Ethisphere Names A. O. Smith Corporation One of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies® for the Third Time

A. O. Smith (NYSE: AOS) announced it was named a 2026 World's Most Ethical Company by Ethisphere on March 18, 2026.

Rhea-AI Summary

A. O. Smith (NYSE: AOS) announced it was named a 2026 World's Most Ethical Company by Ethisphere on March 18, 2026. This marks the company's third consecutive year receiving the honor and places A. O. Smith among 13 industrial manufacturing honorees.

In 2026 Ethisphere recognized 138 honorees across 17 countries and 40 industries; the award reflects evaluation via Ethisphere's Ethics Quotient® and qualitative expert review.

Positive

• Named World's Most Ethical Company for 3 consecutive years
• One of 13 industrial manufacturing honorees in 2026
• Part of 138 global honorees across 17 countries

Negative

• None.

Argus Mar 18 session

-2.62% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – AOS

On Mar 18, the day this news came out, AOS closed 2.62% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 18 session.

Market Context

This announcement highlights A. O. Smith’s inclusion among the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies, ...

Analysis

This announcement highlights A. O. Smith’s inclusion among the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies, one of only 13 honorees in industrial manufacturing and part of 138 companies across 17 countries and 40 industries. Combined with recent record EPS of $3.85 and growth-focused M&A, it underscores emphasis on culture and governance. Investors may watch how sustained ethics recognition complements financial performance and integration of recent acquisitions.

Key Figures

Company age: 152 years Industrial honorees: 13 honorees Total 2026 honorees: 138 honorees +4 more

Company age

152 years

Duration A. O. Smith cites leading with integrity and accountability

Industrial honorees

13 honorees

Number of honorees in the industrial manufacturing category in 2026

Total 2026 honorees

138 honorees

Total companies recognized as 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies

Countries represented

17 countries

Geographic breadth of 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies honorees

Industries represented

40 industries

Industry breadth of 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies honorees

Ethics proof points

240+ proof points

Number of data points required in the Ethics Quotient assessment

Honoree classes

20th class

The 2026 cohort marks the 20th class of honorees

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 29

5 events

1. Jan 29

   Earnings and guidance

   24h Move

   +5.3%

   Record 2025 EPS, strong net earnings and 2026 sales and EPS guidance.

2. Jan 15

   Dividend declaration

   24h Move

   +0.7%

   Regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share announced.

3. Jan 07

   Earnings call notice

   24h Move

   -2.2%

   Scheduling and webcast details for Q4 2025 financial results call.

4. Jan 06

   Leonard sale notice

   24h Move

   -2.2%

   Bessemer announces sale of Leonard Valve to A. O. Smith completion.

5. Jan 06

   Acquisition closed

   24h Move

   -2.2%

   Completion of $470M Leonard Valve acquisition, expanding water management presence.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

ethics quotient

1 terms

ethics quotient technical

"The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient®..."

A company's ethics quotient is an overall measure of how well it behaves responsibly and follows laws and social norms, combining factors like board conduct, transparency, labor and environmental practices, and honesty in reporting. For investors it matters because ethical lapses can damage reputation, trigger fines or boycotts, and raise long‑term risk—think of it like a company’s “ethics credit score” or report card that helps predict potential problems and resilience.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Company recognized for its commitment to robust ethics, compliance and governance programs

MILWAUKEE, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announced today it has been recognized as a 2026 World's Most Ethical Company by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. 

A. O. Smith is one of only 13 honorees recognized in the industrial manufacturing category.

A. O. Smith has been honored with this award for three consecutive years and is one of only 13 honorees in the industrial manufacturing category. In 2026, 138 honorees were recognized, spanning 17 countries and 40 industries.

"For 152 years, A. O. Smith has led the industry with integrity and accountability, guiding every decision we make," said President and CEO Steve Shafer. "This recognition reflects the strength of our culture and our employees' commitment to living our values and doing what's right — every day." 

The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient^®, which requires companies to provide 240+ different proof points on practices that support robust ethics and compliance, governance, a culture of ethics, environmental and social impact, and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by a panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year's group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

"Congratulations to A. O. Smith for achieving recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies," said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere's chief strategy officer and executive chair. "As we mark the 20^th class of honorees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. Companies with strong ethics, compliance, and governance programs are built for better long-term performance."

To view the full list of this year's honorees, please visit the World's Most Ethical Companies website, https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees. 

About A. O. Smith Corporation
A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ethisphere-names-a-o-smith-corporation-one-of-the-2026-worlds-most-ethical-companies-for-the-third-time-302717607.html

SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did A. O. Smith (AOS) announce on March 18, 2026 about Ethisphere recognition?

A. O. Smith announced it was named a 2026 World's Most Ethical Company, marking its third straight year. According to the company, Ethisphere evaluated applicants using its Ethics Quotient® and expert qualitative review across 240+ proof points.

How significant is being one of 13 industrial manufacturing honorees for AOS in 2026?

Being one of 13 industrial manufacturing honorees signals selective recognition in the sector. According to the company, the designation was awarded after detailed Ethics Quotient® scoring and expert vetting among global applicants.

Does the 2026 Ethisphere award for AOS indicate a global peer group size?

Yes; the 2026 class included 138 honorees across 17 countries and 40 industries. According to the company, this reflects a broad, multinational assessment of ethical and compliance practices.

What criteria did Ethisphere use to evaluate A. O. Smith (AOS) for the 2026 award?

Ethisphere used its proprietary Ethics Quotient® requiring 240+ proof points on ethics, compliance, governance, environmental and social impact. According to the company, further qualitative expert review vetted each applicant.

How might A. O. Smith (AOS) describe the importance of the 2026 ethics recognition?

A. O. Smith framed the award as validation of long-standing culture, integrity, and employee commitment. According to the company, the recognition reflects its governance and ethics programs built over 152 years.