A.O. Smith Chairman Kevin Wheeler to Retire, Stephen Shafer Elected as Successor
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Leadership Transition: A.O. Smith Corporation announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire on July 1, with CEO Stephen Shafer elected as his successor, ensuring continuity and stability in governance.
- Strategic Leadership Continuity: Shafer, who has served as CEO since July 2025, will leverage his extensive experience from 3M and other firms to further enhance the company's strategic direction and operational efficiency, driving long-term value creation.
- Legacy of Leadership: Wheeler's over 30-year tenure at A.O. Smith saw the company expand its global footprint through multiple acquisitions and maintain strong operational performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing his exceptional leadership.
- Future Commitment: Shafer pledges to continue driving innovation and customer service while reinforcing the company's mission, benefiting from Wheeler's guidance to maintain its leadership position in the global water technology sector.
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Analyst Views on AOS
Wall Street analysts forecast AOS stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 58.220
Low
75.00
Averages
79.17
High
85.00
Current: 58.220
Low
75.00
Averages
79.17
High
85.00
About AOS
A. O. Smith Corporation applies technologies and solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The Company operates through two segments: North America and Rest of World. Both the segments manufacture and market a comprehensive line of residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks, and water treatment products. Its Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe, and India. The North America segment serves residential and commercial end markets with a range of products, including water heaters, boilers, water treatment products, and others. The Company also manufactures expansion tanks, commercial solar water heating systems, swimming pool and spa heaters, related products and parts. Its Lochinvar brand is a residential and commercial boiler brand in the United States. Its water softener branded products and problem well water solutions include the Hague, Water-Right, Master Water, Atlantic Filter, Impact, and Water Tec brands.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
A.O. Smith Chairman Kevin Wheeler to Retire, Stephen Shafer Elected as Successor
- Leadership Transition: A.O. Smith Corporation announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire on July 1, with CEO Stephen Shafer elected as his successor, ensuring continuity and stability in governance.
- Strategic Leadership Continuity: Shafer, who has served as CEO since July 2025, will leverage his extensive experience from 3M and other firms to further enhance the company's strategic direction and operational efficiency, driving long-term value creation.
- Legacy of Leadership: Wheeler's over 30-year tenure at A.O. Smith saw the company expand its global footprint through multiple acquisitions and maintain strong operational performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing his exceptional leadership.
- Future Commitment: Shafer pledges to continue driving innovation and customer service while reinforcing the company's mission, benefiting from Wheeler's guidance to maintain its leadership position in the global water technology sector.
See More
A. O. Smith Chairman Kevin Wheeler to Retire
- Leadership Transition: A. O. Smith Corporation announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire on July 1, with CEO Stephen Shafer elected to succeed him as chairman, ensuring continuity and stability in leadership.
- Strategic Leadership: Shafer, who has been CEO since July 2025, will leverage his extensive experience from 3M and McKinsey to further enhance the company's strategic direction and operational efficiency, driving long-term value creation.
- Legacy Impact: Wheeler's over 30-year tenure at A. O. Smith saw the company expand its global footprint through multiple acquisitions and successfully navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19, highlighting the profound impact of his leadership.
- Future Commitment: Shafer is committed to continuing innovation and customer service, reinforcing the company's mission, while Wheeler's ongoing support as a board member will provide valuable guidance for future growth.
See More
A.O. Smith Appoints New CFO Carrie Anderson
- Executive Transition: A.O. Smith announced that Carrie Anderson will become the new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective July 1, succeeding Charles Lauber, who will retire on September 30 after over 26 years, ensuring continuity during the transition.
- Extensive Financial Background: Prior to joining A.O. Smith, Anderson served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Campbell's Company and held similar roles at Integra LifeSciences, showcasing her deep expertise in financial management.
- Strategic Goals: A.O. Smith expects adjusted EPS to reach $3.70 to $4.00 by 2026, targeting 2% to 4% sales growth while undertaking a $20 million water treatment restructuring to address market challenges.
- Industry Challenges: While the company maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook for the future, it still faces challenges, particularly in the context of market changes and internal restructuring, making the new financial leadership crucial for strategic direction.
See More
A.O. Smith Appoints New CFO Carrie L. Anderson
- Executive Transition: A.O. Smith announced that Carrie L. Anderson will become the new CFO on July 1, succeeding Charles T. Lauber, who will retire on September 30 after over 26 years, ensuring continuity during the transition period.
- Extensive Experience: Anderson previously served as CFO at Campbell's Company and held executive roles at Integra LifeSciences and other global industrial firms, bringing a wealth of financial management and strategic execution experience that is expected to drive the company's long-term growth objectives.
- Leadership Role: As a key member of A.O. Smith's executive leadership team, Anderson will oversee the finance organization, including strategic financial planning, capital allocation, and investor relations, enhancing the company's competitiveness in the water heating and treatment sectors.
- Gratitude and Best Wishes: CEO Steve Shafer expressed gratitude for Lauber's contributions over the past 26 years, highlighting his leadership during significant company changes, and wished him well in his retirement.
See More
A.O. Smith Appoints New CFO Carrie L. Anderson
- Executive Transition: A.O. Smith Corporation announced that Carrie L. Anderson will become the new Chief Financial Officer on July 1, succeeding Charles T. Lauber, who will retire on September 30 after over 26 years of service, ensuring continuity during the transition.
- Extensive Financial Background: Anderson, who previously served as CFO of Campbell's Company, brings a wealth of experience from global industrial, manufacturing, and technology sectors, and her appointment is expected to enhance the company's financial strategic planning and capital allocation capabilities.
- Leadership Team Restructuring: As a key member of A.O. Smith's executive leadership team, Anderson will oversee the finance organization, including financial planning, treasury, and investor relations, driving the company's long-term growth and transformation objectives.
- Acknowledgment of Former CFO: CEO Steve Shafer expressed gratitude for Lauber's contributions, highlighting his role in guiding the company through significant changes and strengthening its leadership position in water technology over the past 26 years.
See More
A.O. Smith Downgraded to Underweight by J.P. Morgan
- Demand Decline Impact: J.P. Morgan downgraded A.O. Smith from Neutral to Underweight with a price target cut from $65 to $60, primarily due to deteriorating demand in China and residential markets, forecasting a ~15% sequential decline in Q2, indicating heightened short-term challenges for the company.
- Market Outlook Shift: Analyst Tomohiko Sano noted that A.O. Smith's outlook has shifted from an anticipated H2 recovery to a more pessimistic view, reflecting significant residential exposure and lowered guidance, prompting investors to reassess the risk/reward profile of the stock.
- Relative Opportunity Cost: Although Sano remains optimistic about A.O. Smith's long-term growth potential and sees a potential exit from China as a meaningful upside catalyst, near-term headwinds and relative opportunity costs led him to adopt a wait-and-see approach, shifting focus to more attractive investment opportunities in small-to-midcap industrials.
- Competitor Performance: In contrast, Timken's rating was upgraded to Neutral with a $130 price target, demonstrating its robust execution exceeding near-term expectations, with its 80/20 strategy driving double-digit growth and significant margin expansion in the Industrial Motion segment, further highlighting the competitive pressures faced by A.O. Smith.
See More
A.O. Smith Chairman Kevin Wheeler to Retire, Stephen Shafer Elected as Successor
- Leadership Transition: A.O. Smith Corporation announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire on July 1, with CEO Stephen Shafer elected as his successor, ensuring continuity and stability in governance.
- Strategic Leadership Continuity: Shafer, who has served as CEO since July 2025, will leverage his extensive experience from 3M and other firms to further enhance the company's strategic direction and operational efficiency, driving long-term value creation.
- Legacy of Leadership: Wheeler's over 30-year tenure at A.O. Smith saw the company expand its global footprint through multiple acquisitions and maintain strong operational performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing his exceptional leadership.
- Future Commitment: Shafer pledges to continue driving innovation and customer service while reinforcing the company's mission, benefiting from Wheeler's guidance to maintain its leadership position in the global water technology sector.
See More
A. O. Smith Chairman Kevin Wheeler to Retire
- Leadership Transition: A. O. Smith Corporation announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire on July 1, with CEO Stephen Shafer elected to succeed him as chairman, ensuring continuity and stability in leadership.
- Strategic Leadership: Shafer, who has been CEO since July 2025, will leverage his extensive experience from 3M and McKinsey to further enhance the company's strategic direction and operational efficiency, driving long-term value creation.
- Legacy Impact: Wheeler's over 30-year tenure at A. O. Smith saw the company expand its global footprint through multiple acquisitions and successfully navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19, highlighting the profound impact of his leadership.
- Future Commitment: Shafer is committed to continuing innovation and customer service, reinforcing the company's mission, while Wheeler's ongoing support as a board member will provide valuable guidance for future growth.
See More
A.O. Smith Appoints New CFO Carrie Anderson
- Executive Transition: A.O. Smith announced that Carrie Anderson will become the new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective July 1, succeeding Charles Lauber, who will retire on September 30 after over 26 years, ensuring continuity during the transition.
- Extensive Financial Background: Prior to joining A.O. Smith, Anderson served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Campbell's Company and held similar roles at Integra LifeSciences, showcasing her deep expertise in financial management.
- Strategic Goals: A.O. Smith expects adjusted EPS to reach $3.70 to $4.00 by 2026, targeting 2% to 4% sales growth while undertaking a $20 million water treatment restructuring to address market challenges.
- Industry Challenges: While the company maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook for the future, it still faces challenges, particularly in the context of market changes and internal restructuring, making the new financial leadership crucial for strategic direction.
See More
A.O. Smith Appoints New CFO Carrie L. Anderson
- Executive Transition: A.O. Smith announced that Carrie L. Anderson will become the new CFO on July 1, succeeding Charles T. Lauber, who will retire on September 30 after over 26 years, ensuring continuity during the transition period.
- Extensive Experience: Anderson previously served as CFO at Campbell's Company and held executive roles at Integra LifeSciences and other global industrial firms, bringing a wealth of financial management and strategic execution experience that is expected to drive the company's long-term growth objectives.
- Leadership Role: As a key member of A.O. Smith's executive leadership team, Anderson will oversee the finance organization, including strategic financial planning, capital allocation, and investor relations, enhancing the company's competitiveness in the water heating and treatment sectors.
- Gratitude and Best Wishes: CEO Steve Shafer expressed gratitude for Lauber's contributions over the past 26 years, highlighting his leadership during significant company changes, and wished him well in his retirement.
See More
A.O. Smith Appoints New CFO Carrie L. Anderson
- Executive Transition: A.O. Smith Corporation announced that Carrie L. Anderson will become the new Chief Financial Officer on July 1, succeeding Charles T. Lauber, who will retire on September 30 after over 26 years of service, ensuring continuity during the transition.
- Extensive Financial Background: Anderson, who previously served as CFO of Campbell's Company, brings a wealth of experience from global industrial, manufacturing, and technology sectors, and her appointment is expected to enhance the company's financial strategic planning and capital allocation capabilities.
- Leadership Team Restructuring: As a key member of A.O. Smith's executive leadership team, Anderson will oversee the finance organization, including financial planning, treasury, and investor relations, driving the company's long-term growth and transformation objectives.
- Acknowledgment of Former CFO: CEO Steve Shafer expressed gratitude for Lauber's contributions, highlighting his role in guiding the company through significant changes and strengthening its leadership position in water technology over the past 26 years.
See More
A.O. Smith Downgraded to Underweight by J.P. Morgan
- Demand Decline Impact: J.P. Morgan downgraded A.O. Smith from Neutral to Underweight with a price target cut from $65 to $60, primarily due to deteriorating demand in China and residential markets, forecasting a ~15% sequential decline in Q2, indicating heightened short-term challenges for the company.
- Market Outlook Shift: Analyst Tomohiko Sano noted that A.O. Smith's outlook has shifted from an anticipated H2 recovery to a more pessimistic view, reflecting significant residential exposure and lowered guidance, prompting investors to reassess the risk/reward profile of the stock.
- Relative Opportunity Cost: Although Sano remains optimistic about A.O. Smith's long-term growth potential and sees a potential exit from China as a meaningful upside catalyst, near-term headwinds and relative opportunity costs led him to adopt a wait-and-see approach, shifting focus to more attractive investment opportunities in small-to-midcap industrials.
- Competitor Performance: In contrast, Timken's rating was upgraded to Neutral with a $130 price target, demonstrating its robust execution exceeding near-term expectations, with its 80/20 strategy driving double-digit growth and significant margin expansion in the Industrial Motion segment, further highlighting the competitive pressures faced by A.O. Smith.
See More
