HAYW vs SHW

For growth investors, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the stronger pick with 6. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) a "Buy" — based on 38 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company at 31. 2x. On forward P/E, Hayward Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hayward Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 12x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 94x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) delivered a total return of +16.

1%, compared to -37. 0% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHW returned +250. 0% 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), The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

79β versus Hayward Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning HAYW is approximately 44% more volatile than SHW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 3% for The Sherwin-Williams Company — 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 2. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hayward Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 25. 9% year-over-year, compared to -2. 7% for The Sherwin-Williams Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, SHW leads at 2. 1% 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 10. 9% for The Sherwin-Williams Company — 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 16. 1% for SHW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHW leads at 48. 9%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 12x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 94x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) trades at 17. 2x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for The Sherwin-Williams Company — 10. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHW: 21. 6% to $389. 43.

In this comparison, SHW (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. HAYW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

79), 1. 0% yield, +250. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SHW: +250. 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.

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

SHW 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.