YETI vs SWIM vs LESL vs HAYW

For growth investors, Latham Group, Inc.

(SWIM) is the stronger pick with 7. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 6% for Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). YETI Holdings, Inc. (YETI) offers the better valuation at 20. 5x trailing P/E (14. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate YETI Holdings, Inc. (YETI) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, YETI Holdings, Inc.

(YETI) is the cheapest at 20. 5x versus Latham Group, Inc. at 62. 0x. On forward P/E, YETI Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 8x. 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 YETI Holdings, Inc. 's 5. 34x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) delivered a total return of -37. 0%, compared to -99. 7% for Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: YETI returned +145. 1% versus LESL's -99. 7%. 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), Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 14β versus Leslie's, Inc. 's 2. 20β — meaning LESL is approximately 93% more volatile than HAYW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 25% for YETI Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Latham Group, Inc.

(SWIM) is pulling ahead at 7. 4% versus -6. 6% for Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Latham Group, Inc. grew EPS 161. 9% year-over-year, compared to -881. 2% for Leslie's, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, YETI leads at 5. 4% 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 -19. 1% for Leslie's, 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 1. 1% for LESL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — YETI leads at 57. 4%, 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 YETI Holdings, Inc. 's 5. 34x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, YETI Holdings, Inc. (YETI) trades at 14. 8x forward P/E versus 34. 4x for Latham Group, Inc. — 19. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SWIM: 43. 5% to $8. 25.

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, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 14)). Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) carries a higher beta of 2. 20 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HAYW: -13. 1%, LESL: -99. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (YETI (Consumer Cyclical) and SWIM (Industrials) and LESL (Consumer Cyclical) and HAYW (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.