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A. O. Smith Set to Report Q2 Earnings: Is a Beat in Store?

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Key Takeaways

  • AOS' Q2 EPS is projected to decline 8.4% Y/Y, but a 4.48% Earnings ESP indicates a potential beat.
  • North America may benefit from strong boiler and water treatment sales, but water heater demand is weak.
  • China real estate softness and high material costs weigh on growth, though recent acquisitions offer support.

A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 results on July 24, before market open.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for A. O. Smith’s second-quarter earnings has increased 1% in the past 60 days. The company beat estimates once, missed twice and matched once in the trailing four quarters. The average surprise was at the break-even level.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s revenues is pegged at $987.3 million, indicating a decline of 3.6% from the prior-year quarter’s figure. The consensus estimate for adjusted earnings is pinned at 97 cents per share, indicating an 8.4% decline from the year-ago quarter’s number. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.)

Let’s see how things have shaped up for A. O. Smith this earnings season.

Factors to Note Ahead of AOS’ Results

A. O. Smith’s North-American segment is expected to have benefited from strong demand for commercial boilers and water treatment products, supported by its robust direct and retail selling channels in the second quarter. However, softness in the residential and commercial water heater industry is expected to weigh on its results. We expect revenues from the company’s North-American segment to decline 3.4% year over year to $764 million in the second quarter.

The ongoing challenges in the Chinese real estate market have remained a concern for A. O. Smith. Lower volumes of residential water treatment and gas water heating products in the region are likely to have been a spoilsport for the Rest of World segment’s top line. Our estimate for the segment’s revenues is pegged at $234 million, suggesting a decline of 4.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Over time, A. O. Smith’s performance has been negatively impacted by high costs and expenses. Although supply-chain constraints moderated, labor shortage and an increase in material costs are likely to have played spoilsport.

However, acquisitions made by the company are likely to have impacted its top line positively. For instance, in November 2024, the company acquired the Pureit business from Unilever. The inclusion of Pureit’s expertise in water treatment solutions, coupled with its strong brand recognition, enabled AOS to expand its customer offerings and boost its position in the water treatment industry in India. 

Also, in March 2024, it acquired privately held water treatment company Impact Water Products, which expanded its water treatment footprint in North America. The acquired company is also likely to have boosted the performance of the North America segment.

A. O. Smith Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

A. O. Smith Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

A. O. Smith Corporation price-eps-surprise | A. O. Smith Corporation Quote

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model suggests an earnings beat for AOS this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as elaborated below.

Earnings ESP: A. O. Smith has an Earnings ESP of +4.48% as the Most Accurate Estimate is pegged at $1.01 per share, which is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 97 cents. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: A. O. Smith currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Other Stocks With the Favorable Combination

Here are a few other companies, which according to our model, have the right combination to beat on earnings this reporting cycle:

Emerson Electric Co. (EMR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.46% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The company is scheduled to release third-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Aug. 6. EMR’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being 3.4%.

Eaton Corporation plc (ETN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.39% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter results on Aug. 5.

ETN’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 1.9%.

Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +9.64% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is slated to release its second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 1.

ATMU delivered an average earnings surprise of 14% in the last four quarters, while beating estimates in each of the quarters.

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