Lennox International
LII on NYSE. Lennox sells heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment to homes and buildings. Market value $12.5bn.
Price checks use the past 12 months to June 2026. Quality checks use five annual reports, the latest for the year to December 2025.
Should I look at this?
Worth a closer look
Why it could be worth it
What to watch out for
Nothing big in our quick check. See what could go wrong below.
This is not advice. Check the numbers below.
For every $100 of what the whole company costs, it produced $5.85 of spare cash in the past 12 months. A savings account pays about $4.
You pay 13.6 years of operating profit for the business. The average large US company costs around 18.
Each dollar kept in the business earns 41 cents a year. Above 10 is good.
Quality score: 98 of 100. Price score: 96 of 100. Our list needs 70 on quality and 60 on price.
$365.63 a share, 4% above its 1-year low
Over the past year the price has ranged from $350.22 to $587.27.
Dividend: 1.4% a year
Paid every year for at least 5 years
Prices from Tuesday’s close (6 October).
Five years of cash, in billions
| Revenue | |||||
| Revenue | $4.2bn | $4.7bn | $5.0bn | $5.3bn | $5.2bn |
| Operating margin | |||||
| Operating margin | 14.1% | 13.9% | 15.9% | 19.5% | 20.0% |
| Debt to equity | |||||
| Debt to equity | n/a | n/a | 3.32 | 1.19 | 1.19 |
| Shares outstanding | |||||
| Shares outstanding | 0.04bn | 0.04bn | 0.04bn | 0.04bn | 0.03bn |
Health checks
- Free cash flow positive5 of 5 years
- Accounting looks honest (Beneish)Nothing unusual
- Financial strength (Piotroski)5 of 8 checks we could run
- Profit backed by cash (accruals)Yes
- Debt1.19× equity
- Revenue growth, five yearsSlow, 7.4% a year
- Buying back its own sharesRoughly flat
The quarter to June 2026
How the business did, compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
- Sales: $1.5 billion last quarter, about the same as a year ago.
- Profit: $269 million, down 2% on a year ago.
- It keeps 20 cents of each $1 of sales as operating profit, about the same as a year earlier.
- Spare cash over the past 12 months: $739 million, up from $680 million.
- 2% fewer shares than a year ago. Each share owns a bit more of the company.
- Debt is $1.5 billion more than cash, up from $1.1 billion a year ago.
- Sales grew on a year ago in 2 of the last 4 quarters.
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | $1.5bn |
| December 2024 | $1.3bn |
| March 2025 | $1.1bn |
| June 2025 | $1.5bn |
| September 2025 | $1.4bn |
| December 2025 | $1.2bn |
| March 2026 | $1.1bn |
| June 2026 | $1.5bn |
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | $239m |
| December 2024 | $202m |
| March 2025 | $130m |
| June 2025 | $274m |
| September 2025 | $260m |
| December 2025 | $143m |
| March 2026 | $117m |
| June 2026 | $269m |
From the company's quarterly reports to the SEC.
Dates
- Next results (estimated)
- 28 October 2026
- Last annual report (10-K)
- 17 February 2026
- Next quarterly (estimated, 10-Q)
- 28 October 2026
Who owns it
2 long-term investors we follow own it, unchanged from 2 last quarter. 652 funds in all.
- Viking Global InvestorsAndreas Halvorsen
- Value
- $912m
- Share of fund
- 2.6%
| Fund | Value | Share of that fund | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viking Global InvestorsAndreas Halvorsen | $912m | 2.6% | |
| Gotham Asset ManagementJoel Greenblatt | $17m | <0.1% | Added |
Largest holders overall
- BlackRock$1.7bn
- Capital International Investors$1.4bnCut
- Vanguard Capital Management$1.2bn
- Viking Global Investors$912m
- State Street$852mAdded
- Vanguard Portfolio Management$811m
- Morgan Stanley$581mCut
- Geode Capital Management$493mCut
- Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management$424mCut
- Millennium Management$392mAdded
From 13F filings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026.
Big holders and activists
5 investors own more than 5%.
- NORRIS JOHN W IIIPassive investor9.8%+0.6 ptsSince 26 January 2024
What they said
Mr. Norris acquired the Shares beneficially owned by him for investment. Mr. Norris does not have any plans, nor has he made proposals, which relate to or would result in any of the events enumerated in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 to Schedule 13D. However, Mr. Norris…
Read the filing - Capital International InvestorsPassive investor8.4%Since 31 December 2025
- BlackRock, Inc.Passive investor8.0%Since 31 December 2024
- Vanguard Capital ManagementPassive investor6.7%Since 31 March 2026
- Viking Global InvestorsPassive investorat least 5.2%(filed with 11 related holders)Since 15 April 2026
- The Vanguard GroupPassive investorSold down below 5%Since 13 March 2026
| Holder | Stake | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|
NORRIS JOHN W III Passive investor | 9.8%+0.6 pts | 26 January 2024 | What they saidMr. Norris acquired the Shares beneficially owned by him for investment. Mr. Norris does not have any plans, nor has he made proposals, which relate to or would result in any of the events enumerated in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 to Schedule 13D. However, Mr. Norris… Read the filing |
Capital International Investors Passive investor | 8.4% | 31 December 2025 | |
BlackRock, Inc. Passive investor | 8.0% | 31 December 2024 | |
Vanguard Capital Management Passive investor | 6.7% | 31 March 2026 | |
Viking Global Investors Passive investor | at least 5.2% (filed with 11 related holders) | 15 April 2026 | |
The Vanguard Group Passive investor | Sold down below 5% | 13 March 2026 |
From Schedule 13D and 13G filings: anyone owning more than 5% must file one.
What insiders did
No insider bought shares on the open market in the last 12 months. 3 sold $1m.
- Kosel ChrisVP-Corp Controller and CAOSold
- Date
- 6 May 2026
- Shares
- 971
- Price
- $544.80
- Value
- $529,001
- Wall Shane DDirectorSold
- Date
- 25 February 2026
- Shares
- 100
- Price
- $540.01
- Value
- $54,001
- TESKE TODD JDirectorSold
- Date
- 4 February 2026
- Shares
- 700
- Price
- $533.45
- Value
- $373,415
- Kosel ChrisVP-Corp Controller and CAOSold
- Date
- 4 February 2026
- Shares
- 254
- Price
- $536.50
- Value
- $136,271
- TESKE TODD JDirectorSold
- Date
- 11 November 2025
- Shares
- 600
- Price
- $491.85
- Value
- $295,110
| Date | Who | Did | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May 2026 | Kosel Chris VP-Corp Controller and CAO | Sold | 971 | $544.80 | $529,001 |
| 25 February 2026 | Wall Shane D Director | Sold | 100 | $540.01 | $54,001 |
| 4 February 2026 | TESKE TODD J Director | Sold | 700 | $533.45 | $373,415 |
| 4 February 2026 | Kosel Chris VP-Corp Controller and CAO | Sold | 254 | $536.50 | $136,271 |
| 11 November 2025 | TESKE TODD J Director | Sold | 600 | $491.85 | $295,110 |
From Form 4 filings: insiders must report trades in their own company's shares within two days.
Warning signs in its filings
Problems the company itself reported to the SEC, in its own words.
None of the serious warning signs we check for were found. 1 thing worth knowing.
We look for five warning signs: doubt it can keep going, weak checks on its own accounts, a notice that its past accounts can't be relied on, a change of auditor, and one customer bringing in a big share of sales. We don't check lawsuits, investigations or debt yet.
We checked the auditor's report, internal controls, restatement notices, auditor changes and big customers in the 10-K filed 17 Feb 2026, plus the 10-Q filed 29 Jul 2026 and 4 later 8-Ks.
Changed auditor
Worth knowingThe company changed its auditor (the firm that checks its books) in the last two years.
“On March 7, 2025, the Audit Committee approved the dismissal of KPMG.”
From an 8-K filed 13 March 2025: Change of auditor. Read it in the filing
A 10-K is the yearly report every US company files with the SEC. An 8-K is a short notice of a big event.
What could go wrong
Cheap for a reason is the question the numbers cannot answer.
Whether the price already reflects the risks is what the deep dive is for.
What changed in the risks this year
Companies must list what could hurt them each year. These are the parts that changed since last year’s report.
Cyber Attacks and Other Disruptions or Misuse of Information Systems We Rely Upon Could Affect Our Ability to Conduct Our Business Effectively.
Could happenOur information systems and those of our business partners are important to our business activities. We also outsource various information systems, including data management, to third-party service providers. Despite our security measures as well as those of our business partners and third-party service providers, the information systems we rely upon may be vulnerable to interruption or damage from cyber attacks, computer viruses, worms or other destructive or disruptive software, process breakdowns, denial of service attacks, malicious social engineering or other malicious activities, or any combination thereof. Further, as AI technologies advance, new and increasingly sophisticated attack methods are emerging, including fraud involving impersonation technologies or other forms of generative AI that enhance the scale, frequency, and effectiveness of cyber threats. Attempts have been made to attack our information systems, but we do not believe that material harm has resulted. While we have implemented controls and taken other preventative actions to strengthen these systems against future attacks, we can give no assurance that these controls and preventative actions will be effective. Any breach of data security could result in a disruption of our services, improper disclosure of personal data or confidential information, or online fraud or cybertheft, which could harm our reputation, require us to expend resources to remedy such a security breach or defend against further attacks, or subject us to liability under laws that protect personal data, resulting in increased operating costs or loss of revenue.
Read moreIf We Cannot Successfully Develop and Market New Products or Execute Our Business Strategy, Our Results of Operations Could be Adversely Impacted.
Could happenLennox operates a direct-to-dealer network, meaning we manufacture products and sell them directly to select, independent home service companies. We rely on our direct sales channel for a substantial portion of our revenue. Our direct-to-dealer network also creates a large installed base of HVACR equipment, and creates opportunities for longer term service, monitoring, solutions, and retrofit revenue. If we are unable to continue to execute our strategy, whether due to changes in economic conditions, a failure to anticipate changing customer needs, entry of new competitors into the low-barrier distribution business, or for any other reason, our revenue could decline, which could in turn adversely impact our product pull-through and our ability to grow revenue.
Read moreWe May Not be Able to Compete Favorably in the Competitive HVACR Business.
Could happenSubstantially all of the markets in which we operate are competitive. The most significant competitive factors we face are product availability, product reliability, energy efficiency, product performance, service, and price, with the relative importance of these factors varying among our product lines. Other factors that affect competition in the HVACR market include the development and application of new technologies, reputation of our company and brands, global supply chain constraints, and new product introductions. In some of the markets in which we compete, such as parts and supplies, distribution, and service of commercial heating and cooling equipment, barriers to entry are lower, which has led to highly competitive markets consisting of various-sized entities, ranging from small or local operators to large regional businesses. We may not be able to adapt to market changes as quickly or effectively as our current and future competitors. Also, the establishment of manufacturing operations in low-cost countries could provide cost advantages to existing and emerging competitors. Some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than we have, allowing them to invest in more extensive research and development and/or marketing activity and making them better able to withstand adverse HVACR market conditions. Current and future competitive pressures may cause us to reduce our prices or lose market share, or could negatively affect our cash flow, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Negative media reports about us or our businesses, whether accurate or inaccurate, could damage our reputation and relationships with our customers and suppliers, cause customers and suppliers to terminate their relationship with us, or impair our ability to effectively compete, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Read more
The deep dive
Everything above is arithmetic on public filings. The deep dive reads the last ten years of annual reports, the proxy statements, and the earnings calls, then argues the case the way Buffett, Klarman, and Hohn would, and checks every claim against the source.
- What the business is worth, as a range, and the margin of safety at today’s price
- Prices to start buying, buy, and buy hard
- The three things that would make this a mistake
- Every number footnoted to the filing it came from
Your first deep dive is free.
Not advice. Numbers on this page come from SEC filings and are updated each night; prices are updated again after the US market closes. The five-year figures are rounded.