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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#1502
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Machinery
$3.2B
Kevin P. Holleran
Hayward Holdings, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a portfolio of pool equipment. The company sells its products through specialty distributors, retailers, pool builders, and buying groups. Hayward Holdings was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in New Jersey.
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = HAYW ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$UL UNILEVER PLC | 78 | 96 | 98 | 59 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ASML ASML HOLDING NV | 77 | 89 | 86 | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ESLT ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD | 76 | 81 | 87 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$MT ArcelorMittal | 75 | 71 | 98 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$AMAT APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE | 75 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 20.9x | 13.6x | 32.9% | 20.5% | 48.8% | 30.6% | 24.4% | 7.7% | 0.9% | 32.0x | $148.6B | VS | |
$SIMO Silicon Motion Technology CORP | 75 | 84 | 86 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$CODA Coda Octopus Group, Inc. | 74 | 83 | 90 | 79 | 16.3x | 11.9x | 7.4% | 7.5% | 68.3% | 19.5% | 18.2% | 29.0% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $84M | VS | |
$GSK GSK plc | 74 | 84 | 90 | 70 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$EFXT Enerflex Ltd. | 74 | 80 | 91 | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 74 | 84 | 97 | 63 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$HAYW Hayward Holdings, Inc. | 53 | 52 | 68 | 50 | 35.4x | 20.7x | 6.5% | 3.3% | 50.8% | 17.5% | 9.6% | -14.1% | 0.0% | 63.0x | $3.2B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -1.9% | 0.9% | 44.1% | 2.5% | 1.0% | 6.7% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 53.2/100. It ranks #1502 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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In-line with peers — no strong momentum signal
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
Average quality profile
Low volatility — smoother ride and historically better risk-adjusted returns
Aggressive spending — empire-building risk, dilutive growth
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Manufacturing sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for HAYW.
View All RatingsROIC 6.4% vs WACC 8.5% (spread -2.2%)
GM 51% vs sector 44%, OM 17% vs sector 3%
Capital turnover 0.46x, R&D intensity 2.5%
Rev growth -14%, 5yr history
Interest coverage N/A, Net debt/EBITDA 9.2x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) as a Hold with a composite score of 53.2/100 at a current price of $15.67. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling.
Hayward Holdings, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 53.2/100 places it at rank #1502 in our full universe.
No Moat
Medium
Poor
Undervalued
Gross margins of 51% signal strong pricing power.
Value factor score of 68 suggests attractive pricing.
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Elevated P/E ratio of 35.4x leaves little room for execution misses.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
Hayward Holdings, Inc. represents a hold based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our model assigns Hayward Holdings, Inc. a Hold rating, with a composite score of 53.2/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #1502 of 7,333 stocks, HAYW presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
With a quality score of 52/100, HAYW shows adequate but unremarkable business quality. The company reports a return on equity of 6.5% (sector avg: -1.9%), gross margins of 50.8% (sector avg: 44.1%), net margins of 9.6% (sector avg: 1.0%). This suggests the company generates acceptable returns but may lack the competitive positioning or operational efficiency to stand out from peers.
HAYW's value score of 68/100 indicates the stock is fairly valued based on its current fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 35.40x, an EV/EBITDA of 20.73x, a P/B ratio of 2.32x. At this level, neither a clear bargain nor overpriced, the stock's attractiveness depends more on forward growth expectations and qualitative factors.
Hayward Holdings, Inc.'s investment score of 28/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of -14.1% vs. a sector average of 6.7% and a return on assets of 3.3% (sector: 0.9%). While this can be positive for mature, cash-generative businesses returning capital to shareholders, it may also signal a lack of growth opportunities or management conservatism.
HAYW demonstrates moderate momentum with a score of 50/100, suggesting a neutral price trend without strong directional conviction. Revenue growth stands at -14.1% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.06 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Moderate momentum may indicate the stock is consolidating or transitioning between trends, warranting close monitoring of upcoming catalysts.
HAYW shows good financial stability with a score of 79/100. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). This suggests manageable leverage and moderate price volatility, making it appropriate for investors seeking a balance between growth potential and capital preservation.
Hayward Holdings, Inc.'s short interest score of 30/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 63.00x). At $3.2B (mid-cap), HAYW carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
Hayward Holdings, Inc. is a mid-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #1502 of 7,333 overall (80th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 6.5% exceeding the -1.9% sector median and operating margins of 17.5% above the 2.5% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While HAYW currently exhibits a HOLD profile, superior opportunities exist within the MANUFACTURING sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Manufacturing Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
Key factor gap
Stability (79) vs Investment (28) — closing this gap could shift the rating.
EV/EBITDA 81% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 444% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 15% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081

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