MRCY vs HAYW vs KTOS vs POOL

For growth investors, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is the stronger pick with 18. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 4% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Pool Corporation (POOL) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the cheapest at 17.

6x versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. at 438. 5x. On forward P/E, Hayward Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 Pool Corporation's 4. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) delivered a total return of +110. 3%, compared to -52. 3% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KTOS returned +1232% 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), Pool Corporation (POOL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

00β versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. 's 1. 84β — meaning KTOS is approximately 83% more volatile than POOL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 44% for Mercury Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is pulling ahead at 18. 5% versus -0. 4% for Pool Corporation (POOL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mercury Systems, Inc. grew EPS 72. 7% year-over-year, compared to -4. 0% for Pool Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, KTOS leads at 14. 5% 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. 2% for Mercury Systems, 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 -2. 2% for MRCY. 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.

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 Pool Corporation's 4. 44x. 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 91. 8x for Mercury Systems, Inc. — 74. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KTOS: 94. 0% to $110. 58.

In this comparison, POOL (2.

6% yield) pays a dividend. MRCY, HAYW, KTOS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

00), 2. 6% yield, +145. 0% 10Y return). Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY) carries a higher beta of 1. 76 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (POOL: +145. 0%, MRCY: +335. 7%), 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.

In terms of investment character: MRCY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HAYW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KTOS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; POOL is a small-cap deep-value stock. POOL pays a dividend while MRCY, HAYW, KTOS do 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.