HAYW vs PEN

For growth investors, Penumbra, Inc.

(PEN) is the stronger pick with 17. 5% 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.

On trailing P/E, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus Penumbra, Inc. at 71. 8x. On forward P/E, Hayward Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Penumbra, Inc.

(PEN) delivered a total return of +19. 6%, compared to -37. 0% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PEN returned +505. 9% 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), Penumbra, Inc.

(PEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 25β versus Hayward Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning HAYW is approximately 358% more volatile than PEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 15% for Penumbra, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Penumbra, Inc.

(PEN) is pulling ahead at 17. 5% versus 6. 7% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Penumbra, Inc. grew EPS 1156% year-over-year, compared to 25. 9% for Hayward Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PEN leads at 18. 3% 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 12. 7% for Penumbra, Inc. — 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 13. 5% for PEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PEN leads at 67. 1%, 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 65. 2x for Penumbra, Inc. — 48. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PEN: 14. 6% to $371. 92.

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, Penumbra, Inc.

(PEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 25), +505. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PEN: +505. 9%, 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 (HAYW (Industrials) and PEN (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HAYW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PEN is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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.