AIN vs HAYW

For growth investors, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the stronger pick with 6. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) offers the better valuation at 21. 9x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Albany International Corp. (AIN) a "Hold" — based on 14 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 17. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Albany International Corp.

(AIN) delivered a total return of -27. 3%, compared to -37. 1% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AIN returned +84. 5% versus HAYW's -13. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 14β versus Albany International Corp. 's 1. 31β — meaning AIN is approximately 15% more volatile than HAYW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 62% for Albany International Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is pulling ahead at 6. 7% versus -3. 9% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hayward Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 25. 9% year-over-year, compared to -169. 3% for Albany International Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AIN leads at 4. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 5% net margin versus -4. 8% for Albany International Corp. — meaning it keeps 13. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HAYW leads at 21. 1% versus -1. 4% for AIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HAYW leads at 45. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) trades at 17. 2x forward P/E versus 23. 8x for Albany International Corp. — 6. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HAYW: 5. 6% to $15. 75.

In this comparison, AIN (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. HAYW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Albany International Corp.

(AIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AIN: +84. 5%, HAYW: -13. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (AIN (Consumer Cyclical) and HAYW (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

AIN pays a dividend while HAYW does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.