3.8 billion to $3.9 billion and diluted EPS of $3.60 to $3.90.
The board approved a $0.34 per share dividend payable February 18, 2025, and the company expects 2025 share repurchases of about $400 million.
A. O. Smith reported third-quarter 2024 net sales of $902.6 million, down 4% from a year earlier, and diluted EPS of $0.82, down 9%. The company reaffirmed its revised 2024 EPS outlook of $3.70 to $3.85, after lowering its sales outlook to approximately flat versus 2023 on October 11, citing weak China demand and softer North America water heater volumes.
Q3 net sales were $902.6 million versus $937.5 million a year earlier; China third-party sales fell 17% in local currency.
Diluted EPS was $0.82 versus $0.90, and net earnings were $120 million, down 11%.
2024 EPS outlook reaffirmed at $3.70 to $3.85; sales outlook lowered to approximately flat versus 2023.
Pureit acquisition from Unilever for $120 million is on track to close by the end of 2024; dividend raised 6%.
A. O. Smith reported preliminary third-quarter 2024 sales of $903 million, down 4% from a year earlier, and diluted EPS of $0.82, down 9%. The company lowered its full-year 2024 EPS guidance to $3.70-$3.85 from $3.95-$4.10, citing weaker demand in China and North America water heaters, which matters to shareholders because it reduces expected profit for the year.
Preliminary Q3 2024 net sales were $902.6 million versus $937.5 million in Q3 2023, a 4% decline.
Preliminary Q3 2024 diluted EPS was $0.82 versus $0.90 a year earlier, a 9% decline.
Full-year 2024 EPS guidance was lowered to $3.70-$3.85 from $3.95-$4.10; sales guidance is now approximately flat year over year.
Final third-quarter results are scheduled for release on Oct. 22, 2024.
A. O. Smith reported second-quarter 2024 net sales of $1,024.3 million, up 7% from a year earlier, and diluted EPS of $1.06, up 2%. The company reaffirmed its 2024 sales growth outlook of 3% to 5% and narrowed its full-year EPS guidance to $3.95 to $4.10, while North America segment margin fell to 25.1% from 27.6%.
Q2 2024 net sales were $1,024.3 million, up 7% from $960.8 million, driven by higher water heater volumes
Diluted EPS was $1.06 versus $1.04 a year earlier; net earnings were $156.2 million, down 1%
2024 EPS guidance narrowed to $3.95 to $4.10; sales outlook of 3% to 5% growth reaffirmed
Pureit acquisition from Unilever for $120 million is expected to close by the end of 2024
A. O. Smith said Senior Vice President - Human Resources and Public Affairs Mark Petrarca will retire effective August 1, 2024, after 25 years with the company. The filing does not name a successor or describe the reasons for the retirement.
Mark Petrarca, SVP Human Resources and Public Affairs, retires effective August 1, 2024
Petrarca has 25 years of service with the company
Announced May 9, 2024; the filing names no successor
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