10 High Growth S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now

5. A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS)

Goldman Sachs analyst Susan Maklari on February 12, 2026, raised the price target on A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS) to $69 from $63 while maintaining a Sell rating. Susan Maklari said Goldman Sachs is looking for a deceleration in housing and industry dynamics to limit upside to results in 2026, citing ongoing macro headwinds and tough comps in China. Goldman Sachs added that longer term, as A.O. Smith broadens its offerings and expands into areas of secular growth, there is “a potential path to higher earnings.”

On January 30, 2026, Stifel analyst Nathan Jones lifted the price target to $85 from $80 and kept a Buy rating. Nathan Jones noted that A.O. Smith delivered a Q4 EPS beat, though 2026 revenue guidance was light and the EPS midpoint came in below consensus. Despite the mixed quarter, shares rose about 5%, which Nathan Jones believes was likely driven by short covering. The same day, Baird analyst Michael Halloran raised the price target to $77 from $76 and maintained a Neutral rating, updating the model after Q4 results, where estimate acceleration remains a key catalyst.

On January 29, 2026, A.O. Smith reported Q4 adjusted EPS of 90c versus 84c consensus and revenue of $912.5M compared with $928.19M consensus. CEO Steve Shafer said, “I am pleased with the resilience and focus our team showed through the fourth quarter,” pointing to continued improvement in profitability and strength in the commercial water heater and boiler markets that contributed to record EPS in 2025. Steve Shafer added that China margins expanded despite volume pressure and said the addition of Leonard Valve and Heat-Timer represents “an important step forward” in aligning the portfolio to higher growth opportunities.

A.O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS) manufactures and markets residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, boilers, heat pumps, tanks, and water treatment products across North America, China, Europe, and India.