Significant Options Activity on Tuesday: SLM, PLAB, HAYW
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 09 2025
0mins
Should l Buy HAYW?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Photronics, Inc. Options Activity: Photronics, Inc. (PLAB) has seen a trading volume of 4,083 options contracts today, which is about 59.3% of its average daily trading volume, with significant activity in the $25 strike call option expiring January 16, 2026.
Hayward Holdings Inc. Options Activity: Hayward Holdings Inc. (HAYW) reported an options trading volume of 8,079 contracts, approximately 57.1% of its average daily volume, with notable trading in the $16 strike call option expiring January 16, 2026.
Options Trading Insights: The article highlights the trading volumes for both PLAB and HAYW options, indicating a strong interest in specific strike prices and expiration dates.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Nasdaq, Inc.
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Analyst Views on HAYW
Wall Street analysts forecast HAYW stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 14.770
Low
15.00
Averages
17.00
High
19.00
Current: 14.770
Low
15.00
Averages
17.00
High
19.00
About HAYW
Hayward Holdings, Inc. is a global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of a broad portfolio of pool and outdoor living technology. The Company offers a full line of energy-efficient and sustainable residential and commercial pool equipment including pumps, filters, heaters, cleaners, sanitizers, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, and water features, all digitally connected through its Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled SmartPad. Its products are connected through OmniLogic, its mobile application. It operates through two segments: North America (NAM) and Europe & Rest of World (E&RW). The NAM segment manufactures and sells a complete line of residential and commercial swimming pool equipment and supplies in the United States and Canada and manufactures and sells flow control products. The E&RW segment manufactures and sells residential and commercial swimming pool equipment and supplies in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Australia, and other Asia Pacific countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Hayward Holdings to Expand Margins Through Productivity Gains
- Market Share Growth: Hayward Holdings is expected to increase its market share through productivity enhancements, indicating the company's strategy to strengthen its position in a competitive landscape.
- Margin Expansion: The company plans to improve its profit margins by optimizing operational processes and increasing efficiency, which is anticipated to positively impact its financial performance.
- Strategic Investment: Hayward Holdings' productivity improvement strategy aligns with its long-term growth objectives, aiming to enhance competitive advantages through continuous improvements.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: As market demand grows, Hayward Holdings' strategic adjustments will help the company secure a more favorable position in future industry developments.
See More
Major Wall Street Rating Changes Overview
- Union Pacific Upgrade: Baird upgraded Union Pacific from neutral to outperform with a price target of $311, suggesting investors should capitalize on share weakness to increase exposure, reflecting optimism about potential synergies from upcoming transactions.
- Netflix Revenue Growth Outlook: CFRA upgraded Netflix from hold to buy, projecting an additional revenue growth of $1.5 billion to $3 billion by 2026 driven by member growth and advertising, underscoring its leadership position in the streaming industry.
- First Advantage Benefits from Job Market: Barclays upgraded First Advantage from equal weight to overweight, citing the company's advantage in a resilient job market for background checks, indicating confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Marvell Technology Growth Acceleration: Bank of America upgraded Marvell Technology from neutral to buy with a price target raised to $118, driven by strong demand for AI optical connectivity and the upcoming Microsoft custom chip program, reflecting a positive outlook on its earnings potential.
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Hayward Exceeds Expectations in FY 2025 Results
- Significant Sales Growth: Hayward reported net sales of $1.12 billion for FY 2025, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase that exceeded company expectations, primarily driven by a 5% price increase and contributions from the ChlorKing acquisition, indicating strong market performance.
- Margin Improvement: The gross margin for Q4 reached 48.5%, a record high for the quarter, with gross profit increasing by 10% to $169 million, demonstrating successful cost control and pricing strategies that enhanced profitability.
- Strong Cash Flow: Free cash flow increased by 20% in 2025, representing nearly 150% of net income, while net leverage decreased to 1.9x, enhancing liquidity and providing financial flexibility for future investments and acquisitions.
- Optimistic Outlook: Hayward anticipates approximately 4% net sales growth for 2026, with adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $0.82 to $0.86, reflecting confidence in future market demand, particularly supported by the aftermarket segment.
See More
Hayward Holdings Exceeds Q4 2025 Expectations with Strong Financial Performance
- Strong Performance: Hayward's Q4 2025 net sales rose 7% to $349 million, with gross profit increasing 10% to $169 million and gross margin improving to 48.5%, reflecting the company's robust market performance and enhanced profitability.
- Investment in Innovation: The company continues to invest in innovation and operational excellence, with 2026 net sales expected to grow approximately 4% and adjusted diluted EPS guidance set at $0.82 to $0.86, indicating management's confidence in future growth and positive market demand response.
- Market Expansion: Hayward's aftermarket model accounts for 85% of total sales, achieving 8% and 10% sales growth in North America and Canada, respectively, while sales and margins in Europe and the Rest of World have recovered due to organizational realignment, showcasing the company's competitive strength in global markets.
- Strong Cash Flow: Free cash flow for FY 2025 increased by 20%, with net leverage reduced to 1.9x, indicating the company's ability to maintain financial health while supporting future capital expenditures and innovation projects, further enhancing shareholder value creation.
See More
HAYW Stock 52-Week Range Analysis
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: HAYW's 52-week low is $11.10 per share, with a high of $17.73, and the last trade at $15.09 indicates significant price volatility, reflecting cautious market sentiment towards the stock.
- Technical Indicator Observation: The current price of $15.09 is close to the 52-week low, raising concerns among investors about its future performance, particularly against a backdrop of overall market underperformance, which may impact investor confidence.
- Market Trend Impact: HAYW's stock performance is closely tied to its 200-day moving average, with several stocks recently crossing below this average, potentially signaling a shift in market sentiment that investors should monitor closely.
- Investor Sentiment Assessment: While the current stock price remains within the 52-week range, investors must carefully evaluate the potential risks and rewards, especially amid increasing market volatility that could influence investment decisions.
See More
Hayward Holdings Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations with Strong Guidance for 2026
- Earnings Beat: Hayward's Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.29 exceeded expectations by $0.01, indicating robust profitability and effective operational execution.
- Revenue Growth: The company reported Q4 revenue of $349.4 million, a 6.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $16.56 million, reflecting strong demand and sales execution.
- Net Income Increase: Net income rose 25% year-over-year to $68.4 million, showcasing successful cost control and operational efficiency, which enhances investor confidence.
- 2026 Guidance: Hayward anticipates a 4% increase in net sales for 2026 compared to 2025, with adjusted diluted EPS projected between $0.82 and $0.86, demonstrating confidence in future growth and a positive market outlook.
See More
Hayward Holdings to Expand Margins Through Productivity Gains
- Market Share Growth: Hayward Holdings is expected to increase its market share through productivity enhancements, indicating the company's strategy to strengthen its position in a competitive landscape.
- Margin Expansion: The company plans to improve its profit margins by optimizing operational processes and increasing efficiency, which is anticipated to positively impact its financial performance.
- Strategic Investment: Hayward Holdings' productivity improvement strategy aligns with its long-term growth objectives, aiming to enhance competitive advantages through continuous improvements.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: As market demand grows, Hayward Holdings' strategic adjustments will help the company secure a more favorable position in future industry developments.
See More
Major Wall Street Rating Changes Overview
- Union Pacific Upgrade: Baird upgraded Union Pacific from neutral to outperform with a price target of $311, suggesting investors should capitalize on share weakness to increase exposure, reflecting optimism about potential synergies from upcoming transactions.
- Netflix Revenue Growth Outlook: CFRA upgraded Netflix from hold to buy, projecting an additional revenue growth of $1.5 billion to $3 billion by 2026 driven by member growth and advertising, underscoring its leadership position in the streaming industry.
- First Advantage Benefits from Job Market: Barclays upgraded First Advantage from equal weight to overweight, citing the company's advantage in a resilient job market for background checks, indicating confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Marvell Technology Growth Acceleration: Bank of America upgraded Marvell Technology from neutral to buy with a price target raised to $118, driven by strong demand for AI optical connectivity and the upcoming Microsoft custom chip program, reflecting a positive outlook on its earnings potential.
See More
Hayward Exceeds Expectations in FY 2025 Results
- Significant Sales Growth: Hayward reported net sales of $1.12 billion for FY 2025, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase that exceeded company expectations, primarily driven by a 5% price increase and contributions from the ChlorKing acquisition, indicating strong market performance.
- Margin Improvement: The gross margin for Q4 reached 48.5%, a record high for the quarter, with gross profit increasing by 10% to $169 million, demonstrating successful cost control and pricing strategies that enhanced profitability.
- Strong Cash Flow: Free cash flow increased by 20% in 2025, representing nearly 150% of net income, while net leverage decreased to 1.9x, enhancing liquidity and providing financial flexibility for future investments and acquisitions.
- Optimistic Outlook: Hayward anticipates approximately 4% net sales growth for 2026, with adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $0.82 to $0.86, reflecting confidence in future market demand, particularly supported by the aftermarket segment.
See More
Hayward Holdings Exceeds Q4 2025 Expectations with Strong Financial Performance
- Strong Performance: Hayward's Q4 2025 net sales rose 7% to $349 million, with gross profit increasing 10% to $169 million and gross margin improving to 48.5%, reflecting the company's robust market performance and enhanced profitability.
- Investment in Innovation: The company continues to invest in innovation and operational excellence, with 2026 net sales expected to grow approximately 4% and adjusted diluted EPS guidance set at $0.82 to $0.86, indicating management's confidence in future growth and positive market demand response.
- Market Expansion: Hayward's aftermarket model accounts for 85% of total sales, achieving 8% and 10% sales growth in North America and Canada, respectively, while sales and margins in Europe and the Rest of World have recovered due to organizational realignment, showcasing the company's competitive strength in global markets.
- Strong Cash Flow: Free cash flow for FY 2025 increased by 20%, with net leverage reduced to 1.9x, indicating the company's ability to maintain financial health while supporting future capital expenditures and innovation projects, further enhancing shareholder value creation.
See More
HAYW Stock 52-Week Range Analysis
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: HAYW's 52-week low is $11.10 per share, with a high of $17.73, and the last trade at $15.09 indicates significant price volatility, reflecting cautious market sentiment towards the stock.
- Technical Indicator Observation: The current price of $15.09 is close to the 52-week low, raising concerns among investors about its future performance, particularly against a backdrop of overall market underperformance, which may impact investor confidence.
- Market Trend Impact: HAYW's stock performance is closely tied to its 200-day moving average, with several stocks recently crossing below this average, potentially signaling a shift in market sentiment that investors should monitor closely.
- Investor Sentiment Assessment: While the current stock price remains within the 52-week range, investors must carefully evaluate the potential risks and rewards, especially amid increasing market volatility that could influence investment decisions.
See More
Hayward Holdings Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations with Strong Guidance for 2026
- Earnings Beat: Hayward's Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.29 exceeded expectations by $0.01, indicating robust profitability and effective operational execution.
- Revenue Growth: The company reported Q4 revenue of $349.4 million, a 6.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $16.56 million, reflecting strong demand and sales execution.
- Net Income Increase: Net income rose 25% year-over-year to $68.4 million, showcasing successful cost control and operational efficiency, which enhances investor confidence.
- 2026 Guidance: Hayward anticipates a 4% increase in net sales for 2026 compared to 2025, with adjusted diluted EPS projected between $0.82 and $0.86, demonstrating confidence in future growth and a positive market outlook.
See More
