A.O. Smith Maintains Robust Growth in Second Quarter, Raises Guidance

A.O. Smith's (NYSE: AOS) prior quarter was going to be a tough act to follow. The company hit just about every mark you would want to see in a quarter, with higher-than-expected revenue and earnings. This quarter turned out to be an adequate encore: Earnings increased and management raised guidance as the company continued to capture significant growth in China. Here's a brief review of the water heater manufacturer's most recent results.

Data source: A.O. Smith earnings release.

A.O. Smith's second quarter couldn't match the prior quarter regarding revenue growth, but it made up for it with a rise in net income. The biggest driver of those improved profitability results was sales in North America. Higher prices for its water heater sales in the U.S. and Canada helped to boost margins from 21.4% in the prior quarter to 23.2%. Home water filter business Aquasana, which the company acquired in August last year, continued to grow sales to $13 million for the quarter, but margins at the division remain significantly lower, and it has yet to make much of an impact on overall earnings.

Source: Fool.com