Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Karge Douglas Samuel 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SMITH A O CORP [AOS] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP - President NA Water Treat (Last) (First) (Middle) A. O. SMITH CORPORATION, 11270 WEST PARK PLACE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/13/2026 (Street) MILWAUKEE, WI 53224 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/13/2026 M 1,415 A $ 0 (1) 4,218(2) D Common Stock 02/13/2026 F 666(3) D $79.885 3,552 D Common Stock 02/13/2026 A 338(4) A $79.885 3,890 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Restricted Stock Units

$ 0 (1)

02/13/2026

M

1,415

(5)

(5)

Common Stock

1,415

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Karge Douglas Samuel A. O. SMITH CORPORATION 11270 WEST PARK PLACE MILWAUKEE, WI 53224			SVP - President NA Water Treat

Signatures

James F. Stern, Attorney-in-Fact for Douglas Samuel Karge		02/17/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive, at settlement, one share of Common Stock. This transaction represents the settlement of restricted stock units in shares of Common Stock on their scheduled vesting date.
(2)	Mr. Karge is a participant in the A. O. Smith Dividend Reinvestment Plan ('Plan") and receives a quarterly dividend pursuant to the Plan. The total amount of dividends received was 54 shares of Common Stock.
(3)	Shares withheld by A. O. Smith Corporation to satisfy tax withholding requirements on vesting of restricted stock units.
(4)	Represents vesting of performance stock units at 150% of the target award amount and conversion to shares of A. O. Smith Corporation's Common Stock upon achievement of performance criteria for the 2023 - 2025 performance period.
(5)	The restricted stock units were granted on 02/13/2023 under the A. O. Smith Combined Incentive Compensation Plan, a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. The restricted stock units became payable in Common Stock on the vesting date of 02/13/2026.

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