VTOL vs HAYW

For growth investors, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the stronger pick with 6. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 3% for Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL). Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (8. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Bristow Group Inc.

(VTOL) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus Hayward Holdings, Inc. at 21. 7x. On forward P/E, Bristow Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x. 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 Bristow Group Inc. 's 0. 63x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Bristow Group Inc.

(VTOL) delivered a total return of +47. 6%, compared to -37. 0% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VTOL returned +48. 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), Bristow Group Inc.

(VTOL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus Hayward Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning HAYW is approximately 41% more volatile than VTOL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 86% for Bristow Group Inc. — 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 5. 3% for Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Bristow Group Inc. grew EPS 34. 6% year-over-year, compared to 25. 9% for Hayward Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VTOL leads at 7. 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 8. 7% for Bristow Group 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 9. 7% for VTOL. 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 Bristow Group Inc. 's 0. 63x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Hayward Holdings, Inc. — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VTOL: 41. 0% to $60. 00.

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, Bristow Group Inc.

(VTOL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 80)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VTOL: +48. 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 (VTOL (Energy) and HAYW (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VTOL is a small-cap deep-value stock; HAYW is a small-cap quality compounder 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.