A. O. Smith (AOS) 10-Q2023 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

Identification No.)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

A. O. Smith Corporation

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. It is suggested the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

No recent accounting pronouncements are expected to have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Substantially all of the Company’s sales are from contracts with customers for the purchase of its products. Contracts and customer purchase orders are used to determine the existence of a sales contract. Shipping documents are used to verify shipment. For substantially all of its products, the Company transfers control of products to the customer at the point in time when title and risk are passed to the customer, which generally occurs upon shipment of the product. Each unit sold is considered an independent, unbundled performance obligation. The Company’s sales arrangements do not include other performance obligations that are material in the context of the contract.

The nature, timing and amount of revenue for a respective performance obligation are consistent for each customer. The Company measures the sales transaction price based upon the payment terms associated with the transaction and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment. Sales and value added taxes are excluded from the measurement of the transaction price. The Company’s payment terms for the majority of its customers are 30 to 90 days from shipment.

Additionally, certain customers in China pay the Company prior to the shipment of products resulting in a customer deposits liability of $155.9 million and $85.7 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Customer deposit liabilities are short term in nature, recognized into revenue within one year of receipt. The Company assesses the collectability of customer receivables based on the creditworthiness of a customer as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as the customer’s payment history. In determining the allowance for credit losses, the Company also considers various factors including the aging of customer accounts and historical write-offs. In addition, the Company monitors other risk factors including forward-looking information when establishing adequate allowances for credit losses, which reflects the current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the receivables. The Company’s allowance for credit losses was $9.3 million and $9.5 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Rebates and incentives are based on pricing agreements and are tied to sales volume. The amount of revenue is reduced for variable consideration related to customer rebates which are calculated using expected values and are based on program specific factors such as expected rebate percentages based on expected volumes. In situations where the customer has the right to return eligible products, the Company reduces revenue for its estimates of expected product returns, which are primarily based on an analysis of historical experience. Changes in such accruals may be required if actual sales volume differs from estimated sales volume or if future returns differ from historical experience. Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are included in net sales and the related costs are included in cost of products sold and are activities performed to fulfill the promise to transfer products.

Disaggregation of Net Sales

The Company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. The Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, heat pump and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks and water treatment products. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective regions of the world.

As each segment manufactures and markets products in its respective region of the world, the Company has determined that geography is the primary factor in reporting its sales. The Company further disaggregates its North America segment sales by major product line as each of North America’s major product lines is sold through distinct distribution channels and these product lines may be impacted differently by certain economic factors. Within the Rest of World segment, particularly in China and India, the Company’s major customers purchase across the Company’s product lines, utilizing the same distribution channels regardless of product type. In addition, the impact of economic factors is unlikely to be differentiated by product line in the Rest of World segment.

The North America segment's major product lines are defined as the following:

The following table disaggregates the Company’s net sales by segment. As described above, the Company’s North America segment sales are further disaggregated by major product line. In addition, the Company’s Rest of World segment sales are disaggregated by China and all other Rest of World:

During the third quarter of 2023, the Company acquired a privately-held water treatment company. The Company paid an aggregate cash purchase price of $16.1 million, net of cash acquired. The addition of the acquired company expands the Company's water treatment platform. The acquired company is included in the North America segment.

As required under ASC 805 Business Combinations, results of operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of their acquisition.

Disposition

On April 26, 2023, the Company sold its business in Turkey (disposal group), which was included in the Company's Rest of World segment, for an amount that approximated the carrying value of the net assets.

During the first quarter of 2023, the Company determined that the disposal group met the criteria to be classified as held for sale and that the fair value of the disposal group, less cost to sell, was lower than its carrying amount. As a result, in the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded an impairment expense of $15.6 million, of which $12.5 million was recorded in the Rest of World segment, and $3.1 million was recorded in Corporate Expense. The impairment was recorded as a net reduction of $4.5 million to the assets and liabilities and $11.1 million for the anticipated liquidation of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment associated with the disposal group. The remaining carrying value of the disposal group as of March 31, 2023, was $0.6 million and classified as held for sale.

Upon closing of the sale in the second quarter of 2023, the Company released $11.0 million of foreign currency translation losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss.

The Company’s lease portfolio consists of operating leases for buildings and equipment, such as forklifts and copiers, primarily in the United States and China. The Company defines a lease as a contract that gives the Company the right to control the use of a physical asset for a stated term. The Company pays the lessor for that right, with a series of payments defined in the contract and a corresponding right of use operating lease asset and liability are recorded. The Company has elected not to record leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on its condensed consolidated balance sheet. To determine balance sheet amounts, required legal payments are discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate as of the inception of the lease. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that the Company would incur if it were to borrow, on a collateralized basis, an amount equal to the value of the leased item over a similar term, in a similar economic environment. Variable lease components not based on an index or rate are excluded from the measurement of the lease asset and liability and expensed as incurred for all asset classes.

The following table presents the components of the Company’s inventory balances:

The Company offers warranties on the sales of certain of its products with terms that are consistent with the market and records an accrual for the estimated future claims. The following table presents the Company’s warranty liability activity:

In 2021, the Company renewed and amended its $500 million multi-year multi-currency revolving credit agreement with a new expiration date of April 1, 2026. The facility has an accordion provision that allows it to be increased up to $850 million if certain conditions (including lender approval) are satisfied. Borrowings under the Company's bank credit lines and commercial paper borrowings are supported by a $500 million revolving credit agreement. As a result of the long-term nature of this facility, the Company’s commercial paper and credit line borrowings are classified as long-term debt at September 30, 2023. At its option, the Company either maintains cash balances or pays fees for bank credit and services. The facility requires the Company to maintain two financial covenants, a leverage ratio test and an interest coverage test. The Company was in compliance with the covenants as of September 30, 2023.

The numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is net earnings. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares used in the earnings per share calculations:

The Company adopted the A. O. Smith Combined Incentive Compensation Plan (the Incentive Plan) effective January 1, 2007, and the Incentive Plan was recently reapproved by stockholders on April 15, 2020. The Incentive Plan is a continuation of the A. O. Smith Combined Executive Incentive Compensation Plan which was originally approved by stockholders in 2002. The number of shares available for granting of share units at September 30, 2023 was 2,475,242. Upon stock option exercise or share unit vesting, shares are issued from treasury stock. Total stock based compensation expense recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Total stock based compensation expense recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $10.1 million and $10.4 million, respectively.

Beginning in 2023, the Company no longer grants stock options. Stock options previously granted have a three year pro rata vesting from the date of grant. Stock options were issued at exercise prices equal to the fair value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. For active employees, all options granted expire ten years after the date of grant. The Company’s stock options are expensed ratably over the three year vesting period; however, included in the stock option expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was expense associated with the accelerated vesting of stock option awards for certain employees who either are retirement eligible or become retirement eligible during the vesting period. Stock based compensation expense attributable to stock options in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Stock based compensation expense attributable to stock options in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively.

Participants in the Incentive Plan may also be awarded share units. Share units vest three years after the date of grant. The Company granted 168,688 and 94,604 share units under the Incentive Plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The share units were valued at $11.3 million and $6.9 million at the date of issuance in 2023 and 2022, respectively, based on the price of the Company’s Common Stock at the date of grant. The share units are recognized as compensation expense ratably over the three-year vesting period; however, included in share unit expense in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was expense associated with accelerated vesting of share unit awards for certain employees who are retirement eligible or will become retirement eligible during the vesting period. Stock based compensation expense attributable to share units of $1.1 million and $1.0 million was recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Stock based compensation expense attributable to share units of $8.7 million and $5.5 million was recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Certain non-U.S.-based employees receive the cash value of the share price at the vesting date in lieu of shares. Unvested cash-settled awards are remeasured at each reporting period.

A summary of share unit activity under the Incentive Plan is as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:

Performance Stock Units

Beginning in 2023, certain executives may be awarded performance stock units under the Incentive Plan. Performance stock units vest over three years following the date of the grant. Performance stock units vest under a set of measurement criteria which are based upon achievement of certain Environmental, Social, and Governance targets. Potential payouts range from zero to 150% of the target awards and changes from target amounts are reflected as performance adjustments. The Company granted 24,580 performance stock units under the Incentive Plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

The performance stock units were valued at $1.7 million at the date of issuance in 2023, based on the price of the Company’s Common Stock at the date of grant of $67.14. The performance stock units are recognized as compensation expense ratably over the three-year vesting period. Stock based compensation expense attributable to performance stock units of $0.2 million and $0.5 million was recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Certain non-U.S.-based executives receive the cash value of the share price at the vesting date in lieu of shares. Unvested cash-settled awards are remeasured at each reporting period.

A summary of stock unit activity under the Incentive Plan is as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:

The following table presents the components of the Company’s net pension expense:

The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is presented within cost of products sold and selling, general and administrative expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of earnings while the other components of pension expense are reflected in other (income) expense, net. The Company was not required to and did not make a contribution to its U.S. pension plan in 2022. The Company is not required to make a contribution in 2023.

In 2021, the Company's Board of Directors approved the termination of the Company's largest defined benefit pension plan (the Plan) with a termination date of December 31, 2021. The Plan represented over 95 percent of the Company's pension plan liability. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company settled Plan liabilities through lump-sum payments from existing plan assets to eligible participants who elected to receive them and through the purchase of annuities from Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company (MML). In the second quarter of 2023, the Company realized pre-tax pension settlement income of $6.0 million, of which $5.0 million was recorded in the North America segment and $1.0 million in Corporate Expense, and included $1.5 million in related tax benefits. The pension settlement income related to refunds from MML to the Plan for the final reconciliation of participant data. The remaining pension assets associated with the Plan at September 30, 2023 were $27.4 million. The Company intends to use the remaining assets to fund future non-elective contributions to the Company’s defined contribution plan. For additional information regarding the termination of the Plan and the Company’s defined contribution plan, refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023.

The Company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. The Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks, and water treatment products. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective regions of the world. The following table presents the Company’s segment results:

Items measured at fair value were comprised of the Company’s marketable securities (Level 1) and derivative instruments (Level 2). There were no changes in the Company's valuation techniques used to measure fair values on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

The Company utilizes certain derivative instruments to enhance its ability to manage currency exposure as well as raw materials price risk. Derivative instruments are entered into for periods consistent with the related underlying exposures and do not constitute positions independent of those exposures. The Company does not enter into contracts for speculative purposes. The contracts are executed with major financial institutions with no credit loss anticipated for failure of the counterparties to perform.

With the exception of its net investment hedges, the Company designates all of its hedging instruments as cash flow hedges. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), gains or losses on the derivative instrument are reported as a component of other comprehensive loss, net of tax, and are reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk as a result of transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of certain subsidiaries. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts to manage the volatility associated with foreign currency purchases, sales and certain intercompany transactions in the normal course of business. Principal currencies for which the Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts include the British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro and Mexican peso.

Gains and losses on these instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, until the underlying transaction is recorded in earnings. When the hedged item is realized, gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to the consolidated statement of earnings. The assessment of effectiveness for forward contracts is based on changes in the forward rates. These hedges have been determined to be effective. The majority of the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss for cash flow hedges are expected to be reclassified into earnings within one year.

The following table summarizes, by currency, the contractual amounts of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges:

The Company enters into certain foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the exposure to a portion of the Company’s net investments in certain non-U.S. subsidiaries against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of foreign currency balances to the U.S. dollar. For the derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as net investment hedges, gains and losses are reported in other comprehensive loss where they offset gains and losses recorded on the Company’s net investments in its non-U.S. subsidiaries. These hedges are determined to be effective. The Company recognized $(0.2) million and zero of after-tax losses associated with hedges of net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries in currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive loss in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively. The Company recognized $1.1 million and $1.4 million of after-tax gains associated with hedges of a net investment in non-U.S. subsidiaries in currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive loss in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively. The contractual amount of the Company's foreign currency forward contracts that are designated as net investment hedges was $204.0 million as of September 30, 2023.

The following tables present the impact of derivative contracts on the Company’s financial statements.

Nine Months Ended September 30 (dollars in millions):

Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Company periodically enters into foreign exchange contracts to mitigate the foreign currency volatility relative to certain intercompany loans. These foreign exchange contracts did not qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with ASC 815 and as such were marked to market through earnings. The fair value of the foreign exchange contracts was an asset balance of $0.5 million as of September 30, 2023 which was recorded in Other current assets within the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the foreign exchange contracts was an asset balance of $0.1 million as of December 31, 2022 and recorded in Other current assets within the consolidated balance sheet.

The following table summarizes the contractual amounts of the Company's foreign exchange contracts that are designated as balance sheet hedges:

The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was 23.2 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively. The Company estimates that its annual effective income tax rate for the full year 2023 will be approximately 24 percent. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was 24.1 percent and 23.7 percent, respectively. The change in the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily due to a change in geographical earnings mix. In addition, results in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 included a $15.6 million impairment expense recorded with no associated tax benefit. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition and Disposition for additional information regarding the impairment expense.

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $15.0 million of unrecognized tax benefits of which $2.9 million would affect its effective income tax rate if recognized. The Company recognizes potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns and its U.S. state and local income tax returns are subject to audit for the years 2017-2023 and 2009-2023, respectively. The Company is subject to examinations in foreign tax jurisdictions for the years 2017-2023.

The Company maintains a commercial relationship with a supply-chain service provider (the Provider) in connection with the Company’s business in China. In this capacity, the Provider offers order-entry, warehousing and logistics support. The Provider also offers asset-backed financing to certain of the Company’s distributors in China to facilitate their working capital needs. To facilitate its financing support business, the Provider has collateralized lending facilities in place with multiple Chinese banks under which the Company has agreed to repurchase inventory if both requested by the banks and certain defined conditions are met, primarily related to the aging of the distributors’ notes.

The Provider is required to indemnify the Company for any losses the Company would incur in the event of an inventory repurchase under these arrangements. Potential losses under the repurchase arrangements represent the difference between the repurchase price and net proceeds from the resale of product plus costs incurred in the process, less related distributor rebates.

Before considering any reduction of distributor rebate accruals of $1.0 million and $1.1 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, and from the resale of the related inventory, the gross amount the Company would be obligated to repurchase, which would be contingent on the default of all of the outstanding loans, was approximately $1.7 million as of September 30, 2023 and $2.4 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company’s reserves for estimated losses under repurchase arrangements were immaterial as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Changes to accumulated other comprehensive loss by component are as follows:

Included in the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is $11.0 million of foreign currency translation losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to Net earnings related to the Company's sale of its business in Turkey. See Note 3 - Acquisition and Disposition for additional details.

Our company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. Our Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, heat pump and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks, and water treatment products. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective region of the world.

We saw improvement in our supply chain during 2022, particularly in the second half of the year, which continued through the first nine months of 2023. We remain in close contact with our suppliers and logistics providers to resolve supply chain constraints as they arise.

We continue to seek acquisitions that enable geographic growth, expand our core business, and establish adjacencies. We will also continue to look for opportunities to add to our existing operations in high growth regions demonstrated by our previous introductions of water treatment products in India and kitchen appliances in China.

In the first half of 2023, we sold our business in Turkey. We recognized a non-cash impairment charge in the first quarter of $15.6 million, primarily related to the liquidation of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment. While Turkey's more project-based business model did not fit well in our strategy, we remain committed to our global water treatment business and will continue to invest in other regions.

In our North America segment, we saw resilient demand in the residential water heater industry in the first nine months of 2023. We project 2023 industry residential unit volumes will grow approximately four percent compared to 2022. Demand for commercial electric water heaters was strong in the first nine months of 2023 compared to last year. Therefore, we expect that commercial water heater industry volumes in 2023 will increase mid-teens compared to 2022. Our boiler sales decreased 11 percent in the first nine months of 2023. We believe channel inventory levels of our residential and light commercial boiler products were elevated coming into 2023, but are now approaching near normal levels. Our boiler sales in the second half of 2022 benefited from a backlog reduction driven by production and supply chain improvements. Orders for our energy efficient, custom condensing boilers have remained steady. Based on these factors, we are reducing our boiler sales outlook to a decrease of high single digits in 2023 compared to 2022. We anticipate sales of our North America water treatment products will increase approximately five to seven percent in 2023, compared to 2022, primarily driven by pricing.

In our Rest of World segment, the economy remains challenged in China. We believe it will take time for consumer confidence to strengthen and for the economy to improve. We project our sales in China will grow three to five percent in 2023 in local currency compared to 2022. We assume that currency translation will negatively impact sales by approximately six percent.

Combining all of these factors, we expect our 2023 consolidated sales to be up two percent compared to 2022. Our guidance excludes the impacts from potential future acquisitions.

Our sales in the third quarter of 2023 were $937.5 million, or 7.2 percent higher than the third quarter 2022 sales of $874.2 million. Sales in the first nine months of 2023 were $2,864.7 million, or approximately 1.7 percent higher than $2,817.8 million in the same period last year. Compared to the prior year quarter, higher volumes of residential water heaters were partially offset by lower boiler volumes in North America. In addition, our sales in the third quarter of 2023 were unfavorably impacted by approximately $13 million due to the depreciation of foreign currencies compared to the U.S. dollar. In the first nine months of 2023, higher volumes of residential and commercial water heaters more than offset unfavorable foreign currency impacts of approximately $53 million, unfavorable pricing, and lower boiler sales in our North America segment.

Our gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2023 was 38.0 percent and increased compared to 34.9 percent in the third quarter of 2022. Gross profit margin in the first nine months of 2023 was 38.9 percent compared to the gross profit margin of 34.8 percent in the first nine months of 2022. The higher gross profit margin in the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to lower material costs.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the third quarter of 2023 increased by $19.4 million compared to the third quarter of 2022. SG&A expenses increased $40.4 million in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the prior year. The increase in SG&A expenses for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the prior year periods was primarily due to higher employee costs, which includes management incentive expenses related to higher earnings and compensation increases. The prior year periods include the recognition of an $11.5 million favorable judgment against a competitor related to its infringement of one of our patents, which reduced SG&A expenses, and was partially offset by a $4.3 million expense associated with a terminated acquisition.

Impairment expense in the first nine months of 2023 was $15.6 million related to the sale of our business in Turkey. Of the $15.6 million impairment, $12.5 million was recorded in the Rest of World segment and $3.1 million in Corporate Expense. There was no impairment expense recorded in the third quarter of 2023.

Interest expense in the third quarter of 2023 was $2.4 million and flat to the same period last year. Interest expense in the first nine months of 2023 was $10.9 million compared to $6.0 million in the same period the previous year. The increase in interest expense in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to higher debt levels and interest rates.

Other expense (income), net was $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2023 and essentially flat compared to $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2022. Other expense (income), net was ($10.5) million in the first nine months of 2023 compared to expense of $6.4 million in the same period last year. The increase in Other expense (income), net was due to a reduction in pension expense of $10.0 million for the nine months ended 2023 compared to the prior year periods and also from $6.0 million of pension settlement income realized in the second quarter of 2023. See Note 10 - Pensions for additional information on the pension settlement.

Our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was 23.2 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was 24.1 percent and 23.7 percent, respectively. The change in the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023

compared to the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily due to a change in geographical earnings mix. In addition, results in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 include a $15.6 million impairment expense recorded with no associated tax benefit. We estimate that our annual effective income tax rate for the full year of 2023 will be approximately 24 percent.

Sales in our North America segment were $709.9 million in the third quarter of 2023, or $57.0 million higher than sales of $652.9 million in the third quarter of 2022. Sales in the first nine months of 2023 were $2,184.9 million, or $57.8 million higher than sales of $2,127.1 million in the same period last year. Higher sales in the third quarter of 2023 were primarily driven by higher residential water heater volumes, partially offset by lower boiler volumes. Increased sales in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the prior year period were primarily driven by higher residential and commercial water heater volumes, partially offset by unfavorable pricing and lower volumes of boilers.

North America segment earnings were $170.0 million in the third quarter of 2023, an increase of approximately 19.9 percent compared to segment earnings of $141.8 million in the third quarter of 2022. Segment earnings in the first nine months of 2023 were $557.7 million, an increase of 23.0 percent compared to segment earnings of $453.5 million in the first nine months of 2022. Segment margins were 23.9 percent and 21.7 percent in the third quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively. Segment margins were 25.5 percent and 21.3 percent in the first nine months of 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Higher segment earnings and margins in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the prior year were primarily due to higher volumes of residential water heaters and lower material costs which more than offset lower boiler volumes. Higher segment earnings and margins in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the prior year were primarily due to the factors mentioned above and higher volumes of commercial water heaters. Additionally, in the first nine months of 2023, we realized pre-tax pension settlement income of $5.0 million.

Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the third quarter of 2022 were $132.9 million and 20.4 percent, respectively. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the third quarter of 2022 exclude $2.6 million of pension expense and the recognition of the $11.5 million patent infringement judgment. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first nine months of 2023 were $552.7 million and 25.3 percent, respectively. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first nine months of 2023 exclude $5.0 million of pension settlement income. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first nine months of 2022 were $449.8 million and 21.1 percent, respectively. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first nine months of 2022 exclude $7.8 million of pension expense and the recognition of the $11.5 million patent infringement judgment. We estimate our 2023 North America segment margin will be approximately 25 percent.

Sales in the Rest of World segment were $233.4 million in the third quarter of 2023, or $3.2 million higher than sales of $230.2 million in the third quarter of 2022. Sales in the first nine months of 2023 were $696.7 million, or $19.4 million lower than sales of $716.1 million in the same period last year. The increased sales in the third quarter of 2023 were primarily driven by higher volumes in China, particularly in our kitchen appliance products, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation of approximately $11 million. The decrease in sales in the first nine months of 2023 was primarily driven by approximately $42 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, partially offset by favorable product mix.

Rest of World segment earnings were $23.2 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $21.8 million in the third quarter of 2022. Segment earnings in the first nine months of 2023 were $56.8 million compared to $64.7 million in the first nine months of 2022. Segment margins were 9.9 percent and 9.5 percent in the third quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively. Segment margins were 8.2 percent and 9.0 percent in the first nine months of 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Higher segment earnings and segment margin in the third quarter of 2023 were primarily driven by sales of new products, particularly in our kitchen appliance products, and favorable mix in China. Lower segment earnings and segment margin in the first nine months of 2023 were primarily driven by the impairment expense of $12.5 million associated with the sale of our business in Turkey.

Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first nine months of 2023 were $69.3 million and 9.9 percent, respectively. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first nine months of 2023 exclude the $12.5 million impairment expense. We estimate our 2023 Rest of World segment margin will be approximately nine percent, and adjusted segment margin will be approximately 10 percent, excluding the impairment expense.

We expect our consolidated sales in 2023 to be up two percent compared with 2022. Our sales projection is driven by an expected increase of approximately four percent industry residential unit volumes, increased commercial water heater volumes, and higher water treatment sales, partially offset by lower boiler sales in North America. As a result, we expect to achieve full-year earnings of between $3.63 and $3.73 per share and adjusted earnings of between $3.70 and $3.80 per share. Our guidance excludes the impacts from potential future acquisitions.

Our working capital was $608.9 million at September 30, 2023, compared with $699.5 million at December 31, 2022. Movements in working capital consisted of lower Cash and cash equivalents, and Marketable securities due to the paydown of our Long-term debt and Trade payables. In addition, as of September 30, 2023, cash balances were negatively impacted by $17.7 million due to changes in foreign currency during the year. Cash and cash equivalents used to fund our operations are primarily generated through operating activities and provided by our existing credit facilities. We believe our available cash and existing credit facilities are sufficient to cover our cash needs for the foreseeable future. We use a global cash pooling arrangement, intercompany borrowing, and some local credit lines to meet funding needs and allocate capital resources among various entities. We have historically made and anticipate future cash repatriations to the United States from certain foreign subsidiaries. In the first nine months of 2023, we repatriated approximately $100 million of cash from our foreign subsidiaries through dividends and approximately $200 million through our global cash pooling arrangement. We used the proceeds to pay down outstanding debt balances.

Capital expenditures totaled $42.7 million in the first nine months of 2023 compared with $50.9 million in the same period last year. We project 2023 capital expenditures will be approximately $65 million and full-year depreciation and amortization expense will be approximately $70 million.

In 2021, we renewed and amended our $500 million revolving credit facility, which now expires on April 1, 2026. The renewed and amended facility, with a group of nine banks, has an accordion provision that allows it to be increased up to $850 million if certain conditions (including lender approval) are satisfied. Borrowing rates under the facility are determined by our leverage ratio. The facility requires us to maintain two financial covenants, a leverage ratio test and an interest coverage test, and we were in compliance with the covenants as of September 30, 2023, and expect to be in compliance for the foreseeable future. The facility backs up commercial paper and credit line borrowings. At September 30, 2023, we had no borrowings outstanding under the facility and an available borrowing capacity of $500.0 million. We believe the combination of available borrowing capacity and operating cash flows will provide sufficient funds to finance our existing operations for the foreseeable future.

Our total debt decreased by $214.9 million in the first nine months of 2023 primarily due to payments. Our leverage, as measured by the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, was 6.4 percent at September 30, 2023, compared with 16.5 percent at December 31, 2022.

In the first quarter of 2023, our Board of Directors approved adding 7,500,000 shares of common stock to our existing discretionary share repurchase authority. Under our share repurchase program, we may purchase our common stock through a combination of a Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and discretionary purchases in accordance with applicable securities laws. The stock repurchase authorization remains effective until terminated by our Board of Directors, which may occur at any time, subject to the parameters of any Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan that we may then have in effect. During the first nine months of 2023, we repurchased 2,388,000 shares of our stock at a total cost of $161.4 million. At September 30, 2023, we had 5,490,462 shares remaining on the share repurchase authority. Depending on factors such as stock price, working capital requirements, and alternative investment opportunities, we expect to spend approximately $300 million on stock repurchases in 2023 through a combination of any renewed Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and open market repurchases.

On October 9, 2023, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share on our Common Stock and Class A common stock. The dividend is payable on November 15, 2023, to shareholders of record on October 31, 2023.

We provide non-GAAP measures of free cash flow, adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, total segment earnings, adjusted segment earnings, and adjusted corporate expense. We define free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Our adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted segment earnings, and adjusted corporate expenses exclude the impact of the 2023 impairment expense and pension settlement income and 2022 non-operating pension expenses related to the terminated pension plan.

We believe that free cash flow provides useful additional information concerning cash flow available to meet future debt service obligations and working capital requirements. We believe that the measure of adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted segment earnings and adjusted corporate expense provides useful information to investors about our performance and allows management and our investors to better understand our performance between periods without regard to items we do not consider to be a component of our core operating performance.

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION