Oct 22 (Reuters) - A.O. Smith missed

third-quarter revenue and profit estimates on Tuesday, hurt by

lower sales of its water heaters in North America and China,

sending its shares down more than 1% before the bell.

The company's revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30 fell

nearly 4% to $902.6 million compared with the previous year, and

below estimates of $904.73 million, according to data compiled

by LSEG.

"We expect consumer demand to remain challenged in China

through the end of the year and we are cautious about North

America residential and commercial water heater end-market

demand," A. O. Smith ( AOS ) CEO Kevin J. Wheeler said.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based firm, earlier this month, cut

its full-year adjusted profit forecast citing softness in China.

It now expects 2024 adjusted profit to be between $3.70 and

$3.85 per share compared with the prior forecast of $3.95 to

$4.10 per share.

A prolonged downturn in the Chinese real estate sector

affected international sales, comprising 25% of total 2023

sales, mainly from China, and fell nearly 10% to $210.3 million.

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

annual total sales, fell 1% to $703.3 million.

Net income for the third quarter was $120 million, or 82

cents per share, compared with $135 million or 90 cents per

share a year earlier. Analysts had expected a quarterly profit

of 83 cents per share.