← Back to All US Stocks

HAYW Stock Analysis 2026 - Hayward Holdings, Inc. AI Rating

HAYW NYSE Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery CIK: 0001834622
Recently Updated • Analysis: Apr 11, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
BUY
78% Conf
Pending
Analysis scheduled

📊 HAYW Key Takeaways

Revenue: $1.1B
Net Margin: 13.5%
Free Cash Flow: $227.3M
Current Ratio: 2.94x
Debt/Equity: 0.60x
EPS: $0.68
AI Rating: BUY with 78% confidence

Is HAYW a Good Investment? Thesis Analysis

Claude

Hayward Holdings demonstrates exceptional operational efficiency with 20.8% operating margins and 27.7% net income growth outpacing 6.7% revenue growth, indicating strong operational leverage. The company generates substantial free cash flow (227.3M, 20.3% FCF margin) while maintaining a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60x and excellent liquidity (2.94x current ratio), providing financial flexibility.

Why Buy HAYW? Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Outstanding operating margin of 20.8% with 48.0% gross margin indicates pricing power and cost discipline
  • + Exceptional free cash flow generation (227.3M annually) with low capital intensity (28.7M CapEx)
  • + Net income growth of 27.7% significantly outpaces revenue growth of 6.7%, demonstrating operational leverage
  • + Conservative leverage with 0.60x debt-to-equity and adequate interest coverage of 4.6x
  • + Strong liquidity position with 329.6M cash and 2.94x current ratio provides financial stability

HAYW Investment Risks to Consider

Claude
  • ! Revenue growth of 6.7% is modest, suggesting limited top-line expansion or market maturity
  • ! ROE of 9.5% and ROA of 4.8% are moderate, indicating potential capital efficiency constraints
  • ! Long-term debt of 959.8M represents material leverage despite conservative ratios; refinancing risk exists
  • ! Business operates in cyclical machinery sector vulnerable to economic downturns and industrial spending fluctuations
  • ! Insider activity shows only 28 Form 4 filings in 90 days, potentially indicating limited insider conviction

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Revenue growth trajectory and whether 6.7% can accelerate through market share gains or new segments
  • * Operating margin sustainability and ability to maintain 20.8% level amid competitive or inflationary pressures
  • * Free cash flow conversion and capital allocation strategy for debt reduction or shareholder returns
  • * Return on equity trends and capital efficiency improvements
  • * Debt-to-EBITDA ratio and leverage management given macroeconomic conditions

HAYW Financial Metrics

Revenue
$1.1B
Net Income
$151.6M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.68
Free Cash Flow
$227.3M
Total Assets
$3.2B
Cash Position
$329.6M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The 20.3% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments. Strong liquidity with a 2.94x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.

HAYW Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin 48.0%
Operating Margin 20.8%
Net Margin 13.5%
ROE 9.5%
ROA 4.8%
FCF Margin 20.3%

HAYW vs Industrial Sector

How Hayward Holdings, Inc. compares to Industrial sector averages

Net Margin
HAYW 13.5%
vs
Sector Avg 10.0%
HAYW Sector
ROE
HAYW 9.5%
vs
Sector Avg 15.0%
HAYW Sector
Current Ratio
HAYW 2.9x
vs
Sector Avg 1.8x
HAYW Sector
Debt/Equity
HAYW 0.6x
vs
Sector Avg 0.7x
HAYW Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is HAYW Overvalued or Undervalued?

Based on fundamental analysis, Hayward Holdings, Inc. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Industrial sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
9.5%
Sector avg: 15%
Net Profit Margin
13.5%
Sector avg: 10%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.60x
Sector avg: 0.7x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

HAYW Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
2.94x
Quick Ratio
2.29x
Debt/Equity
0.60x
Debt/Assets
49.4%
Interest Coverage
4.64x
Long-term Debt
$959.8M

HAYW 5-Year Financial Trend & Growth Analysis

HAYW 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $1.4B, Net Income $8.5M, EPS $0.05. Year 2022: Revenue $1.4B, Net Income $43.3M, EPS $0.25. Year 2023: Revenue $1.4B, Net Income $203.7M, EPS $0.49. Year 2024: Revenue $1.3B, Net Income $179.3M, EPS $0.78. Year 2025: Revenue $1.1B, Net Income $80.7M, EPS $0.37.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Hayward Holdings, Inc.'s revenue has declined by 20% over the 5-year period, indicating business contraction. The most recent EPS of $0.37 reflects profitable operations.

HAYW Growth Metrics (YoY)

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
20.3%
Free cash flow / Revenue

HAYW Quarterly Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Hayward Holdings, Inc. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q3 2025 $227.6M $9.8M $0.07
Q2 2025 $284.4M $9.8M $0.17
Q1 2025 $212.6M $9.8M $0.04
Q3 2024 $220.3M $8.4M $0.05
Q2 2024 $283.5M $8.4M $0.13
Q1 2024 $210.1M $8.4M $0.04
Q3 2023 $220.3M $8.4M $0.05
Q2 2023 $283.5M $8.4M $0.13

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

HAYW Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$256.0M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$5.0M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$28.7M
Investment in assets
Dividends
None
No dividend program

HAYW SEC 10-K & 10-Q Filing Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (CIK: 0001834622)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Apr 2, 2026 DEF 14A hayw-20260402.htm View →
Apr 2, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1775160413.xml View →
Mar 10, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773175319.xml View →
Mar 6, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1772831091.xml View →
Mar 6, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1772831060.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about HAYW

What is the AI rating for HAYW?

Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) has an AI rating of BUY with 78% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are HAYW's key strengths?

Claude: Outstanding operating margin of 20.8% with 48.0% gross margin indicates pricing power and cost discipline. Exceptional free cash flow generation (227.3M annually) with low capital intensity (28.7M CapEx).

What are the risks of investing in HAYW?

Claude: Revenue growth of 6.7% is modest, suggesting limited top-line expansion or market maturity. ROE of 9.5% and ROA of 4.8% are moderate, indicating potential capital efficiency constraints.

What is HAYW's revenue and growth?

Hayward Holdings, Inc. reported revenue of $1.1B.

Does HAYW pay dividends?

Hayward Holdings, Inc. does not currently pay dividends.

Where can I find HAYW SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (CIK: 0001834622) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is HAYW's EPS?

Hayward Holdings, Inc. has a diluted EPS of $0.68.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is HAYW a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Hayward Holdings, Inc. has a BUY rating with 78% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.

Is HAYW stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for HAYW: ROE of 9.5% (sector avg: 15%), net margin of 13.5% (sector avg: 10%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.

Should I buy HAYW stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Hayward Holdings, Inc. a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is HAYW's free cash flow?

Hayward Holdings, Inc.'s operating cash flow is $256.0M, with capital expenditures of $28.7M. FCF margin is 20.3%.

How does HAYW compare to other Industrial stocks?

Vs Industrial sector averages: Net margin 13.5% (avg: 10%), ROE 9.5% (avg: 15%), current ratio 2.94 (avg: 1.8).

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Apr 11, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI