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# Hayward Raises 2026 Outlook As Third-Quarter Net Income Climbs 35% On 6% Sales Growth
- URL: https://www.bullished.co/hayward-raises-2026-outlook-as-third-quarter-net-income-climbs-35-on-6-sales-growth-2867b7d9/
- Published: 2026-10-28T11:26:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-28T14:39:19.000Z
- Description: The pool equipment maker lifted its full-year sales and adjusted earnings guidance, citing price gains and lower interest costs.
- Author: Matteo Parrino
- Tags: Earnings, HAYW, Industry: Not classified

[Hayward Holdings](https://www.bullished.co/tag/hayw/), which designs and makes pool equipment, outdoor living products and industrial flow control products, raised its 2026 guidance after [third-quarter net income rose 35% to $32.4 million](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001834622/000183462226000054/a2026q3991er.htm?ref=bullished.co) on sales up 6% to $260.1 million, the company said Wednesday. Orders in its early buy program for the 2027 pool season are ahead of last year in North America, management said.

## Profit outruns sales

Diluted earnings per share rose 36% to $0.15\. Adjusted diluted earnings per share, the company's own measure excluding certain items, rose 29% to $0.18, and adjusted EBITDA, an operating-profit measure before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, rose 9% to $64.5 million, the company said in an [8-K](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001834622/000183462226000054/hayw-20261028.htm?ref=bullished.co).

[Operating income rose](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261027327523/en/Hayward-Holdings-Reports-Third-Quarter-Fiscal-Year-2026-Financial-Results-and-Increases-2026-Guidance?ref=bullished.co) 22% to $50.2 million. Selling, general and administrative expense fell 3% to $59.4 million because a non-recurring litigation expense in the prior-year quarter did not repeat, partly offset by higher incentive pay. Net interest expense fell 30% to $7.9 million on lower rates on bank debt and more interest income on cash and short-term investments.

[Gross margin rose 10 basis points](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261027327523/en/Hayward-Holdings-Reports-Third-Quarter-Fiscal-Year-2026-Financial-Results-and-Increases-2026-Guidance?ref=bullished.co) (0.10 percentage points) to 47.9%. Research and development spending rose 21% to $8.6 million.

## North America carries the quarter

Higher prices that offset inflation and tariffs, plus modest volume growth, drove the sales gain. North America sales rose 9% to $226.4 million, while Europe & Rest of World sales fell 6% to $33.8 million, which the company attributed to lower volume from geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and a modest price decrease.

North America made up about 85% of net sales in fiscal 2025, according to the company's annual report. Hayward sells mostly through distributors who supply pool builders and servicers.

## Guidance and balance sheet

Hayward now expects 2026 net sales growth of about 5% to 6%, up from about 5%. It sees adjusted earnings per share of $0.86 to $0.88, against prior guidance of $0.84 to $0.87.

Net leverage, total debt less cash and short-term investments relative to trailing adjusted EBITDA, stood at 1.5x, which CEO Kevin Holleran said is "the lowest level since our 2021 initial public offering." Cash was $236.3 million and short-term investments $239.2 million at quarter-end. For the first nine months, the company spent $115.3 million buying back stock, and operating cash flow was $57.5 million lower than a year earlier on the timing of collections and inventory purchases and higher rebate payments.

Hayward held its conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday to discuss the results.

Learn

- [Item 2.02: results of operations →](https://www.bullished.co/learn/8-k-items-explained/#item-202-results-of-operations)  
From 8-K Items Explained: What Every Item Code From 1.01 To 9.01 Tells You, With Examples

### Sources

- [8-K Filing — Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001834622/000183462226000054/hayw-20261028.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Exhibit a2026q3991er.htm — Hayward Holdings, Inc. 8-K exhibit](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001834622/000183462226000054/a2026q3991er.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Hayward Holdings Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results and Increases 2026 Guidance](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261027327523/en/Hayward-Holdings-Reports-Third-Quarter-Fiscal-Year-2026-Financial-Results-and-Increases-2026-Guidance?ref=bullished.co) — businesswire.com

### More on Hayward Holdings

- [Hayward CEO Won't Put A Number On 2027, Says Team Should Beat A Flat Market](https://www.bullished.co/hayward-ceo-wont-put-a-number-on-2027-says-team-should-beat-a-flat-market-6746394c/)
- [Hayward's CFO Says Fourth-Quarter Guide Assumes Last Year's Full-Price Late Orders Won't Return](https://www.bullished.co/haywards-cfo-says-fourth-quarter-guide-assumes-last-years-full-price-late-orders-wont-8a023514/)
- [Hayward Will Pass IEEPA Tariff Refunds To U.S. Customers, Replacing A Planned Fuel Surcharge](https://www.bullished.co/hayward-will-pass-ieepa-tariff-refunds-to-u-s-customers-replacing-a-planned-fuel-surcharge-8d5bfee9/)

[All Hayward Holdings (HAYW) coverage →](https://www.bullished.co/tag/hayw/)