SMITH A O CORP executive vice president and CFO Carrie L. Anderson filed an initial insider ownership report for the company’s common stock. The filing shows she holds no shares directly, with total shares following the reported entry listed as 0.0000 as of the stated date.
A. O. Smith Corporation announced a leadership transition in its board. Effective July 1, 2026, Executive Chairman Kevin J. Wheeler will retire from the executive chairman role but will remain on the board of directors. At the same time, Stephen M. Shafer, currently president, chief executive officer and a director, will become chairman, combining the chairman and CEO roles.
Shafer joined the company as president and chief operating officer in March 2024, became president and CEO and a director on July 1, 2025, and will now lead both the board and global operations. The board’s lead director highlighted Wheeler’s three-decade impact, including global expansion, acquisitions and navigating the COVID-19 period, while expressing confidence that Shafer’s combined role will support strategy, operations and long-term value creation.
A. O. Smith Corporation has selected Carrie Anderson as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1, 2026. She will succeed long-time CFO Charles T. Lauber, who plans to retire but will remain for a period after that date to support the transition.
Anderson, age 57, has held senior finance roles at Campbell’s, Integra LifeSciences, Dover and Delphi, and began her career at General Motors. Her ongoing pay and benefits will generally align with other executive officers, and she will receive a one-time restricted stock unit award valued at $1,500,000 that vests three years after the grant date, plus relocation assistance including a special allowance equal to two months of salary.
FMR LLC amends Schedule 13G to report beneficial ownership of 7,930,565.79 shares of SMITH (AO) CORP common stock, representing 7.1% of the class. The filing lists sole dispositive power for 7,930,565.79 shares and sole voting power of 5,687,289.38 shares. The amendment is signed under a power of attorney dated April 13, 2026 and bears signature dates of May 5, 2026.
Saak Aaron W reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.
SMITH A O CORP director Aaron W. Saak received a grant of 2,296 restricted stock units (RSUs) tied to the company’s common stock. The award, dated April 23, 2026, is compensation-related rather than an open-market purchase. Following this grant, Saak holds 2,296 RSUs directly. The company’s plan permits participants to defer receipt of awards, and Saak has elected to defer this RSU grant.
A. O. Smith reported softer first-quarter 2026 results, with net sales of $945.6 million, down from $963.9 million a year ago, and net earnings of $118.0 million versus $136.6 million. Earnings per share were $0.85, down from $0.95, as lower North American residential water heater volumes and weaker China demand offset prior pricing actions.
The company completed the $470 million Leonard Valve acquisition, adding about $15.9 million of sales and $5.5 million of pre-tax earnings in the quarter and increasing debt and interest expense. Management lowered 2026 sales growth guidance to 2–4% and now expects diluted EPS of $3.60–$3.90, or adjusted EPS of $3.70–$4.00, reflecting continued China headwinds and North American regulatory uncertainty.
Free cash flow improved sharply to $118.9 million from $17.4 million, helped by working capital. The company announced a North America water treatment restructuring expected to generate annual savings of $6–$8 million from 2027 after an estimated $20 million largely non-cash charge in the second quarter. A. O. Smith also repurchased 715,493 shares for $51.3 million and plans about $200 million of buybacks in 2026 while maintaining ample liquidity under its $500 million revolving credit facility.
A. O. Smith Corporation reported first quarter 2026 net sales of $945.6 million, down 2% year over year, with net earnings of $118.0 million and diluted EPS of $0.85, an 11% decline. North America sales rose slightly to $753.4 million, helped by the Leonard Valve acquisition, but lower residential water heater volumes and weather-related disruptions pressured margins. Rest of World sales fell to $200.7 million as China sales declined 17% in local currency.
Operating cash flow increased to $129.4 million and free cash flow to $118.9 million, supported by working capital management. The company repurchased 0.7 million shares for $51.3 million and ended the quarter with $203.9 million in cash and marketable securities and $615.8 million of debt.
The company lowered its 2026 outlook, now expecting net sales of $3.9–$4.0 billion, diluted EPS of $3.60–$3.90 and adjusted EPS of $3.70–$4.00, primarily due to continued weakness in China and uncertainty around North American regulatory changes. It also plans approximately $20 million of North America water treatment restructuring and impairment expenses in the second quarter, excluded from adjusted EPS.
A O Smith Corp reports that Vanguard Capital Management filed a Schedule 13G holding 8,315,386 shares of Common Stock, equal to 7.39% of the class. The filing shows Vanguard Capital Management has sole dispositive power over 8,315,386 shares and sole voting power for 981,997 shares.
The filing is signed by Ashley Grim as Head of Global Fund Administration and lists Vanguard's principal address as 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA.
A O Smith Corp reports that Vanguard Portfolio Management beneficially owned 7,113,001 shares of Common Stock, representing 6.32% of the class as of 03/31/2026. The filing states Vanguard exercises sole dispositive power over these shares and identifies affiliated Vanguard entities that hold or manage the securities on behalf of clients.
A. O. Smith Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 13, 2026, electing directors, approving executive pay on an advisory basis, and ratifying Ernst & Young LLP as auditor for 2026. Most director nominees received strong support, and stockholders backed named executive officer compensation and the auditor with large majorities.
Director Dr. Ilham Kadri received more “withheld” than “for” votes, triggering the company’s Director Resignation Policy and leading her to tender a conditional resignation. After review, the Nominating and Governance Committee and full Board, citing her skills and contributions and viewing opposition as driven by concerns over the dual class capital structure, unanimously chose to reject her resignation, so she remains on the Board.