April 25 (Reuters) - Water heater maker A. O. Smith ( AOS )

reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit on

Thursday, aided by price hikes and resilient demand for its

water heaters and treatment products in North America.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company has also benefited

from growing demand for its energy-efficient boilers as

commercial buildings look to improve their carbon footprints.

Adjusted profit for the first quarter was $1 per share,

compared with 94 cents per share a year earlier. Analysts on

average had estimated 98 cents per share, according to LSEG

data.

Sales in North America, which accounted for 75% of its total

sales in 2023, rose 2,% to $766.3 million.

Rest of the world total sales, which includes China and

India, rose 4%, to $226.9 million.

"We achieved sales growth of 6% in China despite the

ongoing macroeconomic challenges in that country, as our

recently released kitchen products continue to be well received

in the market," said CEO Kevin J. Wheeler.

Total quarterly sales came in at $978.8 million, up 1% from

a year ago.

The company reaffirmed its earlier forecast for

full-year profit between $3.90 and $4.15 per share.