A. O. Smith
AOS
#1948
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$10.46 B
Marketcap
$74.71
Share price
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A. O. Smith - 10-Q quarterly report FY


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

X QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997

OR

__ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____________to_______________

Commission File Number 1-475

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Delaware 39-0619790
(State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer ID Number)

P. O. Box 23972, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223-0972
Telephone: (414) 359-4000


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No


Class A Common Stock Outstanding as of October 31, 1997: 5,824,874

Common Stock Outstanding as of October 31, 1997: 11,181,722

Exhibit Index Page 14
Index

A. O. Smith Corporation

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
and Retained Earnings
- Three and Nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
- September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996 4-5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
- Nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
- September 30, 1997 7-8

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 9-11



Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings 12

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 12

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 12

Signatures 13

Index to Exhibits 14
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
AND RETAINED EARNINGS
Three and Nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996
(000 omitted except for per share data)
(unaudited)
<CAPTION>

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

September 30 September 30
EARNINGS 1997 1996 1997 1996
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Electric Motor Technologies $94,081 $76,676 $298,779 $264,044
Water Systems Technologies 68,872 70,101 211,218 211,338
Storage & Fluid Handling Technologies 43,011 41,343 117,153 113,997
-------- -------- -------- --------
NET SALES $205,964 $188,120 $627,150 $589,379

Cost of products sold 167,060 147,498 496,806 463,672
-------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit $38,904 $40,622 $130,344 $125,707
Selling, general and administrative expenses 25,013 26,884 82,251 81,616
Interest expense 1,913 1,974 6,602 5,882
Interest income (3,010) (81) (6,370) (188)
Other expense - net 394 239 2,085 3,438
-------- ------- -------- -------
$14,594 $11,606 $45,776 $34,959
Provision for income taxes 4,918 4,249 16,003 13,232
-------- ------- -------- -------
Earnings before equity in loss of joint ventures $9,676 $7,357 $29,773 $21,727
Equity in loss of joint ventures (667) (1,199) (1,965) (2,509)
-------- ------- -------- -------
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $9,009 $6,158 $27,808 $19,218
EARNINGS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Earnings (Less related income tax provisions
1997-$548 and $7,698; 1996-$2,729 and $15,108) 980 6,376 15,231 29,390
Gain on disposition (Less related income
tax provision of $58,056) (note 3) - - 94,616 -
-------- ------- -------- -------
NET EARNINGS $9,989 $12,534 $137,655 $48,608

RETAINED EARNINGS

Balance at beginning of period 446,229 303,131 325,361 273,751
Cash dividends on common shares (2,988) (3,557) (9,786) (10,251)
-------- ------- -------- --------
BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD $453,230 $312,108 $453,230 $312,108
======== ======= ======== ========

NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Continuing Operations $ .51 $ .29 $ 1.47 $ .92
Discontinued Operations .06 .31 5.80 1.40
------ ------ ------ ------
NET EARNINGS $ .57 $ .60 $ 7.27 $ 2.32
====== ====== ====== ======

DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SRE $ .17 $ 0.17 $ .51 $ 0.49


See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

</TABLE>
A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996
(000 omitted)



(unaudited)
Sept 30, 1997 Dec. 31, 1996
ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents (note 2) $185,026 $6,405
Receivables 130,865 121,571
Inventories (note 4) 84,366 80,445
Deferred income taxes 13,498 12,416
Other current assets 3,984 4,537
Net current assets-discontinued
operations (note 3) - 13,836
-------- -------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 417,739 239,210
Investments in and advances to
joint ventures 22,924 14,579
Other assets 51,055 84,405
Property, plant and equipment 440,407 407,016
Less accumulated depreciation 238,416 224,416
-------- -------
Net property, plant and equipment 201,991 182,600
Goodwill 52,211 6,540
Net long-term assets-discontinued
operations (note 3) 22,968 357,654
-------- -------
TOTAL ASSETS $768,888 $884,988
======== =======

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade payables $64,356 $82,952
Accrued payroll and benefits 23,499 25,653
Accrued income taxes 26,081 1,351
Long-term debt due within one year 5,625 11,932
Other current liabilities 27,660 16,500
Net current liabilities-discontinued
operations (note 3) 3,066 0
------- -------
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 150,287 138,388

Long-term debt (note 5) 100,985 238,446
Other liabilities 42,055 35,244
Deferred income taxes 28,546 31,271
Postretirement benefit obligation 16,909 17,000

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Class A common stock, $5 par value: authorized
14,000,000 shares; issued 5,838,858
and 5,846,158 29,194 29,231
Common stock, $1 par value: authorized 60,000,000
shares; issued 15,860,792 and 15,853,492 15,861 15,853
Capital in excess of par value 72,163 69,410
Retained earnings (note 5) 453,230 325,361
Cumulative foreign currency translation
adjustments (8,661) (7,401)
Treasury stock at cost (131,681) (7,815)
-------- -------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 430,106 424,639
-------- -------

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY $768,888 $884,988
======== ========

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements.
A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996
(000 omitted) (unaudited)
1997 1996
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

CONTINUING
Net earnings $ 27,808 $ 19,218
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation 17,704 16,580
Deferred income taxes (3,807) (3,301)
Equity in loss of joint ventures 1,965 2,509
Net change in current assets and liabilities (2,531) 26,029
Net change in noncurrent assets and
liabilities 11,723 3,264
Other - net 5,707 1,884
------- ------
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 58,569 66,183
------- ------
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures (33,460) (24,703)
Capitalized purchased software costs (1,094) (2,041)
Investment in joint ventures (11,561) (8,852)
Acquisition of business (net of cash acquired) (60,918) (1,111)
-------- -------
CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES (107,033) (36,707)
-------- -------

CASH FLOW FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
BEFORE FINANCING ACTIVITIES (48,464) 29,476

DISCONTINUED (note 3)
Cash provided / (used) by operating activities (98,788) 71,038
Cash used by investing activities (52,456) (131,161)
Proceeds from disposition 727,423 -
Tax payments associated with disposition (74,398) -
------- -------
CASH FLOW FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
BEFORE FINANCING ACTIVITIES 501,781 (60,123)

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Long-term debt incurred - 47,107
Long-term debt retired (143,768) (3,800)
Purchase of common stock held in treasury (125,168) -
Proceeds from common stock options exercised 3,455 20
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 571 16
Dividends paid (9,786) (10,251)
-------- -------
CASH PROVIDED / (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES (274,696) 33,092
-------- -------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 178,621 2,445
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period (note 2) 6,405 4,807
-------- -------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $185,026 $ 7,252
======== =======


See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements.
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 1997
(unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation
The financial statements presented herein are based on interim
figures and are subject to audit. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments consisting of normal accruals considered necessary for
fair presentation of the results of operations and of financial
position have been made. The results of operations for the nine-
month period ended September 30, 1997 are not necessarily indicative
of the results expected for the full year. The consolidated balance
sheet as of December 31, 1996 is derived from the audited financial
statements but does not include all disclosures required by generally
accepted accounting principles.

2. Statement of Cash Flows
For purposes of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, cash and
cash equivalents include short-term investments held primarily for
cash management purposes. These investments normally mature within
three months from the date of acquisition.

3. Discontinued Operations
On April 18, 1997 the corporation sold its automotive products
company. In September 1997, the corporation announced the sale for
$63 million of its 40% interest in its Mexican automotive affiliate,
Metalsa S.A. The sale of Metalsa was completed in October 1997, and
will be recognized in the fourth quarter.

The results of the automotive products business have been reported
separately as discontinued operations. Prior year consolidated
financial statements have been restated to present the automotive
products business as discontinued.

4. Inventories
(000 omitted) September 30, 1997 December 31, 1996

Finished products $ 51,737 $ 51,706
Work in process 14,681 19,593
Raw materials 46,359 37,594
Supplies 1,537 1,368
--------- ---------
114,314 110,261
Allowance to state inventories
at LIFO cost 29,948 29,816
--------- ---------
$ 84,366 $ 80,445
========= =========

5. Long-Term Debt

The corporation's long-term credit agreements contain certain
conditions and provisions which restrict the corporation's payment of
dividends. During the second and third quarters the company
renegotiated some of its debt covenants with respect to these
agreements, and under the most restrictive of these provisions,
retained earnings of $124.3 million were unrestricted for cash
dividends and treasury stock purchases.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1997 COMPARED TO 1996

Sales from continuing operations of $206.0 million in the third quarter
of 1997 surpassed last year's third quarter by $17.8 million or more than
nine percent. For the first nine months of 1997, sales from continuing
operations were $627.2 million or six percent better than the $589.4
million of sales in the same period of 1996. Excluding the sales of
UPPCO, the manufacturer of subfractional motors acquired on March 31,
1997, the year over year sales comparison for both the third quarter and
first nine months were flat.

Earnings from continuing operations were $9.0 million in the third quarter
of 1997 or 46 percent higher than the $6.2 million earned in the third
quarter last year. On a per share basis, third quarter earnings increased
from $.29 in 1996 to $.51 in 1997. For the first nine months of 1997, the
corporation's earnings from continuing operations increased to $27.8
million from $19.2 million, or to $1.47 per share from $.92 per share.

Net earnings from discontinued operations for the first nine months of the
year including those associated with the sale and operations of the
automotive products business were $109.8 million or $5.80 per share.

In September 1997, the corporation announced the sale of its 40 percent
interest in its Mexican automotive affiliate, Metalsa S.A. The sale was
completed and will be recognized in October 1997.

The gross profit margin was 18.9 percent in the third quarter of 1997,
compared with a margin of 21.6 percent in 1996. The margin through the
first nine months of the year was 20.8 percent, down slightly from 21.3
percent for the same period last year. Lower margins were due to lower
production in the Electric Motor Technologies segment and weaker prices in
the Water Systems Technologies segment.

Third quarter sales for Electric Motor Technologies were $94.1 million, or
$17.4 million higher than the same period last year. Excluding
approximately $19 million of third quarter sales associated with the UPPCO
acquisition, overall sales for this segment declined two percent from the
third quarter of 1996, due to a weak HVAC market resulting from an
abnormally cool spring and summer. Sales through the first nine months of
1997 were $298.8 million, compared with $264.0 million for the same period
in 1996. Excluding the sales of Uppco, current year sales were flat
compared with the prior year as a result of lower HVAC-related sales
offset primarily by the higher sales of the international and general
industry business units.

Third quarter operating earnings for the Electric Motor Technologies
segment decreased from the third quarter of 1996 as lower profits
resulting from lower production volumes in the core motor business more
than offset the additional earnings of Uppco. Earnings for the first nine
months of 1997 were modestly higher than earnings for the same period in
1996.

Water Systems Technologies sales of $68.9 million for the third quarter
were 1.8 percent lower than sales for the third quarter of 1996. Overall
sales growth in the commercial water heater market segment was offset by
slightly weaker demand and pricing pressures in the residential market
segment. Sales for the first nine months of 1997 were essentially flat
compared to the same period last year.

Water Systems Technologies profits for the third quarter of 1997 were
lower than the same period last year, reflecting the pricing pressures in
the residential market. Profits through the first nine months of the
current year were modestly higher than the same period last year.

Third quarter sales for the Storage & Fluid Handling technologies segment
increased four percent over the third quarter of 1996, due to higher sales
of industrial storage tanks and fiberglass pipe. Year-to-date sales for
this segment reflected a 2.8 percent increase over the first nine months
of last year.

Storage & Fluid Handling Technologies profits for the third quarter and
the first nine months of 1997 were modestly higher, respectively, than the
same periods last year. Increased earnings were attributable to higher
sales volume and a more favorable sales mix for fiberglass piping.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the third quarter
were $1.9 million lower than the same period last year. SG&A expenses as
a percent of sales decreased from 14.3 percent of sales in the third
quarter of 1996 to 12.1 percent of sales in the third quarter of 1997.
Lower SG&A expenses were the result of reductions in corporate overhead
related to the sale of the company's automotive products business as well
as lower administrative expenses at the operating units.

During the third quarter, the corporation recognized net interest income
of $1.1 million compared to net interest expense of $1.9 million in the
third quarter of 1996. Approximately $3.0 million of additional interest
income was recognized in the third quarter of 1997 from investing the cash
proceeds of the automotive business sale.

The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 1997 was 35.0 percent
compared with a rate of 37.9 percent for the first nine months of 1996.
The 1997 rate benefited from the impact of the utilization of state tax
loss carryforwards associated with liquidated subsidiaries as well as
research and development tax credits.

During 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued several
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS"). SFAS No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share" is effective for the corporation as of December 31,
1997. SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Information" is effective
for the corporation as of January 1, 1998. SFAS No. 131, "Disclosure
about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" is effective for
the corporation for 1998. None of the statements will have any impact on
A. O. Smith's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

During the first nine months of 1997, the corporation was a party to
futures contracts for the purposes of hedging a portion of certain raw
material purchases. The corporation was also a party to forward foreign
exchange contracts to hedge foreign currency transactions consistent with
its committed exposures. Had these contracts not been in place, the net
earnings of the corporation would not have been materially affected.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The corporation's working capital from continuing operations was $270.5
million compared to $87.0 million at December 31, 1996. The majority of
the increase is due to the cash proceeds that the corporation received
from the sale of its automotive products business. The corporation plans
to use the cash to continue to repurchase stock and make acquisitions in
its three core businesses. Cash flow from continuing operations was
$77.9 million lower than the same period last year primarily due to the
$60 million acquisition of UPPCO in the first quarter of 1997, as well
as higher investments in capital expenditures and joint ventures.

Capital expenditures of continuing operations during the first nine months
of 1997 were $33.5 million, $8.8 million higher than during the same
period last year. The increase is primarily attributable to higher
capital expenditures for the Electric Motors Technologies business. The
corporation expects that cash flow from continuing operations will cover
1997 capital expenditures.

A portion of the after-tax cash proceeds from the sale of Automotive was
used to pay down debt and repurchase stock. The corporation's total debt
decreased $143.8 million from $250.4 million at the end of December, 1996
to $106.6 million at the end of September, 1997. As of September 30,
1997, 3.6 million shares had been repurchased for $125.2 million bringing
total shares outstanding to approximately 17.5 million Common and Class A
Common stock.

Due to its significant cash and marketable securities balances, the
corporation elected to reduce its revolving credit facility from $210
million to $100 million effective September 30, 1997. No other changes to
the facility were made during the third quarter.

At its October 7, 1997 meeting, A. O. Smith's Board of Directors declared
a regular quarterly dividend at $.17 per share on its common stock
(Classes A and Common). The dividend is payable on November 17, 1997 to
shareholders of record October 31, 1997.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The corporation is involved in various unresolved legal actions,
administrative proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of its
business involving product liability, property damage, insurance coverage,
patents and environmental matters including the disposal of hazardous
waste. Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome
of these unresolved legal actions or the range of possible loss or
recovery, the corporation believes these unresolved legal actions will not
have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

There have been no material changes in the environmental matters
previously reported in Part 1, Item 3 in the corporation's annual report
on Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 1996, and Part 2, Item
1 in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
1997, which are incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 4 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) Exhibits

(3)(ii) By-Laws

(27) Financial Data Schedule

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the corporation in the third
quarter of 1997.
SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


A. O. SMITH CORPORATION


November 10, 1997 /s/ John J. Kita
John J. Kita
Vice President,
Treasurer and Controller




November 10, 1997 /s/ G.R. Bomberger
G. R. Bomberger
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number Description

(3)(ii) By-Laws

(27) Financial Data Schedule