A. O. Smith Corporation’s (AOS Quick QuoteAOS - Free Report) third-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings of 82 cents per share matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line decreased 8.9% on a year-over-year basis.

Net sales of $902.6 million missed the consensus estimate of $913 million. The top line decreased 4% year over year due to lower sales in China and decreased volumes of water heaters in North America.

Segmental Details

A. O. Smith’s quarterly sales in North America (comprising the United States and Canada operations) increased 9% year over year to $703.3 million. Our estimate for segmental revenues was $730.6 million. This downtick was caused by lower residential and commercial water heater volumes.

Segmental earnings inched down 4.4% year over year to $162.5 million, primarily due to lower water heater volumes.

Quarterly sales in the Rest of the World (including China, India and Europe) segment declined 10% year over year at $210.3 million. Our estimate for sales in the segment was $237.3 million. Sales declined due to lower volumes of core water heater and water treatment products. Sales in India increased 12% in local currency.

The segment’s earnings were $13.6 million, down 41.4% year over year due to lower volumes.

Margin Details

A.O. Smith’s cost of sales was $565.3 million, down 2.8% year over year. Selling, general & administrative expenses were $176.6 million, up 1%.

Gross profit decreased 5.3% year over year to $337.3 million. The gross margin was 37.4% compared with 38% in the year-ago period. Interest expenses were $1.5 million, down from $2.4 million from the year-ago quarter.

Liquidity & Cash Flow

As of Sept. 30, 2024, AOS’ cash and cash equivalents totaled $219.3 million compared with $339.9 million at the end of December 2023.

At the end of the quarter, long-term debt was $109.7 million compared with $117.3 million at the end of December 2023.

In the first nine months of 2024, cash provided by operating activities totaled $359.9 million compared with $439.0 million in the year-ago period.

Share Repurchases

In the first nine months of 2024, A.O. Smith repurchased 2.9 million shares for $237.1 million. Exiting September 2024, 2.7 million shares were left to be repurchased under the existing share repurchase authorization. In January 2024, AOS’ board boosted the existing share buyback program by authorizing the repurchase of an additional 2 million shares.

2024 Outlook

A.O. Smith has lowered its sales outlook. The company expects net sales to be in the range of $3.8-$3.9 billion. It reported sales of $3.85 billion in 2023.

Management currently projects adjusted earnings per share to be in the band of $3.70-$3.85 compared with $3.90-$4.15 projected earlier. The company reported earnings of $3.81 per share in 2023.

Zacks Rank

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). 

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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