SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report
(Date of earliest
event reported):
July 15, 2004


A. O. Smith Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
1-475
39-0619790
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File
Number)
 (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)


P.O. Box 245008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224-9508
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)



(414) 359-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)     Not applicable.

(b)     Not applicable.

(c)     Exhibits. The following exhibit is being filed herewith:

(99)     News Release of A. O. Smith Corporation, dated July 15, 2004.

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On July 15, 2004, A. O. Smith Corporation (“the Company”) issued a news release announcing the Company’s results for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. A copy of the Company’s news release is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) and is incorporated by reference herein.

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 hereunto duly authorized.

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION


Date:  July 15, 2004
By:  /s/ Kenneth W. Krueger
        Kenneth W. Krueger
        Senior Vice President and
        Chief Financial Officer








2


A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Exhibit Index to Current Report on Form 8-K Dated July 15, 2004.

Exhibit
Number
Description

99 News Release of A. O. Smith Corporation, dated July 15, 2004.

A. O. SMITH CORPORATON
NEWS RELEASE For further information contact:



MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Edward J. O'Connor
414-359-4100
ANALYST/INVESTOR INQUIRIES:
Craig Watson
414-359-4009
A. O. Smith Corporation
P.O. Box 245008
Milwaukee, WI 53224-9508
414-359-4000
NYSE: AOS


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2004

A.O. Smith announces second quarter earnings of $.58 per share

        Milwaukee, Wis. — A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS-NYSE) today announced second quarter earnings of $17.3 million or $.58 per share, which included a six cents per share gain from non-recurring items. The company earned $19.8 million or $.67 per share in the second quarter of 2003.

        Revenues for the quarter ended June 30 increased approximately five percent to $437.3 million compared with revenues of $417.6 million for the same period last year.

        “Both of our operating units continued to face cost pressure during the quarter brought on by significant increases in the price of steel and higher freight cost,” Robert J. O’Toole, chairman and chief executive officer, observed.

        “In addition, our Water Systems unit continued to experience manufacturing inefficiencies and logistics cost increases that were caused by multiple conversion programs,” O’Toole continued.

        “The company has implemented several price increases during the last four months, and these increases are now taking effect and mitigating the adverse impact of the higher steel and freight costs. We will continue to closely monitor steel and other costs and initiate appropriate pricing actions as necessary.”

        For the first six months of 2004, A. O. Smith earned $28.0 million or $.94 per share compared with earnings of $33.5 million or $1.13 per share for the same period in 2003. Six-month revenues were $853.8 million compared with sales of $805.5 million for the first six months of 2003.

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a.o. smith announces earnings add l

        Non-recurring items during the quarter amounted to a $2.5 million pre-tax gain. The items consisted of a favorable resolution of litigation related to pre-acquisition State Industries’ Duron product, partially offset by the write-off of capitalized software at Electrical Products.

        Corporate expenses during the quarter were approximately $2.7 million higher than last year, primarily due to an insurance settlement and interest on a tax refund in 2003.

Electrical Products

        Electric motor sales were $228 million in the second quarter, the same as last year. Sales increased in all served OEM markets except the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) segment, which declined approximately 10 percent due primarily to the loss of a sales contract by an OEM customer. Aftermarket sales were flat during the quarter.

        Operating earnings of $17.4 million were lower than the same period last year. Higher costs for steel and freight more than offset cost savings related to the company’s repositioning program.

Water Systems

        Water Systems’ second quarter sales of $210 million were 10 percent higher than sales in the second quarter of 2003. Improved revenue for residential water heaters due to the launch of new products to address regulatory standards changes and higher sales in China contributed to the sales increase. Residential unit volume was approximately 10 percent lower than last year’s second quarter due to the significant pre-buy of gas water heaters last year in anticipation of the introduction of flammable vapor ignition resistant product.

        Operating profit of $18.7 million was five percent higher than the second quarter of last year. Higher operating profit in China, the new product introductions during the

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a.o. smith announces earnings add 2

second half of 2003 and first half of this year, and the gain related to the resolution of litigation were offset by the decline in residential unit volume, manufacturing inefficiencies and higher logistics costs. Similar to the first quarter, manufacturing inefficiencies and higher logistics costs resulted from programs implemented to meet new efficiency standards, standardize A. O. Smith and State residential product lines, relocate production between the Ashland City, Tenn., and McBee, S. C., plants, and the installation of a new information management system.

Company discusses outlook

        “Although we made less progress than expected at Water Systems during the quarter, we believe efficiency levels will improve as the year proceeds. Price increases are now beginning to offset higher steel costs at both Electrical Products and Water Systems. We will continue to monitor material and freight costs closely to assure that pricing remains in line,” O’Toole said.

        “We are maintaining our full-year projection of $1.90 to $2.00 per share and forecast that earnings will be in a range of $.42 to $.46 per share for the third quarter.”

        A.O. Smith Corporation will broadcast a live conference call today at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The call can be heard on the company’s web site, www.aosmith.com. An audio replay of the call will be available on the company’s web site after the live event.

Forward-looking statements

        This release contains statements that we believe are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this release. Factors that could cause such a variance include the following: instability in the

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a.o. smith announces earnings add 3

company’s electric motor and water products markets; inability to generate the synergistic cost savings from the acquisition of State Industries; the inability to implement cost-reduction programs; adverse changes in general economic conditions; significant increases in raw material prices; competitive pressures on the company’s businesses; and the potential that assumptions on which the company based its expectations are inaccurate or will prove to be incorrect.

        Forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release, and the company is under no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking statements attributed to the company, or persons acting on its behalf, are qualified entirely by these cautionary statements.

        A.O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is one of North America’s largest manufacturers of electric motors, with a comprehensive line of hermetic motors, fractional horsepower alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) motors, and integral horsepower motors, as well as one of North America’s largest manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment. The company employs approximately 17,000 people worldwide.


A. O. SMITH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(condensed consolidated financial statements —
dollars in millions, except per share data)

Statement of Earnings

Three Months ended
June 30

Six Months ended
June 30

2004
2003
2004
2003
Electrical Products     $ 227.7   $ 227.6   $ 451.3   $ 440.7  
Water Systems    209.6    190.0    402.5    364.8  




Net sales    437.3    417.6    853.8    805.5  

Cost of products sold
    348.9    333.8    687.2    643.5  




   Gross profit    88.4    83.8    166.6    162.0  

Selling, general and administrative
    58.9    51.7    117.6    105.7  
Interest expense    3.2    3.0    6.4    5.9  
Other (income) / expense    0.3    (0.1 )  0.5    0.3  




     26.0    29.2    42.1    50.1  
Tax provision    8.7    9.4    14.1    16.6  





Net Earnings
   $ 17.3   $ 19.8   $ 28.0   $ 33.5  





Net Earnings Per Share of Common
  
   Stock (Diluted)   $ 0.58   $ 0.67   $ 0.94   $ 1.13  





    Average Common Shares
  
     Outstanding (000's omitted)    29,913    29,656    29,913    29,589  

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
Balance Sheet

(dollars in millions)

June 30
2004

December 31
2003

ASSETS:            

     Cash and cash equivalents
   $ 16.2   $ 18.7  
     Receivables    306.3    236.7  
     Inventories    255.1    247.0  
     Deferred income taxes    16.0    14.3  
     Other current assets    25.8    31.0  



        Total Current Assets
    619.4    547.7  

     Net property, plant and equipment
    349.2    358.7  
     Goodwill and other intangibles    311.8    310.9  
     Other assets    64.1    62.6  



     Total Assets
   $ 1,344.5   $ 1,279.9  



LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  

     Short-term debt
   $ --   $ 96.8  
     Trade payables    175.0    144.5  
     Accrued payroll and benefits    32.8    30.5  
     Product warranty    17.4    18.9  
     Long-term debt due within one year    8.6    8.6  
     Other current liabilities    38.9    39.3  



        Total Current Liabilities
    272.7    338.6  

     Long-term debt
    280.7    170.1  
     Other liabilities    103.2    105.5  
     Pension liability    58.5    61.6  
     Deferred income taxes    32.7    27.9  
     Stockholders' equity    596.7    576.2  



     Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
   $ 1,344.5   $ 1,279.9  



A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(dollars in millions)

Six Months ended
June 30

2004
2003
Operating Activities            
Continuing  
     Net earnings   $ 28.0   $ 33.5  

     Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
  
       to net cash provided by operating activities:  
        Depreciation & amortization    26.8    25.8  
        Net change in current assets and liabilities    (46.1 )  (62.4 )
        Net change in noncurrent assets and liabilities    (1.3 )  (1.7 )
        Other    1.4    (1.3 )


Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities    8.8    (6.1 )



Investing Activities
  
     Capital expenditures    (19.0 )  (14.8 )


Cash Used in Investing Activities    (19.0 )  (14.8 )



Financing Activities
  
     Long-term debt incurred    16.0    32.2  
     Long-term debt retired    (2.1 )  (2.9 )
     Other stock transactions    3.0    1.5  
     Dividends paid    (8.8 )  (8.1 )


Cash Provided by Financing Activities    8.1    22.7  

Discontinued
  
Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations    (0.4 )  0.2  



     Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (2.5 )  2.0  
     Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period    18.7    32.8  



Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period
   $ 16.2   $ 34.8  



A. O. SMITH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Business Segments

(dollars in millions)

Three Months ended
June 30

Six Months ended
June 30

2004
2003
2004
2003
Net sales                    
      Electrical Products   $ 227.7   $ 227.6   $ 451.3   $ 440.7  
      Water Systems    209.6    190.0    402.5    364.8  




    $ 437.3   $ 417.6   $ 853.8   $ 805.5  





Operating earnings
  
      Electrical Products   $ 17.4   $ 18.6   $ 34.5   $ 36.2  
      Water Systems    18.7    17.8    27.5    29.9  




     36.1    36.4    62.0    66.1  

Corporate expenses
    (6.9 )  (4.2 )  (13.5 )  (10.1 )
Interest expense    (3.2 )  (3.0 )  (6.4 )  (5.9 )





Earnings before income taxes
    26.0    29.2    42.1    50.1  

Provision for income taxes
    (8.7 )  (9.4 )  (14.1 )  (16.6 )





Net earnings
   $ 17.3   $ 19.8   $ 28.0   $ 33.5