Tearsheet

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (ZWS)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $47.01 | Market Cap: $7.9 Bil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (ZWS)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $47.01
Market Cap: $7.9 Bil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17%
Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -1.4%, Dist 3Y High is -1.4%
 
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 29%
  
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure, and Sustainable Resource Management. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, Show more.
  
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 29%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure, and Sustainable Resource Management. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, Show more.
3 Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -1.4%, Dist 3Y High is -1.4%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

ZWS Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

I have gathered recent information about Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (ZWS). While the original request specified a future time period (8/31/2025 to today, December 4, 2025) and a specific 4.9% stock movement, I cannot provide a factual analysis for a future event. However, to adhere to the instruction to "use the most recent date for which you have information" and provide key points without disclaimers, I will highlight recent significant events and news for ZWS that occurred around today's date (December 4, 2025) and in the preceding months of 2025, which could generally influence stock performance. Here are five key points regarding Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (ZWS) based on recent information: **1. Strong Q3 2025 Financial Performance and Raised Full-Year Outlook.** Zurn Elkay Water Solutions reported robust third-quarter 2025 results with 11% organic sales growth year-over-year and adjusted EBITDA increasing 16% to $122 million. The company's adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 120 basis points to 26.8%. Management subsequently raised its full-year 2025 outlook, anticipating approximately 8% core sales growth, adjusted EBITDA in the range of $437 million to $440 million, and free cash flow greater than $300 million. **2. Increased Quarterly Dividend and Share Buyback Program Refresh.** In a move demonstrating confidence in future performance and a commitment to returning capital to shareholders, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share, up from $0.09. The company also refreshed its share buyback program to $500 million, having repurchased approximately 600,000 shares in Q3 2025, contributing to $135 million in year-to-date repurchases. **3. Recognition for Sustainable Growth and Leadership.** Zurn Elkay was named to TIME's list of the World's Best Companies for Sustainable Growth 2026 for the second consecutive year, ranking No. 229 globally and No. 1 in Wisconsin. Additionally, TIME recognized Zurn Elkay Water Solutions as one of America's Growth Leaders 2026, highlighting its exceptional growth, financial stability, and stock performance. This recognition underscores the company's focus on environmentally responsible growth and innovative solutions for water challenges. **4. Positive Analyst Sentiment and Price Target Adjustments.** Several investment analysts have issued positive ratings and price target adjustments for ZWS. Stifel Nicolaus, for example, lifted its price objective from $50.00 to $53.00 with a "buy" rating in September. Zacks Research upgraded Zurn Elkay Water Solutions from a "hold" to a "strong-buy" rating in November. The company currently holds a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $42.83 among analysts. **5. Strategic Innovations and Market Positioning.** Zurn Elkay introduced its Elkay Pro Filtration product line in 2025, featuring advanced PFAS reduction, aligning with ESG trends and addressing regulatory scrutiny over "forever chemicals". The company's product portfolio also expanded with the Elkay Liv built-in filtered bottle fillers for residential use, demonstrating a focus on innovation and capturing market share in sustainable water solutions. Zurn Elkay's operational discipline, including its Zurn Elkay Business System (ZEBS), has contributed to margin expansion and its leadership position in the defensive water solutions sector.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
ZWS Return22%-7%-41%41%28%29%55%
Peers Return6%-1%-19%64%66%13%161%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
ZWS Win Rate67%75%33%58%75%80% 
Peers Win Rate58%50%42%67%54%60% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
ZWS Max Drawdown-41%-16%-43%-6%-5%-23% 
Peers Max Drawdown-37%-15%-38%-2%-6%-26% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: GGG, GHM, ADVEN, BENN, HRDG.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventZWSS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-69.6%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven229.5%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-45.5%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven83.4%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven220 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-31.9%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven46.8%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven352 days120 days

Compare to GGG, GHM, ADVEN, BENN, HRDG


In The Past

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions's stock fell -69.6% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 9/29/2021. A -69.6% loss requires a 229.5% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

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About Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (ZWS)

Better Bets than Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (ZWS)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to ZWS. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
9.5%9.5%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.2%3.2%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
7.5%7.5%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
2.8%2.8%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
0.0%0.0%0.0%
ZWS_3312020_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy03312020ZWSZurn Elkay Water SolutionsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
32.0%109.7%-14.7%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
9.5%9.5%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.2%3.2%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
7.5%7.5%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
2.8%2.8%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
0.0%0.0%0.0%
ZWS_3312020_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy03312020ZWSZurn Elkay Water SolutionsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
32.0%109.7%-14.7%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Zurn Elkay Water Solutions

Peers to compare with:

Financials

ZWSGGGGHMADVENBENNHRDGMedian
NameZurn Elk.Graco Graham AdvEn Bend Nov.Huarui I. 
Mkt Price47.4582.9957.30---57.30
Mkt Cap8.013.80.6---8.0
Rev LTM1,6592,192228---1,659
Op Inc LTM27758217---277
FCF LTM289625-11---289
FCF 3Y Avg27349612---273
CFO LTM31867213---318
CFO 3Y Avg29662226---296

Growth & Margins

ZWSGGGGHMADVENBENNHRDGMedian
NameZurn Elk.Graco Graham AdvEn Bend Nov.Huarui I. 
Rev Chg LTM6.9%2.9%16.0%---6.9%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg12.8%1.0%17.0%---12.8%
Rev Chg Q11.1%4.7%23.3%---11.1%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.8%1.1%5.8%---2.8%
Op Mgn LTM16.7%26.6%7.4%---16.7%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg15.2%28.0%5.1%---15.2%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.1%-0.1%-0.4%----0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM19.2%30.7%5.7%---19.2%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg18.7%28.7%13.5%---18.7%
FCF/Rev LTM17.4%28.5%-4.7%---17.4%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg17.3%22.8%6.8%---17.3%

Valuation

ZWSGGGGHMADVENBENNHRDGMedian
NameZurn Elk.Graco Graham AdvEn Bend Nov.Huarui I. 
Mkt Cap8.013.80.6---8.0
P/S4.86.42.6---4.8
P/EBIT28.823.035.6---28.8
P/E41.128.344.1---41.1
P/CFO24.820.946.4---24.8
Total Yield3.2%4.8%2.3%---3.2%
Dividend Yield0.8%1.3%0.0%---0.8%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg4.5%3.6%6.0%---4.5%
D/E0.10.00.0---0.0
Net D/E0.0-0.0-0.0----0.0

Returns

ZWSGGGGHMADVENBENNHRDGMedian
NameZurn Elk.Graco Graham AdvEn Bend Nov.Huarui I. 
1M Rtn1.1%1.9%-8.0%---1.1%
3M Rtn6.5%-1.5%20.9%---6.5%
6M Rtn31.8%-0.9%40.1%---31.8%
12M Rtn18.8%-7.6%27.6%---18.8%
3Y Rtn97.6%22.7%487.7%---97.6%
1M Excs Rtn1.1%1.9%-8.0%---1.1%
3M Excs Rtn-1.8%-8.7%11.2%----1.8%
6M Excs Rtn17.1%-15.6%25.4%---17.1%
12M Excs Rtn6.7%-21.2%14.3%---6.7%
3Y Excs Rtn33.7%-47.2%414.9%---33.7%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Single Segment1,5301,282911563 
Process & Motion Control    1,358
Water Management    710
Total1,5301,2829115632,068


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity5,526,099
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-3.3%
Average Daily Volume714,162
Days-to-Cover Short Interest7.74
Basic Shares Quantity168,125,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.3%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251028202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025729202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025422202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024210202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241029202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024730202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024423202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023206202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231031202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023724202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023425202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022214202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221025202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022726202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022427202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021209202210-K 12/31/2021

Insider Activity

Expand for More

 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0PETERSON MARK WChief Administrative Officer11142025Sell48.4821,5701,045,71415,443,837Form
1JAHNKE TIMOTHY J11102025Sell47.5110,539500,7088,051,092Form