A O Smith Corp vs Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $63.65 (market cap $8.65B), while Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $308.56 (market cap $68.88B). The key difference: Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. is far larger — about 8× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.34%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | APD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $68.88B |
Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $314.19 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $230.42 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $86.06B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 2.34% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AOS trades at $62.41, down 2.45% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and key support at $60. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.03, beating estimates, driven by North America strength. Revenue remains stable at $3.83B for 2025, with strong profitability margins including a 38.59% gross margin and 14.26% net income margin. Recent leadership transition saw Kevin Wheeler retire as Executive Chairman, with Stephen Shafer taking over.
The stock offers a 7.8% upside to the $67.25 consensus price target, supported by solid cash flow and a dividend yield. Risks include exposure to input cost pressures and weaker China demand, as noted in Q2 results. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 33% buy ratings, but institutional selling by Amundi in Q1 2026 warrants monitoring for momentum shifts.
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) trades at $308.18, up 1.56% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving averages. The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS of $3.47 exceeding expectations. Recent positive developments include a major semiconductor supply agreement in Taiwan and raised guidance, though profitability metrics show weakness with negative net income margin and ROE. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $346 price target representing 12% upside potential.
APD presents a growth opportunity driven by strategic contracts and consistent earnings beats, but faces fundamental challenges with negative profitability and elevated debt levels. The stock's technical strength and institutional support provide near-term momentum, though investors should weigh the disconnect between valuation multiples and current financial performance against the company's long-term growth prospects in industrial gases.
Trailing returns across standard periods
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →