Here are 1-3 brief analogies to describe Hayward:

• Hayward is like 'Whirlpool for swimming pools'.
• Hayward is like 'Toro for pools and spas'.
• Hayward is like 'Kohler for pools'.

• Pumps: Hayward manufactures a variety of pumps designed to circulate water for filtration, heating, and other pool functions.
• Filters: The company produces sand, cartridge, and DE filters that remove debris and impurities from pool and spa water.
• Heaters: Hayward offers gas, electric, and heat pump heaters to maintain optimal water temperature for comfortable pool and spa use.
• Cleaners: Robotic, suction, and pressure-side cleaners are offered to automate the process of keeping pool surfaces clean.
• Sanitization Systems: This category includes salt chlorinators, UV systems, and ozone generators for effective water disinfection.
• Automation Systems: Hayward provides smart control systems that allow users to manage pool equipment, lighting, and sanitization remotely.
• Lighting: A range of LED and incandescent pool and spa lights are offered to enhance aesthetics and nighttime visibility.
• Flow Control: The company produces valves, fittings, and other components essential for managing water flow within pool and spa plumbing systems.

Hayward (symbol: HAYW) primarily sells its products to other companies (Business-to-Business or B2B) through a diversified network of wholesale distributors.

Based on Hayward's public filings, including their annual 10-K report, no single customer (i.e., wholesale distributor) accounts for 10% or more of their net sales for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, or 2021. Consequently, Hayward does not publicly disclose the names of specific "major customer companies." Their sales are diversified across a broad base of distributors.

While not direct major customers, these wholesale distributors, in turn, sell Hayward's pool and spa equipment to a broad base of pool builders, pool service companies, and retailers who then serve individual consumers and commercial entities.

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Kevin Holleran President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Kevin Holleran has served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Hayward Holdings Inc. since August 2019. Before joining Hayward, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Segment within Textron, starting in 2017. Prior to that, he led Textron Specialized Vehicles as President and CEO for ten years, during which time he substantially grew revenue and profitability through both organic growth and acquisitions. He also held various management positions at Ingersoll Rand and Terex Corporation. Hayward transitioned to a private equity-backed company two years before his appointment, and a board member from one of Hayward's private-equity investors (MSD Partners) noted his fit to drive strategic growth.

Eifion Jones Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Eifion Jones has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hayward Holdings Inc. since April 2020. Before joining Hayward, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Cornerstone Holdings Inc. since 2011. Cornerstone Holdings was a portfolio company of private equity firms HIG Capital and, later, Littlejohn & Co. LLC, where he oversaw governance, performance, financial management, and led acquisition evaluation, diligence, and integration efforts. Prior to Cornerstone, Mr. Jones spent 21 years with Akzo Nobel, holding various financial and managerial leadership roles in the Americas and Europe.

Susan Canning Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

Susan Canning has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary since June 2021. She is a key member of the leadership team, responsible for legal affairs and corporate governance.

John Collins Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer

John Collins has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer since December 2023. Prior to this role, he was the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Hayward from May 2022. Before joining Hayward, Mr. Collins was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of E-Z-GO for Textron Specialized Vehicles, Inc., where he was responsible for product management and global sales for Textron's E-Z-GO and Cushman vehicle lines.

Eric Sejourne Senior Vice President, Chief Global Operations Officer

Eric Sejourne has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Global Operations Officer at Hayward since April 2024. Before joining Hayward, he was President of the Access & Egress Hardware Group at Assa Abloy, a manufacturing company specializing in security solutions. He gained nearly 15 years of experience at Assa Abloy, holding various leadership positions, including Chief Operations Officer for the Americas division.

Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) faces several key risks to its business:

1. Legal and Governance Risks, including a Securities Fraud Lawsuit: Hayward is currently embroiled in a high-stakes securities fraud lawsuit alleging "channel-stuffing," where the company is accused of artificially inflating sales by pressuring distributors to purchase excess inventory. This practice purportedly led to a significant 24% drop in stock price in July 2022 when the scheme unraveled. The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has allowed key fraud claims to proceed, indicating that Hayward could face substantial liability, including compensation for investor losses tied to alleged misstatements. This ongoing litigation poses significant risks to shareholder value and corporate governance.
2. Adverse Economic and Business Conditions and Weak Consumer Demand: The demand for Hayward's swimming pool equipment products is highly sensitive to overall economic and business conditions. Unfavorable macroeconomic factors, such as high interest rates, can reduce consumer spending and limit access to financing for new pools and related products, thereby adversely affecting sales and financial performance, particularly for new construction and remodel projects.
3. Supply Chain Disruptions, Raw Material Cost Increases, and Tariffs: Hayward is exposed to risks related to its global supply chain, including potential disruptions, reliance on single-source suppliers, and production delays that may arise from natural disasters or geopolitical conflicts. Additionally, the cost of raw materials can increase the cost of goods sold, negatively impacting financial results. The company also faces risks from tariffs; for instance, an incremental tariff of 145% on Chinese imports, where 15% of its North America sales are produced, could cost the company $85 million annually.

The clear emerging threat for Hayward (HAYW) is:

• The increasing adoption and market penetration of natural swimming pools and biopools. These alternative pool systems utilize biological filtration and ecological processes (e.g., plants, gravel beds, beneficial microorganisms) to maintain water quality, significantly reducing or entirely eliminating the need for conventional chemical sanitizers, mechanical filtration systems, and many types of pumps and heaters. Should this trend accelerate and move from a niche market into more mainstream adoption, it would directly undercut demand for a substantial portion of Hayward's core product portfolio, which is centered around traditional pool equipment. This represents a fundamental shift in how pools are designed, built, and maintained, moving away from the technological solutions Hayward provides.

Hayward (HAYW) is a global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of a wide range of residential and commercial pool equipment and associated automation systems. Its main products and services include pool pumps, filters, heaters, sanitization products, cleaners, lighting, and automation systems.

The addressable markets for Hayward's main products and services are as follows:

• Global Pool Equipment Market: The global pool equipment market was valued at USD 19.78 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach approximately USD 31.14 billion by 2030, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 7.12% from 2025 to 2030. Another report valued the global pool equipment and maintenance market at USD 21.72 billion in 2024, with projections to reach USD 58.79 billion by 2033, growing at an 11.7% CAGR from 2025 to 2033.

• North America Pool Equipment Market: North America held a dominant share, approximately 70%, of the global pool equipment market. The North America swimming pool equipment industry was estimated at USD 3.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.7 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 4.4% through 2034.

• Global Swimming Pool Pumps Market: The global swimming pool pumps market was valued at USD 2.24 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 3.83 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2024 to 2031. Another estimate for the global swimming pool pumps market shows it was worth USD 2.33 billion in 2024, expected to be USD 2.47 billion in 2025, and to reach USD 3.97 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 6.1% from 2025 to 2033.

• Global Pool Filters Market: The global pool filters market size was valued at USD 2.72 billion in 2023 and is likely to reach USD 4.26 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 5.1% during 2024–2032. The global swimming pool filtration systems market was valued at USD 5.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period, reaching a value of USD xx Billion by 2032.

• Global Pool Heat Pump Market: The global pool heat pump market size was valued at USD 5.09 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 7.17 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.88% during the forecast period (2025-2033).

• Global Smart Pool Systems / Pool Automation Market: The global Smart Pool Systems market size is projected to grow from an estimated USD 1.5 billion in 2023 to USD 3.2 billion by 2032, reflecting a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period. The Global Automatic Swimming Pool Monitoring System Market is projected to grow from USD 4.30 billion in 2024 to USD 17.5 billion by 2035, with a substantial CAGR of 29.44% from 2025 to 2035.

Hayward (HAYW) is expected to drive future revenue growth over the next 2-3 years through several key strategies:

1. Positive Net Price Realization: The company has consistently demonstrated the ability to implement positive net price increases to offset inflationary pressures and tariffs. This disciplined approach to price management is a recurring theme in recent earnings reports and is expected to continue contributing to revenue growth.
2. New Product Innovation and Technology Adoption: Hayward is focused on advancing its technology leadership by introducing innovative new products, particularly in connected pool solutions. The continued rollout and adoption of platforms like the OmniX control system are anticipated to accelerate technology penetration in the existing installed base and increase the average equipment content per pool pad, thereby driving sales.
3. Strategic Acquisitions: Hayward actively pursues strategic acquisitions to complement its organic growth initiatives. Recent examples, such as the ChlorKing acquisition, have contributed positively to sales, and the company plans to continue seeking additional opportunities in residential, commercial, and flow control markets.
4. Resilient Aftermarket Demand and Installed Base Growth: A significant portion of Hayward's revenue (approximately 85%) comes from the aftermarket segment, serving existing pool owners. The growing installed base of pools globally provides a stable and expanding foundation for consistent aftermarket maintenance and upgrade demand, offering ongoing growth opportunities.
5. Expansion of Customer Relationships and Market Penetration: Hayward is focused on expanding its customer relationships and increasing its presence in high-value, underpenetrated regions. This includes targeted sales and marketing strategies to convert important dealers and broaden its commercial footprint, leading to increased volume and market share.

Share Repurchases

• Hayward authorized a new stock repurchase program in July 2025, allowing for the repurchase of up to $450 million of common stock over three years, replacing an expired authorization.
• An earlier $450 million stock repurchase program was approved in December 2021, planned to be funded by cash on hand and cash generated from operations.
• Share buybacks contributed to a 27% increase in adjusted earnings per share in Q3 2025.

Share Issuance

• Hayward completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on March 12, 2021, offering 40,277,778 shares of common stock at $17 per share.
• The company intended to use the estimated over $700 million gross proceeds from the IPO to pay down approximately $300 million in debt.
• As of September 27, 2025, Hayward had 245,717,477 shares issued.

Outbound Investments

• Hayward's capital allocation strategy consistently emphasizes organic and inorganic growth investments, including strategic acquisitions.
• The company made two "tuck-in technology acquisitions" as of December 2021.
• The ChlorKing acquisition contributed to boosted sales in North America in Q1 2025.

Capital Expenditures

• Capital expenditures were $26 million in 2021, $30 million in 2022, $30 million in 2023, and $24 million in 2024.
• The primary focus of capital expenditures includes investments in manufacturing assets for tariff mitigation and expanding the company's presence in high-growth regions.
• Hayward also invested in expanding its Hayward Hub training facilities in Arizona and North Carolina.