AIRI vs HAYW

For growth investors, Air Industries Group (AIRI) is the stronger pick with 7.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 7% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) a "Hold" — based on 10 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.

Over the past 5 years, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) delivered a total return of -37. 0%, compared to -76. 8% for Air Industries Group (AIRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HAYW returned -13. 1% versus AIRI's -94. 0%. 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), Air Industries Group (AIRI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

91β versus Hayward Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning HAYW is approximately 26% more volatile than AIRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 186% for Air Industries Group — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Air Industries Group (AIRI) is pulling ahead at 7.

0% versus 6. 7% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Air Industries Group grew EPS 36. 9% year-over-year, compared to 25. 9% for Hayward Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AIRI leads at -2. 2% 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 -2. 5% for Air Industries Group — 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 0. 8% for AIRI. 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Air Industries Group (AIRI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

91)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AIRI: -94. 0%, 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.