Every material Form 8-K A. O. Smith filed with the SEC in 2026, 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.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text (each brief's own page names the model) and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the model's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.
Only material 8-Ks get a brief: results, deals, executive changes, restructuring, impairments, delisting notices, restatements, cybersecurity incidents and other disclosed events. Routine filings (vote results, exhibits only) are skipped. Every A. O. Smith filing is on SEC EDGAR ↗. 8-K briefs of other companies →