AAON, INC. (AAON)

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview

The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition, and liquidity of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. A detailed discussion of the year-to-year changes for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 is not included herein and can be found in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Description of the Company

AAON is a leader in HVAC solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments. The company’s industry-leading approach to designing and manufacturing highly configurable equipment to meet exact needs creates a premier ownership experience with greater efficiency, performance, and long-term value. AAON is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where its world-class innovation center and testing capabilities enable continuous advancement toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.

We engineer, manufacture, and sell premium heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment consisting of semi-custom and custom rooftop units, data center cooling solutions, cleanroom systems, packaged outdoor mechanical rooms, air handling units, makeup air units, energy recovery units, condensing units, geothermal/water-source heat pumps, coils, and controls. These products are marketed and sold to a variety of vertical markets including retail, manufacturing, educational, lodging, supermarket, data centers, medical and pharmaceutical, industrial, and other commercial markets. We sell our products to all 50 states in the United States and certain provinces in Canada.

Our business can be affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate. The uncertainty of the economy negatively impacted the commercial and industrial new construction markets in 2020 and the first half of 2021. Since mid-2021, nonresidential construction spending has been strong, recovering well beyond pre-2020 levels and finishing 2024 near record levels. However, over the last 18-24 months, certain leading indicators, including architectural billings and construction starts, signal a slowing in construction spending within the next 12 months. In 2024, the year-over-year growth rate of nonresidential construction spending slowed significantly, reinforcing the signals from these leading indicators. Furthermore, signals from general economic indicators are mixed regarding the health of the general economy. If the domestic economy were to slow or enter a recession, this could impact the replacement market, potentially resulting in a decline in our sales volume and profitability. Sales in the commercial and industrial new construction markets generally lag behind the housing market, which in turn is influenced by cyclical factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer spending habits, employment rates, the state of the economy and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control. Sales in the replacement markets are driven by various factors, including general economic growth, the Company's new product introductions, fluctuations in the average age of existing equipment in the market, government regulations and stimulus, change in market demand between more customized, higher performing HVAC equipment and lower priced standard equipment, as well as many other factors. When new construction is down, we emphasize the replacement market.

We sell our products to property owners and contractors mainly through a network of independent manufacturers’ Representatives. This go-to-market strategy is unique compared to most of our larger competitors in that most control their sales channel. We value the independent sales channel as we think it is a more effective way of increasing market share. Although we concede full control of the sales process with this strategy, the entrepreneurial aspect of the independent sales channel attracts the most talent and provides greater financial incentives for its salespeople. Further, the independent sales channel sells different types of equipment from various manufacturers, allowing it to operate with more of a solutions-based mindset, as opposed to an internal sales department of a manufacturing company that is incentivized to only sell its equipment regardless if it is the best solution for the end customer. We also have a small internal sales force that supports the relationships between the Company and our sales channel partners. BASX sells highly customized products for unique applications for a more concentrated customer base and an internal sales force is more effective for such products.

The principal components of cost of sales are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out, and engineering expense. The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper, and aluminum, and are obtained from domestic suppliers. We also purchase from domestic manufacturers certain components, including coils, compressors, motors, and electrical controls.

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The price levels of our raw materials fluctuate due to various economic factors within the U.S. and global economy. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the prices for copper and galvanized steel increased by approximately 3.2% and 1.7%, respectively, while stainless steel and aluminum decreased 27.9% and 1.6%, respectively, from 2023.

We attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancellable and non-cancellable contracts with our major suppliers for periods of six to 18 months. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.

We occasionally increase the price of our products to help offset any inflationary headwinds. In recent years, price increases have been more frequent due to the amount of inflation the business has endured. In 2021, we implemented three price increases for AAON branded products. In 2022, we implemented two significant price increases as well as a recurring 1% monthly price increase beginning June 1, 2022, and ending on April 1, 2023, for AAON branded products. We reinstated a recurring 1% monthly price increase on October 1, 2023, and carried that through February 1, 2024, for AAON branded products. On January 1, 2025, we implemented a one-time 3% price increase for AAON branded products. BASX branded products are priced by job and in most cases, provide the ability to increase the price if the order is outside normal lead times.

Additionally, we continue to experience challenges in a tight labor market, especially the hiring of both skilled and unskilled production labor. We have implemented the following wage increases to remain competitive and to attract and retain employees:

•In March 2023, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 3.9% increase to wages.

•In March 2024, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 3.3% increase to wages.

We will continue to implement human resource initiatives to retain and attract labor to further improve productivity and production efficiencies.

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Backlog

The following table shows our historical backlog levels:

Our backlog increased approximately 70.0%, to $867.1 million at December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023. Backlog was up from a year ago at all three segments, with the largest increase at the AAON Coil Products segment, which received over $200.0 million of orders in the fourth quarter. Most of these orders were associated with the BASX branded data center liquid cooling solutions and will be manufactured at our Longview, TX facility.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following are highlights of our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition:

•Net sales for 2024 grew 2.7% to $1,200.6 million due to an increase in sales of our BASX branded products. BASX branded products increased 35.1%, or $58.5 million when compared to 2023, offset by a decrease of our AAON branded products of 2.6%, or $26.4 million when compared to 2023.

•We have a strong balance sheet with a leverage ratio of 0.57 and available borrowings under our Revolver of $123.2 million.

•We completed the purchase of a building in Memphis, Tennessee for $63.4 million funded with our new Term Loan of $80.0 million, both of which closed in December 2024.

•We continue to invest in the future growth of the Company as evidenced by our $213.2 million in capital expenditures in 2024, an increase of $91.4 million or 87.6% when compared to 2023.

•We completed the repurchase of $108.1 million of shares for the year ended December 31, 2024.

We report our financial results based on three reportable segments: AAON Oklahoma, AAON Coil Products, and BASX, which are further described in Item 1 and Item 8. The Company’s chief decision maker (“CODM”), our CEO, allocates resources and assesses the performance of each operating segment using information about the operating segment's net sales and gross profit. The CODM does not evaluate operating segments using asset or liability information.

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Segment Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

Total net sales increased $32.1 million, or 2.7%. BASX increased by 25.1%, or $39.8 million, and AAON Coil Products increased 28.1%, or $31.6 million, both primarily related to demand from the BASX branded data center products. AAON Oklahoma sales decreased 4.4%, or $39.2 million due to challenges from the industry-regulated refrigerant transition and nonresidential construction activity that experienced weakened demand throughout 2024 as compared to 2023.

Gross profit as a percent of sales decreased to 33.1% during 2024 as compared to 34.1% in 2023. As noted above, realization of price increases has improved our margin profile along with the slowing of inflation; however, the price increases were offset by flat volumes and lower overhead absorption for the AAON Oklahoma segment. In addition, the AAON Coil Products and BASX segments experienced temporary inefficiencies associated with facility construction to increase future production capacity for increased demand of BASX branded data center products.

In order to retain our existing employees, we have increased our starting wage rate considerably in recent years and continue to award periodic wage increases to our employees. We occasionally increase the price of our products to help offset any inflationary headwinds. In 2022, we implemented a recurring 1% monthly price increase beginning June 1, 2022, and ending on April 1, 2023. We reinstated the recurring 1% monthly price increase on October 1, 2023, through February 1, 2024.

As shown in the table below, we have experienced year-over-year fluctuations in the cost of several raw materials.

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Raw Material Costs

Twelve-month average raw material cost per pound as of December 31:

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 9.6%, or $16.5 million, during 2024 as compared to the prior year. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative increased from 14.7% to 15.7%. Depreciation and amortization increased 49.3%, or $6.8 million, as compared to 2023, due to increased investments in back office technology and automation. Other expenses increased 34.5%, or $10.3 million, due to increased travel, consulting expenses, and closing costs related to the 2023 New Market Tax Credit (Note 18). Professional fees decreased 42.7%, or $6.6 million, due to the 2023 litigation settlement (Note 19).

Income Taxes

The Company’s estimated annual 2024 effective tax rate, excluding discrete events, was 24.7%.

The decrease year over year in the overall effective tax rate was primarily due to the excess tax benefit of $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $8.9 million during the same period in 2023. The excess tax benefit is related to the timing of stock option exercises and restricted stock vestings as a result of our high stock price during the year ended December 31, 2024.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our working capital and capital expenditure requirements are generally met through net cash provided by operations and the use of the revolving bank line of credit based on our current liquidity at the time.

Working Capital - Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents decreased $0.3 million from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, we had $6.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash.

Outstanding Debt - On December 16, 2024, we amended our Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated November 24, 2021 (as amended, “Amended Loan Agreement”) to include an $80.0 million term loan (“Term Loan”) in addition to the $200.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”).

As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, we had an outstanding balance under the Revolver of $76.5 million and $38.3 million, respectively. We had one standby letter of credit totaling $0.3 million as of December 31, 2024, and two standby letters of credit totaling $2.3 million as of December 31, 2023. Borrowings available under the Revolver at December 31, 2024, were $123.2 million. The Revolver expires on May 27, 2027.

As of December 31, 2024, we had an outstanding balance under the Term Loan of $78.4 million. No amounts were outstanding under the Term Loan at December 31, 2023. The Term Loan is payable in equal month installments, plus interest, over 60 months, expiring December 16, 2029.

Any outstanding loans under the Revolver bear interest at the daily compounded secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) plus the applicable margin. The Term Loan bears interest at the SOFR plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% per annum plus the Applicable Margin.

Applicable margin, ranging from 1.25% - 1.75%, is determined quarterly based on the Company’s leverage ratio. The Company is also subject to letter of credit fees, ranging from 1.25% - 1.75%, and a commitment fee, ranging from 0.10% - 0.20%. The applicable fee percentage is determined quarterly based on the Company’s leverage ratio.

Fees associated with the unused portion of the committed amount are included in interest expense on our consolidated statements of income and were not material for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

Weighted average interest rate of our borrowings outstanding are as follows:

If SOFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition, as defined by the Amended Loan Agreement, any outstanding effected loans will be deemed to have been converted into alternative base rate (“ABR”) loans. ABR loans would bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50%, or (c) daily simple SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day plus 1.00%. As of December 16, 2024, as defined by the Amended Loan Agreement, if the SOFR cannot be determined any outstanding balance will bear interest at the Prime Rate in effect on such day.

At December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with our financial covenants, as defined by the Revolver. These covenants require that we meet certain parameters related to our leverage ratio. At December 31, 2024, our leverage ratio was 0.57 to 1.0, which meets the requirement of not being above 3 to 1.

2019 New Markets Tax Credit - On October 24, 2019, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “2019 Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“2019 NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in plant and equipment to facilitate the expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “2019 Project”). In connection with the 2019 NMTC transaction, the Company received a $23.0 million NMTC allocation for the Project and secured low-interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the 2019 Project.

Upon closing of the 2019 NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $15.9 million to the 2019 Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $15.9 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the 2019 Investor was used to make an aggregate

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$22.5 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by equipment at the Company’s Longview, Texas facilities and a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of the NMTCs.

2023 New Markets Tax Credit - On April 25, 2023, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “2023 Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“2023 NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in plant and equipment to facilitate the expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “2023 Project”). In connection with the 2023 NMTC transaction, the Company received a $23.0 million NMTC allocation for the 2023 Project and secured low-interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the expansion of its Longview, Texas facilities.

Upon closing of the 2023 NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $16.7 million to the 2023 Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $16.7 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the 2023 Investor was used to make an aggregate $23.8 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of the NMTCs. The net proceeds from the closing of the 2023 NMTC are included in restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets required to be used for the 2023 Project.

2024 New Markets Tax Credit - On February 27, 2024, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “2024 Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“2024 NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in real estate to facilitate the current expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “Project”). In connection with the 2024 NMTC transaction, the Company received a $15.5 million NMTC allocation for the Project and secured low-interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the expansion of its Longview, Texas facilities.

Upon closing the 2024 NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $11.0 million to the 2024 Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $11.0 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the 2024 Investor was used to make an aggregate $16.0 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of NMTCs. The net proceeds from the closing of the 2024 NMTC are included in restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets required to be used for the 2024 Project.

Stock Repurchase - The Board has authorized stock repurchase programs for the Company. The Company may purchase shares on the open market from time to time. The Board must authorize the timing and amount of these purchases and all repurchases are in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC allowing the Company to repurchase shares from the open market.

Our open market repurchase programs are as follows:

The Company also repurchases shares of AAON, Inc. stock from certain of its employees for payment of statutory tax withholdings on stock transactions. All other repurchases from directors or employees are contingent upon Board approval. All repurchases are done at current market prices.

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Our repurchase activity is as follows:

Dividends - At the discretion of the Board of Directors, we pay cash dividends. Board approval is required to determine the date of declaration and amount for each cash dividend payment.

Our recent dividends are as follows:

On July 7, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split of the Company’s common stock that was paid in the form of a stock dividend. Stockholders of record at the close of business on July 28, 2023, received one additional share for every two shares they held as of that date on August 16, 2023 (ex-dividend date August 17, 2023). All share and per share information has been updated to reflect the effects of this stock split.

Based on historical performance and current expectations, we believe our cash and cash equivalents balance, the projected cash flows generated from our operations, our existing committed revolving credit facility (or comparable financing), and our expected ability to access capital markets will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures and other liquidity requirements associated with our operations in 2025 and the foreseeable future.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements - We are not party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

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Statement of Cash Flows

The table below reflects a summary of our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used in investing activities, and net cash flows provided by financing activities for the years indicated.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

The Company currently manages cash needs through working capital as well as drawing on its line of credit. Collections and payments cycles are on a normal pattern and fluctuate due to timing of receipts and payments. In early 2022, the Company began increasing the purchase of inventory to take advantage of favorable pricing opportunities and also to mitigate the impact of future supply chain disruptions on our operations; however, as inflationary and supply chain disruptions have decreased, the Company has been able to reduce overall inventory levels. At the end of 2024, we made significant purchases of inventory related to data center orders. These purchases are allocated to customer jobs and show as increases to our contract assets.

Payment terms for BASX jobs may require upfront cash to fund the job resulting in cash inflows related to our contract liabilities and cash inflows fluctuate due to job timing and scheduling.

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The decrease in cash flows from income taxes is primarily due to the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which requires research and development expenses incurred after December 31, 2021, to be capitalized and amortized over five years. This defers our current period income tax deduction which increased our income tax payments due at the end of 2022.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

The capital expenditures increase during 2024 related to our continued investment in our production capabilities. Purchases during 2024 include additional infrastructure and machinery for both replacement and growth. We added 237,500 square feet to our Longview, Texas facility primarily for the production of BASX branded data center products. We also completed the addition of a new Weld Shop in Redmond, Oregon that created more capacity in our manufacturing building. In Parkville, Missouri, we built an SMT production line to produce our own control boards. We have also made investments to purchase and develop software for internal use in anticipation of future Company growth. Many of these projects are subject to review and cancellation at the discretion of our CEO and Board of Directors without incurring substantial charges.

In December 2024, the Company purchased a new 787,000 square foot facility in Memphis, Tennessee, which will accommodate incremental demand for both BASX and AAON products over the next several years, at the same time providing more geographic diversification across our manufacturing footprint. The purchase price for the facility was approximately $63.4 million.

Our capital expenditure program for 2025 is estimated to be approximately $220.0 million. Many of these projects are subject to review and cancellation at the discretion of our CEO and Board of Directors without incurring substantial charges.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

The change in cash from financing activities in 2024 is primarily related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility to manage our working capital needs, especially strategic purchases of inventory to avoid supply chain delays and the funding of certain capital expenditures, offset by repayments we were able to make due to increased operating results and financial condition.

Additionally, we repurchased approximately 1.4 million shares for approximately $108.1 million during 2024 (Note 17).

Commitments and Contractual Agreements

We are occasionally party to short-term, cancellable and occasionally non-cancellable, contracts with major suppliers for the purchase of raw material and component parts. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials for use in our manufacturing operations. These contracts are not accounted for as derivative instruments because they meet the normal purchase and normal sales exemption. In 2023, the Company executed a five-year purchase commitment for refrigerants. The Company made payments of $11.7 million and $10.1 million on this contract in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Estimated minimum future payments are $9.1 million, $10.5 million, and $11.2 million, for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively. We had no other material contractual purchase obligations as of December 31, 2024.

Contingencies

We are subject to various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. We closely monitor these claims and legal actions and frequently consult with our legal counsel to determine whether they may, when resolved, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows and we accrue and/or disclose loss contingencies as appropriate. See Note 19 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information with respect to specific legal proceedings.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and the Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and operating results require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events, and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses in our consolidated financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates, assumptions, and judgments on historical experience, current trends, and other factors believed to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and such differences could be material. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates, assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We discuss these estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors periodically.

Revenue - Due to the highly customized nature of many of the Company’s products and each product not having an alternative use to the Company without incurring significant costs to the Company and the agreements contain an enforceable right to payment including a reasonable profit margin, the Company recognizes revenue over time as progress is made toward satisfying the performance obligations of each contract. The measurement and recognition of revenue requires us to make judgments and estimates, including the determination of whether we should recognize revenue as we perform or upon the completion of our performance obligation, as these determinations impact the timing and amount of our reported revenue. Costs used in estimating revenue can include direct materials, direct labor, installation, freight and delivery, commissions and royalties depending on the individual performance obligation. Other costs not related to the performance obligation, such as indirect labor and materials, small tools and supplies, operating expenses, field rework and back charges are charged to expense as incurred.

Inventory - Raw material or component inventory typically transfers from one stage of manufacturing to another where it accumulates additional costs directly incurred with the production of finished goods, including estimated standard labor and overhead costs. Labor and overhead costs associated with the manufacturing of our products are capitalized into inventory on an estimated standard basis. These include certain direct and indirect costs such as compensation, manufacturing, and facility costs associated with manufacturing support functions. We continually monitor our labor and overhead standard costs to ensure that standard costs reasonably reflect our actual costs and make manual adjusts the value of inventory accordingly. Our manual adjustments from standard to actual labor and overhead costs contain uncertainties that require management to make assumptions and apply judgment regarding a number of factors, including inventory turns, supply usage, manufacturing efficiencies, and historical production costs.

Inventory Reserves – We establish a reserve for inventories based on the change in inventory requirements due to product line changes, the feasibility of using obsolete parts for upgraded part substitutions, the required parts needed for part supply sales and replacement parts, and for estimated shrinkage. Assumptions used to estimate inventory reserves include future manufacturing requirements and industry trends. Evolving technology and changes in product mix or customer demand can significantly affect the outcome of this analysis.

Warranty Accrual – A provision is made for estimated warranty costs at the time the product is shipped and revenue is recognized. Our product warranty policy is the earlier of one year from the date of first use or 18 months from the date of shipment for parts only; 18 months for data center cooling solutions and cleanroom systems; an additional four years for compressors; 15 years on aluminized steel gas-fired heat exchangers; 25 years on stainless steel heat exchangers; and ten years on gas-fired heat exchangers in our historical RL products. Our warranty policy for the RQ series covers parts for two years from the date of unit shipment. Our warranty policy for the WH and WV Series geothermal/water-source heat pumps covers parts for five years from the date of installation. Warranty expense is estimated based on the warranty period, historical warranty trends and associated costs, and any known identifiable warranty issue.

Due to the absence of warranty history on new products, an additional provision may be made for such products. Our estimated future warranty cost is subject to adjustment from time to time depending on changes in actual warranty trends and cost experience. Should actual claim rates differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated product warranty liability would be required.

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Share-Based Compensation – We measure and recognize compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock awards, performance stock units (“PSUs”), and key employee awards (“Key Employee Awards”) based on their fair values at the time of grant. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of stock options, restricted stock awards, and PSUs. Compensation expense is recognized for the Key Employee Awards on a straight-line basis over the service period when the performance condition is determined to be probable. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The fair value of the PSUs is estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo Model. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model and the Monte Carlo Model requires the input of subjective assumptions such as: the expected volatility, the expected term of the grant, forward-looking market conditions, risk-free rate, and expected dividend yield for stock options. The fair value of restricted stock awards and Key Employee Awards is based on the fair market value of AAON common stock on the respective grant dates. The fair value of restricted stock awards is reduced for the present value of dividends.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets – Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration paid for the acquired businesses over the fair value of the individual assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks and trade names.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are evaluated for impairment at least annually. We perform our annual assessment of impairment during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, and more frequently if circumstances warrant.

To perform this assessment, we first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeds their carrying amount. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets does not exceed their carrying amount, we calculate the fair value for the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets and compare the amount to their carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived asset exceeds their carrying amount, the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets are not considered impaired. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets exceeds their fair value, the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets are considered to be impaired and the balance is reduced by the difference between the fair value and carrying amount of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets.

We performed a qualitative assessment as of December 31, 2024, to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets was greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets. Based on these qualitative assessments, we determined that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets was more likely than not greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets.

Estimates and assumptions used to perform the impairment evaluation are inherently uncertain and can significantly affect the outcome of the analysis. The estimates and assumptions we use in the annual impairment assessment included macro-industry trends, market participant considerations, historical profitability, including free cash flows, and forecasted multi-year operating results. Changes in operating results and other assumptions could materially affect these estimates. A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification.

We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. The new guidance is intended to update a variety of disclosure requirements. The effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective. Early adoption is prohibited. Upon adoption, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures.

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In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). The new guidance improves reportable segment disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and by requiring current annual disclosures to be provided in interim periods. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this standard for fiscal year ended 2024. Upon adoption, this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740). The new guidance is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Upon adoption, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (Subtopic 220-40). The new guidance requires the disaggregated disclosure of specific expense categories, including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization, within relevant income statement captions. This ASU also requires disclosure of the total amount of selling expenses along with the definition of selling expenses. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and related disclosures.

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview

The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. A detailed discussion of the year to year changes for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is not included herein and can be found in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Description of the Company

AAON is a leader in HVAC solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments. The company’s industry-leading approach to designing and manufacturing highly configurable equipment to meet exact needs creates a premier ownership experience with greater efficiency, performance, and long-term value. AAON is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where its world-class innovation center and testing capabilities enable continuous advancement toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.

We engineer, manufacture, and sell premium heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment consisting of semi-custom and custom rooftop units, data center cooling solutions, cleanroom systems, packaged outdoor mechanical rooms, air handling units, makeup air units, energy recovery units, condensing units, geothermal/water-source heat pumps, coils, and controls. These products are marketed and sold to a variety of vertical markets including retail, manufacturing, educational, lodging, supermarket, data centers, medical and pharmaceutical, industrial, and other commercial markets. We sell our products to all 50 states in the United States and certain provinces in Canada.

Our business can be affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate. The uncertainty of the economy negatively impacted the commercial and industrial new construction markets in 2020 and the first half of 2021. Since mid-2021, nonresidential construction spending has been strong, recovering well beyond pre-2020 levels and finishing 2023 near record levels. Recently, however, certain leading indicators, including architectural billings and construction starts, signal a slowing in construction spending within the next 12 months. Furthermore, some economic general indicators are suggesting the general economy is slowing, which could also impact the replacement market. If the domestic economy were to slow or enter a recession, this could result in a decline in our sales volume and profitability. Sales in the commercial and industrial new construction markets generally lag the housing market, which in turn is influenced by cyclical factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer spending habits, employment rates, the state of the economy and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control. Sales in the replacement markets are driven by various factors, including general economic growth, the Company's new product introductions, fluctuations in the average age of existing equipment in the market, government regulations and stimulus, change in market demand between more customized, higher performing HVAC equipment and lower priced standard equipment, as well as many other factors. When new construction is down, we emphasize the replacement market.

We sell our products to property owners and contractors mainly through a network of independent manufacturers’ Representatives. This go-to-market strategy is unique compared to most of our larger competitors in that most control their sales channel. We value the independent sales channel as we think it is a more effective way of increasing market share. Although we concede full control of the sales process with this strategy, the entrepreneurial aspect of the independent sales channel attracts the most talent and provides greater financial incentives for its salespeople. Furthermore, the independent sales channel sells different types of equipment from various manufacturers, allowing it to operate with more of a solutions-based mindset, as opposed to an internal sales department of a manufacturing company that is incentivized to only sell its equipment regardless if it is the best solution for the end customer. We also have a small internal sales force that supports the relationships between the Company and our sales channel partners. BASX sells highly customized products for unique applications for a more concentrated customer base and an internal sales force is more effective for such products.

The principal components of cost of sales are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out, and engineering expense. The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper, and aluminum, and are obtained from domestic suppliers. We also purchase from domestic manufacturers certain components, including coils, compressors, motors, and electrical controls.

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The price levels of our raw materials fluctuate due to various economic factors within the U.S. and global economy. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the prices for copper, galvanized steel, and stainless steel decreased by approximately 4.5%, 38.9%, and 3.3%, respectively, and aluminum increased by approximately 15.5% from 2022.

We attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancellable and non-cancellable contracts with our major suppliers for periods of six to 18 months. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.

We occasionally increase the price of our products to help offset any inflationary headwinds. In recent years, price increases have been more frequent due to the amount of inflation the business has endured. In 2021, we implemented three price increases. In 2022, we implemented two significant price increases as well as a recurring 1% monthly price increase beginning June 1, 2022 and ending on April 1, 2023. We reinstated a recurring 1% monthly price increase on October 1, 2023 and carried that through February 1, 2024.

Additionally, we continue to experience challenges in a tight labor market, especially the hiring of both skilled and unskilled production labor. We have implemented the following wage increases to remain competitive and to attract and retain employees:

•In March 2021, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 5.0% increase to wages.

•In July 2021, we increased starting wages for our production workforce by 7.0%.

•In October 2021, we implemented a cost of living increase of 3.5% in place for all employees

below our Senior Leadership Team ("SLT") which consists of officers and key members of management.

•In March 2022, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 3.0% increase to wages.

•In October 2022, we implemented a cost of living increase of 3.5% in place for all employees

below the SLT level.

•In March 2023, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 3.9% increase to wages.

We will continue to implement human resource initiatives to retain and attract labor to further improve productivity and production efficiencies.

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Backlog

The following table shows our historical backlog levels:

While our backlog is down at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022, our bookings remain strong. The year-ended December 31, 2022 was a record year for bookings and our backlog was elevated causing us to extend lead times. Investments made in our facilities and workforce have significantly improved our capacity and operational efficiencies. Production rates are at all time highs, trimming our backlog down to a more manageable size and allowing our lead times to improve.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following are highlights of our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition:

•Net sales for 2023 grew 31.5% to $1,168.5 million due to record production rates and price increases realized during the period as compared to the same period in the prior year.

•Overall gross margin increased 740 basis points in 2023 due to increased organic volumes for operational efficiencies and better overhead absorption.

•We continue to invest in the future growth of the Company as evidenced by our $104.3 million in capital expenditures in 2023, an increase $50.3 million or 93.1% when compared to 2022 .

•We completed the repurchase of $25.0 million of shares under our current share repurchase authorization.

We report our financial results based on three reportable segments: AAON Oklahoma, AAON Coil Products, and BASX, which are further described in Item 1 and Item 8. The Company's chief decision maker ("CODM"), our CEO, allocates resources and assesses the performance of each operating segment using information about the operating segment's net sales and income from operations. The CODM does not evaluate operating segments using asset or liability information.

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Segment Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Total net sales increased $279.7 million, or 31.5%, with 17.0% of the increase coming from realization of price increases and the remaining 14.5% coming from increases in organic volume. AAON Coil Products had a smaller backlog and along with inefficiencies related to implementing a new production line of BASX product at AAON Coil Products led to smaller year over year increase sales for this segment. The increase in BASX net sales is primarily related to large jobs in the data center market as a result of the revenue synergies created by being part of AAON.

Gross profit as a percent of sales increased to 34.1% during 2023 as compared 26.7% in 2022. As noted above, realization of price increases has improved our margin profile along with the slowing of inflation. Additionally, most of the organic growth noted above comes from our AAON Oklahoma segment, significantly improving overhead absorption and margin performance. The increase in net sales at BASX has improved their overhead absorption, thus increasing their gross profit margin year over year.

As shown in the table below, we've experienced year over year fluctuations in the cost of several raw materials. We implemented multiple price increases during 2022 and 2023 to counteract the increased cost of material. Some of the price increases have yet to be realized. Additionally, in order to retain our existing employees, we continue to award periodic raises in addition to our annual merit raises to our employees.

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Raw Material Costs

Twelve month average raw material cost per pound as of December 31:

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $60.7 million or 54.8% during 2023 as compared to the prior year. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative increased from 12.5% to 14.7%. Most of the increase is due to professional fees that increased $9.6 million due to the litigation settlement (Note 18).

Profit sharing increased $10.6 million or 75.5% due to our increased operating results. Other expenses increased $11.0 million or 58.0% during year due mostly to increased travel, consulting expenses and closing costs related to the 2023 New Market Tax Credit (Note 17).

Income Taxes

The Company’s estimated annual 2023 effective tax rate, excluding discrete events, was 23.8%.

The increase year over year in the overall effective tax rate was primarily due the non-deductible executive compensation. In accordance with the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), the tax deduction for covered executives of public companies is limited to $1.0 million per individual. Because of our high stock price and timing of executive stock option exercises this resulted in an increase to the income tax provision of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our working capital and capital expenditure requirements are generally met through net cash provided by operations and the use of the revolving bank line of credit based on our current liquidity at the time.

Working Capital - Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents decreased $5.2 million from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we had $9.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash.

Revolving Line of Credit - Our revolving credit facility ("Revolver"), as amended and restated, provides for maximum borrowings of $200.0 million. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had an outstanding balance under the Revolver of $38.3 million and $71.0 million, respectively. We had two standby letters of credit totaling $2.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and one standby letter of credit totaling $0.8 million as of December 31, 2022. Borrowings available under the Revolver at December 31, 2023, were $159.4 million. The Revolver expires on May 27, 2027.

Any outstanding loans under the Revolver bear interest at the daily compounded secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR") plus the applicable margin. Applicable margin, ranging from 1.25% - 1.75%, is determined quarterly based on the Company's leverage ratio. The Company is also subject to letter of credit fees, ranging from 1.25% - 1.75%, and a commitment fee, ranging from 0.10% - 0.20%. The applicable fee percentage is determined quarterly based on the Company's leverage ratio. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the weighted average interest rate of our Revolver was 6.3% and 3.0%, respectively. Fees associated with the unused portion of the committed amount are included in interest expense on our consolidated statements of income and were not material for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

If SOFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition, as defined by the Revolver agreement, any outstanding effected loans will be deemed to have been converted into alternative base rate ("ABR") loans. ABR loans would bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50%, or (c) daily simple SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day plus 1.00%.

At December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with our financial covenants, as defined by the Revolver. These covenants require that we meet certain parameters related to our leverage ratio. At December 31, 2023, our leverage ratio was 0.15 to 1.0, which meets the requirement of not being above 3 to 1.

2019 New Markets Tax Credit - On October 24, 2019, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “2019 Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“2019 NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in plant and equipment to facilitate the expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “2019 Project”). In connection with the 2019 NMTC transaction, the Company received a $23.0 million NMTC allocation for the Project and secured low interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the 2019 Project.

Upon closing of the 2019 NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $15.9 million to the 2019 Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $15.9 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the 2019 Investor was used to make an aggregate $22.5 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by equipment at the Company's Longview, Texas facilities and a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of the NMTCs.

2023 New Markets Tax Credit - On April 25, 2023, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “2023 Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“2023 NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in plant and equipment to facilitate the expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “2023 Project”). In connection with the 2023 NMTC transaction, the Company received a $23.0 million NMTC allocation for the 2023 Project and secured low interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the expansion of its Longview, Texas facilities.

Upon closing of the 2023 NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $16.7 million to the Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years,, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $16.7 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the 2023 Investor was used to make an aggregate

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$23.8 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of the NMTCs. The net proceeds from the closing of the 2023 NMTC is included in restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets required to be used for the 2023 Project.

2024 New Markets Tax Credit - On February 27, 2024, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “2024 Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“2024 NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in real estate to facilitate the current expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “Project”). In connection with the 2024 NMTC transaction, the Company received a $15.5 million NMTC allocation for the Project and secured low interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the expansion of its Longview, Texas facilities.

Upon closing of the 2024 NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $11.0 million to the Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $11.0 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the Investor was used to make an aggregate $16.0 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of NMTCs.

Stock Repurchase - The Board has authorized stock repurchase programs for the Company. The Company may purchase shares on the open market from time to time. The Board must authorize the timing and amount of these purchases and all repurchases are in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC allowing the Company to repurchase shares from the open market.

Our open market repurchase programs are as follows:

The Company also had a stock repurchase arrangement by which employee-participants in our 401(k) Plan were entitled to have shares in AAON, Inc. stock in their accounts sold to the Company. The 401(k) Plan was amended in June 2022 to discontinue this program. No additional shares have been purchased by the Company under this arrangement since June 2022.

Lastly, the Company repurchases shares of AAON, Inc. stock from certain of its employees for payment of statutory tax withholdings on stock transactions. All other repurchases from directors or employees are contingent upon Board approval. All repurchases are done at current market prices.

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Our repurchase activity is as follows:

Dividends - At the discretion of the Board of Directors, we pay cash dividends. Board approval is required to determine the date of declaration and amount for each cash dividend payment.

Our recent dividends are as follows:

On July 7, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split of the Company's common stock that was paid in the form of a stock dividend. Stockholders of record at the close of business on July 28, 2023 received one additional share for every two shares they held as of that date on August 16, 2023 (ex-dividend date August 17, 2023). All share and per share information has been updated to reflect the effects of this stock split.

Based on historical performance and current expectations, we believe our cash and cash equivalents balance, the projected cash flows generated from our operations, our existing committed revolving credit facility (or comparable financing), and our expected ability to access capital markets will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures and other liquidity requirements associated with our operations in 2024 and the foreseeable future.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements - We are not party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

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Statement of Cash Flows

The table below reflects a summary of our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used in investing activities, and net cash flows provided by financing activities for the years indicated.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

The Company currently manages cash needs through working capital as well as drawing on its line of credit. Collections and payments cycles are on a normal pattern and fluctuate due to timing of receipts and payments. In early 2022, the Company began increasing the purchase of inventory to take advantage of favorable pricing opportunities and also to mitigate the impact of future supply chain disruptions on our operations.

Payment terms for BASX jobs typically require upfront cash to fund the job resulting in cash inflows related to our contract liabilities and cash inflows fluctuate due to job timing and scheduling.

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The decrease in cash flows from income taxes is primarily due to the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which requires research and development expenses incurred after December 31, 2021 to be capitalized and amortized over 5 years. This defers our current period income tax deduction which increased our income tax payments due at the end of 2022.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

The capital expenditures increase during 2023 related to our continued investment in our production capabilities. Purchases during 2023 relate to additional sheet metal and other machinery for both replacement and growth, additional production and warehouse space in Longview, Texas, additional office space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, additional land in Tulsa, Oklahoma for future growth, and a partial interest in an airplane. The cash paid for building is related to the purchase of the BASX office and manufacturing facility in May 2022 (Note 4).

Our capital expenditure program for 2024 is estimated to be approximately $125.0 million. Many of these projects are subject to review and cancellation at the discretion of our CEO and Board of Directors without incurring substantial charges.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

The change in cash from financing activities in 2023 is primarily related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility to manage our working capital needs, especially strategic purchases of inventory to avoid supply chain delays and the funding of certain capital expenditures, offset by repayments we were able to make due to our increased operating results and financial condition.

Furthermore, cash flows from financing activities is historically affected by the timing of stock options exercised by our employees. Stock options exercised increased due to the increase in the number of employee options exercised and increase in our average stock price during 2023 as compared to the previous period.

Additionally, we repurchased approximately 424,777 shares for approximately $26.3 million during 2023 (Note 16).

Effective with the cash dividend declared on March 1, 2023 (paid on March 31, 2023), the Company moved from semi-annual cash dividends to quarterly cash dividends.

Commitments and Contractual Agreements

We are occasionally party to short-term, cancellable and occasionally non-cancellable, contracts with major suppliers for the purchase of raw material and component parts. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials for use in our manufacturing operations. These contracts are not accounted for as derivative instruments because they meet the normal purchase and normal sales exemption. In 2023, the Company executed a five-year purchase commitment for refrigerants. In 2023, the Company made payments of $10.1 million on this contract. Estimated minimum future payments are $11.9 million, $9.1 million, $10.5 million, and $11.2 million for 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively. We had no other material contractual purchase obligations as of December 31, 2023.

Contingencies

We are subject to various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. We closely monitor these claims and legal actions and frequently consult with our legal counsel to determine whether they may, when resolved, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows and we accrue and/or disclose loss contingencies as appropriate. See Note 18 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information with respect to specific legal proceedings.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and the Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and operating results require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events, and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses in our consolidated financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates, assumptions, and judgments on historical experience, current trends, and other factors believed to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and such differences could be material. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates, assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We discuss these estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors periodically.

Inventory - Raw material or component inventory typically transfers from one stage of manufacturing to another where it accumulates additional costs directly incurred with the production of finished goods, including estimated standard labor and overhead costs. Labor and overhead costs associated with the manufacturing of our products are capitalized into inventory on an estimated standard basis. These include certain direct and indirect costs such as compensation, manufacturing, and facility costs associated with manufacturing support functions. We continually monitor our labor and overhead standard costs to ensure that standard costs reasonably reflects our actual costs and make manual adjusts the value of inventory accordingly. Our manual adjustments from standard to actual labor and overhead costs contain uncertainties that require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment regarding a number of factors, including inventory turns, supply usage, manufacturing efficiencies, and historical production costs.

Inventory Reserves – We establish a reserve for inventories based on the change in inventory requirements due to product line changes, the feasibility of using obsolete parts for upgraded part substitutions, the required parts needed for part supply sales and replacement parts, and for estimated shrinkage. Assumptions used to estimate inventory reserves include future manufacturing requirements and industry trends. Evolving technology and changes in product mix or customer demand can significantly affect the outcome of this analysis.

Warranty Accrual – A provision is made for estimated warranty costs at the time the product is shipped and revenue is recognized. Our product warranty policy is the earlier of one year from the date of first use or 18 months from date of shipment for parts only; 18 months for data center cooling solutions and cleanroom systems; an additional four years for compressors (if applicable); 15 years on aluminized steel gas-fired heat exchangers (if applicable); 25 years on stainless steel heat exchangers (if applicable); and ten years on gas-fired heat exchangers in our historical RL products (if applicable). Our warranty policy for the RQ series covers parts for two years from date of unit shipment. Our warranty policy for the WH and WV Series geothermal/water-source heat pumps covers parts for five years from the date of installation. Warranty expense is estimated based on the warranty period, historical warranty trends and associated costs, and any known identifiable warranty issue.

Due to the absence of warranty history on new products, an additional provision may be made for such products. Our estimated future warranty cost is subject to adjustment from time to time depending on changes in actual warranty trends and cost experience. Should actual claim rates differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated product warranty liability would be required.

Share-Based Compensation – We measure and recognize compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock awards, performance stock units ("PSUs"), and key employee awards ("Key Employee Awards") based on their fair values at the time of grant. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of stock options, restricted stock awards, and PSUs. Compensation expense is recognized for the Key Employee Awards on a straight line basis over the service period when the performance condition is determined to be probable. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The fair value of the PSUs is estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo Model. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model and the Monte Carlo Model requires the input of subjective assumptions such as: the expected volatility, the expected term of the grant, forward-looking market conditions, risk-free rate, and expected dividend yield for stock options. The fair value of restricted stock awards and Key Employee Awards is based on the fair market value of AAON common stock on the respective grant dates. The fair value of restricted stock awards is reduced for the present value of dividends.

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Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets – Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration paid for the acquired businesses over the fair value of the individual assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks and trade names.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are evaluated for impairment at least annually. We perform our annual assessment of impairment during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, and more frequently if circumstances warrant.

To perform this assessment, we first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeds their carrying amount. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets does not exceed their carrying amount, we calculate the fair value for the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets and compare the amount to their carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived asset exceeds their carrying amount, the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets are not considered impaired. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets exceeds their fair value, the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets are considered to be impaired and the balance is reduced by the difference between the fair value and carrying amount of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets.

We performed a qualitative assessment as of December 31, 2023 to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets was greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets. Based on these qualitative assessments, we determined that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets was more likely than not greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets.

Estimates and assumptions used to perform the impairment evaluation are inherently uncertain and can significantly affect the outcome of the analysis. The estimates and assumptions we use in the annual impairment assessment included macro-industry trends, market participant considerations, historical profitability, including free cash flows, and forecasted multi-year operating results. Changes in operating results and other assumptions could materially affect these estimates. A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification.

We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to SEC's Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. The new guidance is intended to update a variety of disclosure requirements. The effective date for each amendment will be the date on with the SEC's removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective. Early adoption is prohibited. Upon adoption, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). The new guidance improves reportable segment disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and by requiring current annual disclosures to be provided in interim periods. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740). The new guidance is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Upon adoption, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and related disclosures.

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Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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Overview

The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. A detailed discussion of the year to year changes for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is not included herein and can be found in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Description of the Company

We engineer, manufacture, market, and sell premium air conditioning and heating equipment consisting of standard, semi-custom, and custom rooftop units, data center cooling solutions, cleanroom systems, packaged outdoor mechanical rooms, air handling units, makeup air units, energy recovery units, condensing units, geothermal/water-source heat pump, coils, and controls. These products are marketed and sold to retail, manufacturing, educational, lodging, supermarket, data centers, medical and pharmaceutical, and other commercial industries. We market our products to all 50 states in the United States and certain provinces in Canada.

Our business can be affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate. The uncertainty of the economy negatively impacted the commercial and industrial new construction markets in 2020 and the first half of 2021. Since August 2021, however, nonresidential construction has been recovering. In the third quarter of 2022, the market returned to pre-pandemic levels. Currently, architectural billings and nonresidential construction starts are at historically high levels, signaling the nonresidential construction market will continue to be strong over the next nine to 12 months. Furthermore, although some economic indicators are suggesting the general economy is slowing, the replacement market remains strong. Nevertheless, both the new construction and replacement markets are cyclical. If the domestic economy were to slow or enter a recession, this could result in a decrease in our sales volume and profitability. Sales in the commercial and industrial new construction markets generally lag the housing market, which in turn is influenced by cyclical factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer spending habits, employment rates, the state of the economy and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control. Sales in the replacement markets are driven by various factors, including general economic growth, the Company's new product introductions, fluctuations in the average age of existing equipment in the market, government regulations and stimulus, change in market demand between more customized, higher performing HVAC equipment and lower priced standard equipment, as well as many other factors. When new construction is down, we emphasize the replacement market.

We sell our products to property owners and contractors mainly through a network of independent manufacturers’ Representatives. This go-to-market strategy is unique compared to most of our larger competitors in that most control their sales channel. We value the independent sales channel as we think it is a more effective way of increasing market share. Although we concede full control of the sales process with this strategy, the entrepreneurial aspect of the independent sales channel attracts the most talent and provides greater financial incentives for its salespeople. Furthermore, the independent sales channel sells different types of equipment from various manufacturers, allowing it to operate with more of a solutions-based mindset, as opposed to an internal sales department of a manufacturing company that is incentivized to only sell its equipment regardless if it is the best solution for the end customer. We also have a small internal sales force that supports the relationships between the Company and our sales channel partners. BASX sells highly customized products for unique applications for a more concentrated customer base and an internal sales force is more effective for such products.

The principal components of cost of sales are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out, and engineering expense. The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper, and aluminum, and are obtained from domestic suppliers. We also purchase from domestic manufacturers certain components, including coils, compressors, motors, and electrical controls.

The price levels of our raw materials fluctuate given that the market continues to be volatile and unpredictable as a result of the uncertainty related to the U.S. economy and global economy. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the prices for copper, galvanized steel, stainless steel and aluminum increased approximately 13.4%, 14.5%, 61.0%, and 14.0%, respectively, from 2021.

We attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancellable and non-cancellable contracts with our major suppliers for periods of six to 18 months. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.

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We occasionally increase the price of our products to help offset any inflationary headwinds. In 2021, we implemented three price increases. In 2022, we implemented two significant price increases as well as a recurring 1% monthly price increase effective June 1, 2022.

Additionally, we continue to experience challenges in a tight labor market, especially the hiring of both skilled and unskilled production labor. We have implemented the following wage increases to remain competitive and to attract and retain employees:

•In March 2021, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 5.0% increase to wages.

•In July 2021, we increased starting wages for our production workforce by 7.0%.

•In October 2021, we implemented a cost of living increase of 3.5% in place for all employees

below our Senior Leadership Team ("SLT") which consists of officers and key members of management.

•In March 2022, we awarded annual merit raises for an overall 3.0% increase to wages.

•In October 2022, we implemented a cost of living increase of 3.5% in place for all employees

below the SLT level.

We will continue to implement human resource initiatives to retain and attract labor to further improve productivity and production efficiencies.

Backlog

The following table shows our historical backlog levels:

The Company has increased our backlog both through the acquisition of BASX and organic growth due primarily to favorable lead times and increased overall demand.

Consolidated Results of Operations

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The following are highlights of our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition:

•Our backlog has been at record levels during all of 2022. New bookings from BASX were a record for that business as it benefited from a strong pipeline of projects in the data center and semiconductor markets. Revenue synergies from the BASX acquisition has increased bookings for AAON Coil Products as well. Bookings continue to be strong primarily due to our favorable lead times and strong end-market demand.

•Net sales for 2022 grew 66.3% to $888.8 million due to organic growth, the addition of BASX revenues and price increases realized during the year.

•Overall gross margin increased 90 basis points in 2022, as the increased costs of material and labor were offset by increased efficiencies of operations as well as price increases.

•We continue to invest in the future growth of the Company as evidenced by our $54.0 million in capital expenditures and $22.0 million for the purchase of the BASX building.

We report our financial results based on three reportable segments: AAON Oklahoma, AAON Coil Products, and BASX, which are further described in Item 1 and Item 8. The Company's chief decision maker ("CODM"), our CEO, allocates resources and assesses the performance of each operating segment using information about the operating segment's net sales and income from operations. The CODM does not evaluate operating segments using asset or liability information.

Segment Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

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Total net sales increased $354.3 million, or 66.3%, with the addition of inorganic sales from the acquisition of BASX contributing to 19.5% of our growth. Net sales also grew through price increases of $100.0 million and organic sales volumes, product mix and other of $149.8 million.

AAON Coil Products gross profit increased significantly to 31.0%. Price increases were realized more quickly for AAON Coil Products given their smaller backlog, which is the primary driver of the increase in gross margin for this segment. Additionally, the new manufacturing building for AAON Coil Products was completed in early 2021, resulting in increased capacity and operational efficiencies during 2022 as compared to 2021.

As shown in the table below, we've experienced increases in the cost of our raw materials. We have implemented multiple price increases during 2021 and 2022 to counteract the increased cost of material. Some of the 2022 price increases have yet to be realized. Additionally, in order to attract new employees and remain competitive in tight labor markets, we implemented several wage increases in late 2021 and throughout 2022.

Raw Material Costs

Twelve month average raw material cost per pound as of December 31:

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Warranty expense increased consistent with our increase in net sales but decreased as a percentage of sales, as we continue to focus on our commitment to reliability and quality.

Salaries and benefits increased $17.9 million, with a full year of BASX included accounting for $10.5 million of the increase. The remaining increase was primarily attributable to overall increased headcount and the impact of employee pay increases that went into effect during 2021 and in 2022.

Depreciation and amortization expense at BASX was $4.5 million, accounting for the majority of the change period over period. Profit sharing increased for AAON Oklahoma and AAON Coil Products by $4.8 million due to increased operating results, while profit sharing at BASX increased by $0.7 million as a result of a full year of BASX's employee incentive program.

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Professional fees decreased mostly due to the transaction costs associated with the acquisition of BASX (Note 4) of $4.4 million included in 2021. Excluding $3.8 million of other SG&A at BASX, other SG&A increased $5.9 million attributable mainly to consulting services and increased travel expenses due to lighter COVID-19 restrictions in 2022.

Income Taxes

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded an excess tax benefit of $3.0 million as compared to $5.4 million in 2021, a decrease of 45.3%. The decrease was primarily due to timing of stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting and our high stock price during the first and second quarter of 2021.

The decrease in excess tax benefits was partially offset by an increase of $1.8 million in research and development tax credits as defined under Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify for the research and development tax credits, we perform annual studies that identifies, documents, and supports eligible expenses related to qualified research and development activities. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to supplies, material and internal wages. With the addition of BASX in December 2021 (Note 4), we identified additional eligible expenses related to qualified research and development activities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our working capital and capital expenditure requirements are generally met through net cash provided by operations and the use of the revolving bank line of credit based on our current liquidity at the time.

Working Capital - Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents increased $2.6 million from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we had $5.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash.

Revolving Line of Credit - Our revolving credit facility ("Revolver"), as amended and restated, provides for maximum borrowings of $200.0 million. As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had an outstanding balance under the Revolver of $71.0 million and $40.0 million, respectively. We had one standby letter of credit totaling $0.8 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Borrowings available under the Revolver at December 31, 2022, were $128.2 million. The Revolver expires on May 27, 2027.

Any outstanding loans under the Revolver bear interest at the daily compounded secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR") plus the applicable margin. Applicable margin, ranging from 1.25% - 1.75%, is determined quarterly based on the Company's leverage ratio. The Company is also subject to letter of credit fees, ranging from 1.25% - 1.75%, and a commitment fee, ranging from 0.10% - 0.20%. The applicable fee percentage is determined quarterly based on the Company's leverage ratio. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the weighted average interest rate of our Revolver was 3.0% and 1.3%, respectively. Fees associated with the unused portion of the committed amount are included in interest expense on our consolidated statements of income and were not material for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

If SOFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition, as defined by the Revolver agreement, any outstanding effected loans will be deemed to have been converted into alternative base rate ("ABR") loans. ABR loans would bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50%, or (c) daily simple SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day plus 1.00%.

At December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with our financial covenants, as defined by the Revolver. These covenants require that we meet certain parameters related to our leverage ratio. At December 31, 2022, our leverage ratio was 0.46 to 1.0, which meets the requirement of not being above 3 to 1.

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New Market Tax Credit Obligation - On October 24, 2019, the Company entered into a transaction with a subsidiary of an unrelated third-party financial institution (the “Investor”) and a certified Community Development Entity under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) program pursuant to Section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, related to an investment in plant and equipment to facilitate the expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations (the “Project”). In connection with the NMTC transaction, the Company received a $23.0 million NMTC allocation for the Project and secured low interest financing and the potential for future debt forgiveness related to the Project.

Upon closing of the NMTC transaction, the Company provided an aggregate of approximately $15.9 million to the Investor, in the form of a loan receivable, with a term of twenty-five years, bearing an interest rate of 1.0%. This $15.9 million in proceeds plus capital contributed from the Investor was used to make an aggregate $22.5 million loan to a subsidiary of the Company. This financing arrangement is secured by equipment at the Company's Longview, Texas facilities and a guarantee from the Company, including an unconditional guarantee of NMTCs.

Stock Repurchase - The Board has authorized stock repurchase programs for the Company. The Company may purchase shares on the open market from time to time. The Board must authorize the timing and amount of these purchases and all repurchases are in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC allowing the Company to repurchase shares from the open market.

Our open market repurchase programs are as follows:

The Company also had a stock repurchase arrangement by which employee-participants in our 401(k) Plan were entitled to have shares in AAON, Inc. stock in their accounts sold to the Company. The 401(k) Plan was amended in June 2022 to discontinue this program. No additional shares have been purchased by the Company under this arrangement since June 2022.

Lastly, the Company repurchases shares of AAON, Inc. stock from certain of its directors and employees for payment of statutory tax withholdings on stock transactions. All other repurchases from directors or employees are contingent upon Board approval. All repurchases are done at current market prices.

Our repurchase activity is as follows:

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Dividends - At the discretion of the Board of Directors, we pay cash dividends. Board approval is required to determine the date of declaration and amount for each cash dividend payment.

Our recent dividends are as follows:

Based on historical performance and current expectations, we believe our cash and cash equivalents balance, the projected cash flows generated from our operations, our existing committed revolving credit facility (or comparable financing), and our expected ability to access capital markets will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures and other liquidity requirements associated with our operations in 2023 and the foreseeable future.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements - We are not party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

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Statement of Cash Flows

The table below reflects a summary of our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used in investing activities, and net cash flows provided by financing activities for the years indicated.

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Cash Flows from Operating Activities

The Company currently manages cash needs through working capital as well as drawing on its line of credit as needed. Collections and payments cycles are on a normal pattern and fluctuate due to timing of receipts and payments.

The decrease in cash flows from receivables was a result of a larger volume of sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 in addition to higher priced receivables at the end of 2022. The Company has also increased the purchase of inventory to take advantage of favorable pricing opportunities and also to mitigate the impact of future supply chain disruptions on our operations. Payment terms for BASX jobs typically require upfront cash to fund the job resulting in cash inflows related to our contract liabilities.

The increase in cash flows from income taxes is primarily due to the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which requires research and development expenses incurred after December 31, 2021 to be capitalized and amortized over 5 years. This defers our current period income tax deduction which increased our income tax payments for 2022.

The increase in cash flows from accrued and other long-term liabilities is primarily related to the increase in amounts due to Representatives (timing of receipts and payments), employee profit sharing, and increases in accrued payroll and employee benefits.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash outflows from investing activities decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to the cash paid for the acquisition of BASX (Note 4) in December 2021. The cash paid for building is related to the purchase of the BASX office and manufacturing facility in May 2022 (Note 4).

Our capital expenditure program for 2023 is estimated to be approximately $135.0 million. Many of these projects are subject to review and cancellation at the discretion of our CEO and Board of Directors without incurring substantial charges.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

The change in cash from financing activities in 2022 is primarily related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility to manage our working capital needs, especially strategic purchases of inventory to avoid supply chain delays and the funding of the BASX building in May 2022, offset by repayments we were able to make due to our increased operating results and financial condition.

Cash flow changes related to stock option exercised is affected by the timing of stock options exercised by our employees. The decrease in our repurchase of stock was the result of the discontinuance of the 401(k) buyback program in June 2022. Cash dividends paid to stock holders increased to $22.9 million both due to the increase in number of shares outstanding and the increase in dividend per share from $0.19 to $0.24 for the December 2022 dividend payment. We expect to continue paying cash dividends.

Commitments and Contractual Agreements

We are occasionally party to short-term, cancellable and occasionally non-cancellable, contracts with major suppliers for the purchase of raw material and component parts. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials for use in our manufacturing operations. These contracts are not accounted for as derivative instruments because they meet the normal purchase and normal sales exemption. We had no material contractual purchase obligations as of December 31, 2022, except as noted below.

On April 27, 2022, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement with a third party manufacturer to purchase certain assets to design and manufacture fan wheels for the purchase price of $6.5 million. As of December 31, 2022, we have paid approximately $3.5 million related to this agreement, which is included in other long-term assets and property, plant and equipment with the remaining $3.0 million included in accounts payable and other long-term assets on our consolidated balance sheets. The final payment will be made in 2023.

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Contingencies

We are subject to various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. We closely monitor these claims and legal actions and frequently consult with our legal counsel to determine whether they may, when resolved, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows and we accrue and/or disclose loss contingencies as appropriate. See Note 18 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information with respect to specific legal proceedings.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and the Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and operating results require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events, and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses in our consolidated financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates, assumptions, and judgments on historical experience, current trends, and other factors believed to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and such differences could be material. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates, assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We discuss these estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors periodically.

Inventory - Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Raw material or component inventory typically transfers from one stage of manufacturing to another at a standard cost. The standard cost is set by management to reflect the actual costs incurred. We continually monitor standard costs to ensure that standard costs reasonably reflect the FIFO value of the inventory produced and make manual adjusts the value of inventory accordingly. Our manual adjustments from standards to actual inventory costs require applying judgment regarding a number of factors, including changes in inventory quantities during the period and recent versus historical inventory purchase costs.

Raw material or component inventory typically transfers from one stage of manufacturing to another where it accumulates additional costs directly incurred with the production of finished goods, including estimated standard labor and overhead costs. Labor and overhead costs associated with the manufacturing of our products are capitalized into inventory on an estimated standard basis. These include certain direct and indirect costs such as compensation, manufacturing, and facility costs associated with manufacturing support functions. We continually monitor our labor and overhead standard costs to ensure that standard costs reasonably reflects our actual costs and make manual adjusts the value of inventory accordingly. Our manual adjustments from standard to actual labor and overhead costs contain uncertainties that require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment regarding a number of factors, including inventory turns, supply usage, manufacturing efficiencies, and historical production costs.

Inventory Reserves – We establish a reserve for inventories based on the change in inventory requirements due to product line changes, the feasibility of using obsolete parts for upgraded part substitutions, the required parts needed for part supply sales and replacement parts, and for estimated shrinkage. Assumptions used to estimate inventory reserves include future manufacturing requirements and industry trends. Evolving technology and changes in product mix or customer demand can significantly affect the outcome of this analysis.

Warranty Accrual – A provision is made for estimated warranty costs at the time the product is shipped and revenue is recognized. Our product warranty policy is the earlier of one year from the date of first use or 18 months from date of shipment for parts only; 18 months for data center cooling solutions and cleanroom systems; an additional four years for compressors (if applicable); 15 years on aluminized steel gas-fired heat exchangers (if applicable); 25 years on stainless steel heat exchangers (if applicable); and ten years on gas-fired heat exchangers in our historical RL products (if applicable). Our warranty policy for the RQ series covers parts for two years from date of unit shipment. Our warranty policy for the WH and WV Series geothermal/water-source heat pumps covers parts for five years from the date of installation. Warranty expense is estimated based on the warranty period, historical warranty trends and associated costs, and any known identifiable warranty issue.

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Due to the absence of warranty history on new products, an additional provision may be made for such products. Our estimated future warranty cost is subject to adjustment from time to time depending on changes in actual warranty trends and cost experience. Should actual claim rates differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated product warranty liability would be required.

Share-Based Compensation – We measure and recognize compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock awards, performance stock units ("PSUs"), and key employee awards ("Key Employee Awards") based on their fair values at the time of grant. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of stock options, restricted stock awards, and PSUs. Compensation expense is recognized for the Key Employee Awards on a straight line basis over the service period when the performance condition is determined to be probable. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The fair value of the PSUs is estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo Model. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model and the Monte Carlo Model requires the input of subjective assumptions such as: the expected volatility, the expected term of the grant, forward-looking market conditions, risk-free rate, and expected dividend yield for stock options. The fair value of restricted stock awards and Key Employee Awards is based on the fair market value of AAON common stock on the respective grant dates. The fair value of restricted stock awards is reduced for the present value of dividends.

Definite-Lived Intangible Assets – Definite-lived intangible assets include various customer relationships and intellectual property acquired in business combinations. The fair value of customer relationships and intellectual property is estimated based on management’s judgments and assumptions or third party valuation models. These models requires the use of subjective inputs and assumptions such as expected useful lives, growth of existing customers, attrition of customers, future margins and expenses, discount rates, and future revenue growth. These inputs and assumptions can be inherently uncertain and can significantly affect the outcome of the estimates and analysis. We amortize our definite-lived intangible assets on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Our definite-lived intangible assets have estimated used lives of between 14 and 30 years. We evaluate the carrying value of our amortizable intangible assets for potential impairment when events and circumstances warrant such a review.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets – Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration paid for the acquired businesses over the fair value of the individual assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks and trade names. The fair value of trademarks and trade names is estimated based on management’s judgments and assumptions or third party valuations. These models require the use of subjective inputs such as royalty rate, discount rate, and terminal value.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are evaluated for impairment at least annually. We perform our annual assessment of impairment during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, and more frequently if circumstances warrant.

To perform this assessment, we first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeds their carrying amount. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets does not exceed their carrying amount, we calculate the fair value for the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets and compare the amount to their carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived asset exceeds their carrying amount, the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets are not considered impaired. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets exceeds their fair value, the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets are considered to be impaired and the balance is reduced by the difference between the fair value and carrying amount of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets.

We performed a qualitative assessment as of December 31, 2022 to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets was greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets. Based on these qualitative assessments, we determined that the fair value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets was more likely than not greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived assets.

Estimates and assumptions used to perform the impairment evaluation are inherently uncertain and can significantly affect the outcome of the analysis. The estimates and assumptions we use in the annual impairment assessment

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included macro-industry trends, market participant considerations, historical profitability, including free cash flows, and forecasted multi-year operating results. Changes in operating results and other assumptions could materially affect these estimates. A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests.

Contingent Consideration – As part of a business combination, we agreed to issue shares of the Company's common stock based on certain milestones in accordance with the acquisition agreement. This contingent consideration is valued at fair value on the acquisition date and is included in goodwill and additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets.

The fair value of the contingent consideration was determined using the Option Pricing Method through a Monte Carlo simulation, as this model is appropriate for contingent considerations for which the payoff structure is nonlinear. The use of this model requires the input of subjective inputs and assumptions such as: future earnings, the expected volatility of future earnings, risk-free rate, discount rate, and future stock performance. These inputs and assumptions can be inherently uncertain and can significantly affect the outcome of the estimates and analysis.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification.

We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Description of the Company

We engineer, manufacture, market, and sell premium air conditioning and heating equipment consisting of standard, semi-custom, and custom rooftop units, data center cooling solutions, cleanroom systems, chillers, packaged outdoor mechanical rooms, air handling units, makeup air units, energy recovery units, condensing units, geothermal/water-source heat pump, coils, and controls. These products are marketed and sold to retail, manufacturing, educational, lodging, supermarket, data centers, medical and pharmaceutical, and other commercial industries. We market our products to all 50 states in the United States and certain provinces in Canada.

Our business can be affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate. The recent rise in architectural billings and nonresidential building construction starts signal a 2022 recovery in nonresidential building construction after experiencing a downturn in 2021. Furthermore, general economic growth combined with pent-up demand from customers that delayed replacing old equipment is driving accelerated replacement demand. However, both the new construction and replacement markets are cyclical. If the domestic economy were to slow or enter a recession, this could result in a decrease in our sales volume and profitability. Sales in the commercial and industrial new construction markets correlate closely to the number of new homes and buildings that are built, which in turn is influenced by cyclical factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer spending habits, employment rates, and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control. Sales in the replacement markets are driven by various factors, including general economic growth, the Company’s new product introductions, fluctuations in the average age of existing equipment in the market, government regulations and stimulus, changes in market demand between more customized higher performing HVAC equipment and lower priced standard equipment, as well as many other factors. When new construction is down, we emphasize the replacement market. The replacement market in 2021 improved compared to 2020, while the new construction market was a bit slower.

We sell our products to property owners and contractors mainly through a network of independent manufacturers’ representatives. This go-to-market strategy is unique compared to most of our larger competitors in that most control their sales channel. We value the independent sales channel as we think it is a more effective way of attacking market share. Although we concede full control of the sales process with this strategy, the entrepreneurial aspect of the independent sales channel attracts the most talent and provides greater financial incentives for its salespeople. Furthermore, the independent sales channel sells different types of equipment from various manufacturers, allowing it to operate with more of a solutions-based mindset, as opposed to an internal sales department of a manufacturing company that is incentivized to only sell its equipment regardless if it is the best solution for the end customer. We also have a small internal sales force that supports the relationships between the Company and our sales channel partners. BasX sells highly customized products for unique applications for a more concentrated customer base and an internal sales force is more effective for such products. In total, our internal sales force makes up 65 individuals. The demand for our products is influenced by national and regional economic and demographic factors. The commercial and industrial new construction market is subject to cyclical fluctuations in that it is generally tied to housing starts, but has a lag factor of six to 18 months. Housing starts, in turn, are affected by such factors as interest rates, the state of the economy, population growth, and the relative age of the population.

The principal components of cost of sales are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out, and engineering expense. The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper, and aluminum. We also purchase from other manufacturers certain components, including coils, compressors, motors, and electrical controls.

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The price levels of our raw materials fluctuate given that the market continues to be volatile and unpredictable as a result of the uncertainty related to the U.S. economy and global economy. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the prices for copper, galvanized steel, and stainless steel increased approximately 35.3%, 50.9%, and 45.4%, respectively, and aluminum decreased approximately 4.5%, from 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the prices for copper, galvanized steel and stainless steel increased approximately 0.6%, 12.2%, 8.5%, and 12.8%, respectively, from 2019. We occasionally increase the price of our equipment to help offset any inflationary headwinds. In 2021, given the unusual amount of inflation in our materials, we implemented three price increases.

We also attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancellable and non-cancellable fixed price contracts with our major suppliers for periods of six to 18 months. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our fixed price contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following are highlights of our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition:

•Our backlog is at a record level due primarily to strong end-market demand.

•Organic bookings were up approximately 55% compared to 2020.

•On December 10, 2021, we completed the acquisition of BasX bringing the Company exposure to attractive end-markets into which the Company has historically had minimal exposure.

•Sales in 2021 grew year-over-year 3.9% to $534.5 million driven mainly by price increases.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021, we report our financial results based on three reportable segments: AAON Oklahoma, AAON Coil Products, and BasX, which are further described in Item 1, due to the acquisition of BasX and internal leadership reporting changes. The Company's chief decision maker ("CODM"), our CEO, allocates resources and assesses the performance of each operating segment using information about the operating segment's net sales and income from operations. The CODM does not evaluate operating segments using asset or liability information.

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Segment Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020