Company: AOS
Filing Date: 2025-02-11
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000091142-25-000036
Chunk: 16

Company: SMITH A O CORP
Filing Date: 2025-02-11
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 16
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Table of Contents

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

In the ordinary course of our business, we face various strategic, operating, compliance and financial risks. These risks could have an impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. The risks set forth below are not an exhaustive list of potential risks but reflect those that we believe to be material. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below and all other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the documents incorporated by reference, before making an investment decision regarding our common stock. If any of the events contemplated by the following risks were to actually occur, then our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. 

Economic and Industry Risks

■The effects of global and regional economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business

A decline in economic activity, such as a recession or economic downturn, in the U.S., China, and other regions in the world in which we do business, could further adversely affect consumer confidence and spending patterns which could result in decreased demand for the products we sell, a delay in purchases, increased price competition, or slower adoption of energy-efficient water heaters and boilers, or high-quality water treatment products, which could negatively impact our profitability and cash flows. Such deterioration in economic conditions could arise from many factors or fears including public health crises, further deterioration in the property market, political instability or risk of government default. In addition, an increase in price levels generally or in particular industries, could result in a consumer shift away from the products we offer, including trading down to lower priced models, which could adversely affect our revenues and, at the same time, increase our costs. A deterioration in economic conditions also could negatively impact our vendors and customers, which could result in an increase in bad debt expense, customer and vendor bankruptcies, interruption or delay in supply of materials, or increased material prices, which could negatively impact our ability to distribute, market and sell our products and our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

■Import tariffs, taxes, customs duties and other trading regulations imposed by the U.S. government and retaliatory responses from other countries, could significantly increase the prices we pay for raw materials that are critical to our ability to manufacture our products 

Import tariffs, taxes, customs duties and other trading regulations imposed by the U.S.