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Hayward Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net sales rose 7%: Net sales rose 7% to $349.4 million, driven by net price to offset inflation and tariffs and favorable currency translation, partly offset by modest lower volume. Source
  • Full-year net sales rose 7%: Fiscal 2025 net sales rose 7% to $1,122.2 million, driven mainly by positive net price and the favorable impact from acquisitions. Source
  • North America sales rose 8%: North America net sales rose 8% to $308.7 million on net price, partly offset by a modest decline in volume. Segment income rose 8% to $102.5 million. Source
  • SmartPad adoption in new and aftermarket: Management says it is driving adoption of its SmartPad pool equipment in both new construction and the aftermarket. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross margin up 160 basis points: Gross profit margin rose to 48.5% on higher net prices, lower warranty expenses and operational efficiencies, partly offset by tariff charges and inflation. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose 21%: Net cash from operating activities for fiscal 2025 was $256.0 million, up $44.0 million, driven by higher net income and working-capital changes. Source
  • 2026 growth drivers cited: Management attributes 2026 growth to execution across the organization, positive price realization and continued technology adoption. Source
  • Warranty costs moved into cost of sales: The warranty presentation change affects cost of sales, gross profit and SG&A, with no effect on net sales, operating income, net income or cash flows. Source

“Hayward delivered a strong fourth quarter, outperforming expectations and building on our momentum”

Kevin Holleran, Hayward’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal Year 2026increase approximately 4% from Fiscal Year 2025New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal Year 2026$0.82 to $0.86, or an increase of approximately 6% to 12%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance introduced for net sales growth and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 guidance from the third quarter release is not restated; this release reports full-year fiscal 2025 results.
  • New: Warranty costs moved from SG&A into cost of sales from the fourth quarter, applied retrospectively to all periods presented. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter net sales rose 7%: Net sales rose 7% to $349.4 million, driven by net price to offset inflation and tariffs and favorable currency translation, partly offset by modest lower volume. Source
  • Full-year net sales rose 7%: Fiscal 2025 net sales rose 7% to $1,122.2 million, driven mainly by positive net price and the favorable impact from acquisitions. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 26% for the year: Fiscal 2025 diluted EPS rose 26% to $0.68 and adjusted diluted EPS rose 15% to $0.77. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income rose 25%: Fourth-quarter net income rose 25% to $68.4 million; adjusted EBITDA rose 4% to $102.9 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales rose 8%: North America net sales rose 8% to $308.7 million on net price, partly offset by a modest decline in volume. Segment income rose 8% to $102.5 million. Source
  • Europe and Rest of World sales fell: Europe and Rest of World net sales fell 1% to $40.7 million on lower volume and net price, partly offset by favorable currency. Segment income rose 28% to $6.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted segment income rose in both: Adjusted segment income was $109.2 million in North America, up 4%, and $6.6 million in Europe and Rest of World, up 26%. Source

“We expanded margins through operational efficiencies and successful mitigation of new tariffs and other inflationary pressures, while continuing to invest strategically in product innovation and customer support.”

Kevin Holleran, Hayward’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and aftermarket

  • SmartPad adoption in new and aftermarket: Management says it is driving adoption of its SmartPad pool equipment in both new construction and the aftermarket. Source
  • Aftermarket model cited for full year: Management credited full-year net sales growth in both segments to solid performance and the strength of the aftermarket model. Source

Demand and early buy

  • Early Buy participation cited for 2026: Management cited in-quarter demand and Early Buy participation for the upcoming 2026 pool season. Source
  • Fourth-quarter volume declined modestly: Net sales growth came from net price and currency, with volume modestly lower in the fourth quarter. Source

“Impressive cash flow generation further strengthened our balance sheet and enabled a meaningful reduction in net leverage.”

Kevin Holleran, Hayward’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Fourth-quarter gross margin up 160 basis points: Gross profit margin rose to 48.5% on higher net prices, lower warranty expenses and operational efficiencies, partly offset by tariff charges and inflation. Source
  • Full-year gross margin up 170 basis points: Fiscal 2025 gross profit margin was 48.0% on positive pricing, lower warranty costs and manufacturing efficiency, partly offset by higher net tariffs and inflation. Source
  • SG&A rose 14% on pay and investment: SG&A rose 14% to $67.0 million, mainly on variable compensation, selling and customer service investment, and a securities class action settlement in principle. Source
  • Operating margin up 160 basis points: Operating margin was 25.0% in the fourth quarter; adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 80 basis points to 29.4%. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Operating cash flow rose 21%: Net cash from operating activities for fiscal 2025 was $256.0 million, up $44.0 million, driven by higher net income and working-capital changes. Source
  • Year-end liquidity and revolver availability: At December 31, 2025 the company held $329.6 million of cash, $69.5 million of short-term investments and about $125.5 million of revolver availability. Source
  • Net interest expense fell 14%: Fourth-quarter net interest expense fell 14% to $11.7 million on lower interest rates and higher interest income on cash deposits. Source

Strategy and investment

  • R&D rose on product innovation: Research, development and engineering expense was $8.0 million in the fourth quarter, or 2.3% of net sales, up on product innovation investment. Source
  • Management cites technology leadership and installed base: Management cites technology leadership, operational excellence, brand, installed base and multi-channel capabilities as drivers of long-term growth. Source
  • ChlorKing full-year expense in SG&A: Fiscal 2025 SG&A also carried a full year of expense from the ChlorKing business, acquired in June 2024. Source
  • Asset acquisition transaction costs in Q4: Fourth-quarter adjustments include $0.1 million of transaction costs for an asset acquisition closed during the quarter. Source

2026 guidance drivers

  • 2026 growth drivers cited: Management attributes 2026 growth to execution across the organization, positive price realization and continued technology adoption. Source
  • Long-term pool demand trends cited: Management cites favorable secular demand in outdoor living, sunbelt migration and technology adoption, alongside a growing installed base of pools. Source

Reporting presentation change

  • Warranty costs moved into cost of sales: The warranty presentation change affects cost of sales, gross profit and SG&A, with no effect on net sales, operating income, net income or cash flows. Source
  • Q4 warranty costs in cost of sales: The company reported $12.7 million of fourth-quarter warranty costs within cost of sales, with $12.1 million in North America and $0.6 million in Europe and Rest of World. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Aftermarket share of net sales Sourceapproximately 85%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Securities class action settlement in principle; expenses beyond $4.3 million are subject to insurance recoveries under the retention amount. Source
  • External: Higher net tariff charges and inflation partly offset fourth-quarter gross margin gains. Source
  • Demand: Europe and Rest of World net sales decline was primarily due to lower volume and net price in the fourth quarter. Source
  • External: Fiscal 2025 SG&A rose partly on higher wage inflation, alongside higher variable compensation and selling and customer service investment. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.