Hayward CEO Hol‑lran Balances Share Buy‑Sell and Large Option Liquidation in Quiet 10b‑5‑1 Trade — No Sudden Shift, Just Risk‑Managed Positioning

Insider Activity Snapshot: Hayward Holdings Inc.

On January 5, 2026 the company’s CEO, Kevin Hol‑lran, executed a Rule 10b‑5‑1 trading plan that saw him buy 52,390 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $15.40, increasing his post‑transaction holding to 675,930 shares. The same day he also sold an equal number of shares for $15.99 and liquidated a large block of stock options (52,390 contracts) for $0.00 under the same plan. The net effect is a modest overall purchase, but the simultaneous sale of a large option position and the share sale suggests he is managing exposure rather than betting on a price rally.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

The transaction is neutral in the short term: buying and selling roughly the same amount of shares cancels out the impact on supply. However, the sale of a sizeable block of options signals a potential shift in Hol‑lran’s view of the company’s future volatility. If the CEO is exiting option positions that were long, he may be anticipating a slowdown in earnings growth or a tightening of margin expectations. For investors, the lesson is to monitor the timing of option liquidations; they often precede earnings releases or material news.

The share purchase, albeit modest, keeps the CEO’s ownership above the 5 % threshold and reinforces his commitment to the company. In a sector where management often sells to diversify holdings, this action can be interpreted as a vote of confidence, especially as the stock has been trading near its 52‑week low.

Hol‑lran’s Trading Pattern: A Profile

Across the past year Hol‑lran has been a frequent trader, alternating between buying and selling 60,571‑share blocks at the same price of $1.40, and liquidating roughly 60,000 option contracts each month. His trades have consistently been executed under a Rule 10b‑5‑1 plan adopted in March 2025, indicating a disciplined, pre‑programmed strategy rather than opportunistic trading. The pattern of selling options while buying the underlying stock suggests a hedge against downside risk, maintaining a net long position in the company while limiting exposure to price swings.

His purchase volume is roughly 0.5 % of the company’s total shares outstanding (based on a market cap of $3.42 bn), which is significant for a single insider but modest enough not to distort the market. The consistent use of a trading plan also reduces the likelihood of insider trading concerns or regulatory scrutiny.

Company‑Wide Insider Activity Context

Other insiders have been more passive: a handful of non‑executive directors and senior managers have executed small buys or sells in the range of 900–3,500 shares. The only other major block was a sale by a senior CFO in late October, but that was a single transaction at $17.50. Overall, the insider landscape is relatively stable, with Hol‑lran as the primary driver of volume.

Outlook for Hayward Holdings

With a P/E of 25.4 and a price/earnings relative to peers that is high, the market may be pricing in continued growth in the pool‑equipment sector. However, the company’s latest legal notice regarding a potential class action could weigh on sentiment. Hol‑lran’s disciplined trading pattern suggests he is not positioning for a short‑term surge, but rather maintaining a long‑term stake. For investors, the key takeaways are:

• The CEO’s option liquidation may signal caution about future volatility.
• The share purchase indicates confidence but is modest relative to the company’s size.
• The broader insider activity is quiet, implying no imminent corporate action.

In short, the current transaction is more a routine exercise of a pre‑set plan than a harbinger of dramatic change. Investors should watch for upcoming earnings and legal developments to gauge whether the market’s valuation remains justified.