Acuity (AYI) vs Hayward (HAYW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Acuity (AYI) has outperformed Hayward (HAYW) over the past year, losing 16.7% versus a loss of 25.6%. Over five years, AYI leads with a +44.6% price change compared with -50.4% for HAYW. Acuity is the larger company by market cap ($8.93 billion vs $2.41 billion), about 3.7 times the size.
On valuation, Hayward trades at a lower forward P/E (11.9x vs 12.8x for Acuity). Acuity pays a dividend yielding 0.26%, while Hayward does not currently pay one. Hayward converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.5% versus 9.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AYI | HAYW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $298.34 | $11.35 |
| Market cap | $8.93B | $2.41B |
| 1-day change | -0.70% | -0.79% |
| YTD return | -16.56% | -26.54% |
| 1-year return | -16.70% | -25.62% |
| 5-year return | +44.63% | -50.39% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.50 | 15.76 |
| Forward P/E | 12.81 | 11.87 |
| EPS (TTM) | $17.05 | $0.72 |
| Dividend yield | 0.26% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.77 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.35B | $1.12B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +13.14% | +6.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $396.60M | $151.57M |
| Gross margin | 47.83% | 48.00% |
| Operating margin | 12.98% | 20.79% |
| Net margin | 9.13% | 13.51% |
| 52-week high | $380.17 | $17.73 |
| 52-week low | $257.04 | $11.27 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -21.52% | -35.98% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +27.15% | +54.19% |
| Average volume | 305.11K | 3.01M |
| Shares outstanding | 29.94M | 212.12M |
| Employees | 13,000 | 1,960 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Building Products | Electrical Equipment & Parts |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Acuity is about 3.7 times larger than Hayward by market value ($8.93B vs $2.41B).
- Acuity grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+13.14% vs +6.71%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Acuity in Consumer Discretionary and Hayward in Industrials.
About Acuity
AYI stock →Acuity Inc. provides lighting, lighting controls, building management system, and an audio, video, and control platform in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Building Products · 13,000 employees
About Hayward
HAYW stock →Hayward Holdings, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a portfolio of pool equipment and associated automation systems in North America, Europe, and internationally.
Industrials · Electrical Equipment & Parts · 1,960 employees
AYI vs HAYW FAQ
Which is bigger, Acuity or Hayward?
Acuity (AYI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.93B compared with $2.41B for Hayward (HAYW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AYI or HAYW?
AYI returned -16.70% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.62% for HAYW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AYI or HAYW?
HAYW has the lower trailing P/E at 15.8, versus 17.5 for AYI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Acuity or Hayward?
Acuity pays a dividend yielding 0.26%, while Hayward does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Acuity and Hayward in the same industry?
No. Acuity is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Hayward is in Industrials.