Hayward Holdings Announces Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2024 SUMMARY

• Net Sales increased 3% year-over-year to $227.6 million
• Net Income increased 40% year-over-year to $16.5 million
• Adjusted EBITDA* increased 8% year-over-year to $51.1 million
• Diluted EPS increased 40% year-over-year to $0.07 and adjusted diluted EPS* increased 22% year-over-year to $0.11
• Year-to-date cash flow from operations increased 27% year-over-year to $275.8 million

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) (“Hayward” or the “Company”), a global designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad portfolio of pool and outdoor living technology, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 28, 2024 of its fiscal year 2024. Comparisons are to financial results for the prior-year third fiscal quarter.

CEO COMMENTS

“I am pleased to report third quarter results consistent with expectations,” said Kevin Holleran, Hayward’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We delivered sales and earnings growth, strong gross profit margin expansion, and increased cash flow. This performance enabled us to reduce net leverage into our targeted range. ChlorKing performed well in the first full quarter of ownership, and we are already seeing the synergies of the integration with Hayward’s existing commercial pool business. The early buy program is progressing in line with our expected participation. We continue to execute our growth strategy by advancing our technology leadership position with innovative connected pool solutions, leveraging our culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, and expanding customer relationships. We are updating our 2024 outlook to reflect modestly improved sales and profitability.”

THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2024 CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Net sales increased by 3% to $227.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase in net sales during the quarter was the result of positive net price impact including normalized allowances and discounts and the positive impact from acquisitions, partially offset by reduced volumes. The decrease in volume resulted from market declines in the Middle East and Asia and lower new construction and remodel activity in the U.S.

Gross profit increased by 7% to $113.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Gross profit margin increased 190 basis points to 49.7%. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to operational efficiencies in our manufacturing facilities and net price increases, including normalized allowances and discounts, partially offset by a non-cash increase to cost of goods sold resulting from the fair value inventory step-up adjustment recognized as part of the purchase accounting for the acquisition of the ChlorKing business.

Selling, general, and administrative expense (“SG&A”) increased by 9% to $64.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase in SG&A was primarily due to higher salary costs driven by wage inflation and investments in our customer care and selling teams, discrete legal expenses and increased professional service costs. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A increased 130 basis points to 28.3%, compared to the prior-year period of 27.0%, driven by the factors discussed above. Research, development, and engineering expenses were $6.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, or 3% of net sales, as compared to $6.2 million for the prior-year period, or 3% of net sales.

Operating income increased by 16% to $33.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, due to the aggregated effects of the items described above. Operating income as a percentage of net sales (“operating margin”) was 14.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, a 160 basis point increase from the 13.1% operating margin in the prior-year period.

Interest expense, net, decreased by 24% to $13.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 primarily due to the repayment of the Incremental Term Loan B principal balance in April 2024 and higher interest income on cash investment balances.

Income tax expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $4.4 million, for an effective tax rate of 21.1%, compared to an income tax benefit of $2.3 million, for an effective tax rate of (23.7)%, for the prior-year period. The change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the exercise of stock options, the release of the valuation allowance against foreign tax credit carryovers and return-to-provision adjustments during the prior-year period.

Net income increased by 40% to $16.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Net income margin expanded 190 basis points to 7.3%.

Adjusted EBITDA* increased by 8% to $51.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $47.2 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin* expanded 110 basis points to 22.5%.

Diluted EPS increased by 40% to $0.07 for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Adjusted diluted EPS* increased by 22% to $0.11 for the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2024 SEGMENT RESULTS

North America

Net sales increased by 5% to $195.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase was driven by positive net price impact including normalized allowances and discounts, the positive impact from acquisitions and volume growth in Canada, partially offset by a decline in volume in the US due to lower new construction and remodels.

Segment income increased by 29% to $51.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Adjusted segment income* increased by 29% to $59.5 million.

Europe & Rest of World

Net sales decreased by 7% to $32.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The decline was primarily due to a decline in volume, partially offset by the favorable impact of net price. The decline in volume is driven primarily by market declines in the Middle East and Asia.

Segment income decreased by 61% to $2.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Adjusted segment income* decreased by 59% to $2.7 million.

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW

As of September 28, 2024, Hayward had cash and cash equivalents of $274.2 million and approximately $114.3 million available for future borrowings under its revolving credit facilities. Cash flow provided by operations for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 of $275.8 million was an increase of $58.8 million from the prior-year period. The increase in cash provided was primarily driven by greater cash generated by working capital compared to the prior-year period and due to an increase in net income.

OUTLOOK

Hayward is refining its full-year 2024 guidance ranges to reflect continued strong execution resulting in modestly improved sales and profitability. For fiscal year 2024, Hayward now expects net sales of $1.020 billion to $1.040 billion, or an increase of approximately 3% to 5% from fiscal year 2023, compared to our prior guidance of $1.010 billion to $1.040 billion. We now expect Adjusted EBITDA* of $260 million to $270 million, or an increase of approximately 5% to 9% from fiscal year 2023, compared to our prior guidance of $255 million to $270 million.

The pool industry remains attractive and benefits from sustainable secular demand trends in outdoor living. Hayward continues to leverage its competitive advantages and drive increasing adoption of its leading SmartPad™ pool equipment products both in new construction and the aftermarket, which has historically represented approximately 80% of net sales. Hayward is confident in its long-term outlook for profitable growth and robust cash flow generation, driven by its technology leadership, operational excellence, strong brand and installed base, and multi-channel capabilities.

Please see the Forward-Looking Statements section of this release for a discussion of certain risks relevant to Hayward’s outlook.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Hayward will hold a conference call to discuss the results today, October 29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (ET).

Interested investors and other parties can listen to a webcast of the live conference call by logging onto the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investor.hayward.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. An earnings presentation will be posted to the Investor Relations section of the company’s website prior to the conference call.

The conference call can also be accessed by dialing (877) 423-9813 or (201) 689-8573.

For those unable to listen to the live conference call, a replay will be available approximately three hours after the call through the archived webcast on the Hayward website or by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671. The access code for the replay is 13749102. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 12, 2024.

ABOUT HAYWARD HOLDINGS, INC.

Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) is a leading global designer and manufacturer of pool and outdoor living technology. With a mission to deliver exceptional products, outstanding service and innovative solutions to transform the experience of water, Hayward offers a full line of energy-efficient and sustainable residential and commercial pool equipment including pumps, heaters, sanitizers, filters, LED lighting, water features, and cleaners all digitally connected through Hayward’s intuitive IoT-enabled SmartPad™.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) and releases issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Such forward-looking statements relating to Hayward are based on the beliefs of Hayward’s management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to it. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Hayward’s strategies, plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, expenditures and assumptions and other statements contained in or incorporated by reference in this earnings release that are not historical facts. When used in this document, words such as “guidance,” “outlook,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “target,” “predict,” “project,” “seek” and similar expressions as they relate to Hayward are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Hayward believes that it is important to communicate its future expectations to its stockholders, and it therefore makes forward-looking statements in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Act. However, there may be events in the future that Hayward is not able to accurately predict or control, and actual results may differ materially from the expectations it describes in its forward-looking statements.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements Hayward makes regarding: Hayward’s 2024 guidance and outlook; business plans and objectives; general economic and industry trends; business prospects; future product development and acquisition strategies; future channel stocking levels; and growth and expansion opportunities. The forward-looking statements in this earnings release are only predictions. Hayward may not achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in Hayward’s forward-looking statements, and you should not place significant reliance on its forward-looking statements. Hayward has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, neither Hayward nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of forward-looking statements taken from third-party industry and market reports.

Important factors that could affect Hayward’s future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in its forward-looking statements include the following: its relationships with and the performance of distributors, builders, buying groups, retailers and servicers who sell Hayward’s products to pool owners; impacts on Hayward’s business from the sensitivity of its business to seasonality and unfavorable economic business and weather conditions; competition from national and global companies, as well as lower-cost manufacturers; Hayward’s ability to develop, manufacture and effectively and profitably market and sell its new planned and future products; its ability to execute on its growth strategies and expansion opportunities; Hayward’s exposure to credit risk on its accounts receivable, impacts on Hayward’s business from political, regulatory, economic, trade, and other risks associated with operating foreign businesses, including risks associated with geopolitical conflict; its ability to maintain favorable relationships with suppliers and manage disruptions to its global supply chain and the availability of raw materials; Hayward’s ability to identify emerging technological and other trends in its target end markets; failure of markets to accept new product introductions and enhancements; the ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions; its reliance on information technology systems and susceptibility to threats to those systems, including cybersecurity threats, and risks arising from its collection and use of personal information data; regulatory changes and developments affecting Hayward’s current and future products; volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates; Hayward’s ability to service its existing indebtedness and obtain additional capital to finance operations and its growth opportunities; Hayward’s ability to establish, maintain and effectively enforce intellectual property protection for its products, as well as its ability to operate its business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others; the impact of material cost and other inflation; Hayward’s ability to attract and retain senior management and other qualified personnel; the impact of changes in laws, regulations and administrative policy, including those that limit U.S. tax benefits, impact trade agreements and tariffs, or address the impacts of climate change; the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings; impacts on Hayward’s product manufacturing disruptions, including as a result of catastrophic and other events beyond its control; uncertainties related to distribution channel inventory practices and the impact on net sales volumes; Hayward’s ability to realize cost savings from restructuring activities; Hayward’s and its customers’ ability to manage product inventory in an effective and efficient manner; and other factors set forth in Hayward’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Many of these factors are macroeconomic in nature and are, therefore, beyond Hayward’s control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, Hayward’s actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those described in this earnings release as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, planned or projected. The forward-looking statements included in this earnings release are made only as of the date of this earnings release. Unless required by United States federal securities laws, Hayward neither intends nor assumes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this earnings release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in Hayward’s expectations.

*NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This earnings release includes certain financial measures not presented in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) including adjusted net income, adjusted basic EPS, adjusted diluted EPS, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted segment income and adjusted segment income margin. These financial measures are not measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP and may exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing the Company’s financial results. Hayward believes these non-GAAP measures provide analysts, investors and other interested parties with additional insight into the underlying trends of its business and assist these parties in analyzing the Company’s performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that it does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance, which allows for a better comparison against historical results and expectations for future performance. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to understand and compare operating results across reporting periods for various purposes including internal budgeting and forecasting, short and long-term operating planning, employee incentive compensation, and debt compliance. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income, segment income or other measures of profitability, performance or financial condition under GAAP. You should be aware that the Company’s presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, which may be defined and calculated differently. See the appendix for a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

Reconciliation of full fiscal year 2024 adjusted EBITDA outlook to the comparable GAAP measure is not being provided, as Hayward does not currently have sufficient data to accurately estimate the variables and individual adjustments for such reconciliation. Adjusted EBITDA outlook for full year 2024 is calculated in a manner consistent with the historical presentation of this measure in the appendix.