Hayward Holdings Beats Q2 Estimates; Sonic Automotive Next to Report

Hayward Holdings (NASDAQ:HAYW) reported second-quarter results that topped analyst expectations, boosting its shares in pre-market trading. The strong report from the pool technology firm puts a spotlight on fellow Charlotte-based company Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH), which is scheduled to release its own earnings on Thursday.

Hayward Beats Estimates, Reaffirms Guidance

The manufacturer of pool equipment posted Q2 2026 net sales of $318.4 million, exceeding the consensus forecast of $312.7 million, according to data from Investing.com. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.26, a penny ahead of the $0.25 estimate.

Following the release, shares of Hayward jumped 7.15% to $16.19 in pre-market trading on Wednesday. The company also reported a 5% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to $92.7 million and reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $0.84 to $0.87.

The report marks the eighth consecutive quarter that Hayward has surpassed EPS estimates. The stock saw elevated trading volume of 4.02 million shares on Tuesday, about 41% above its three-month average, Investing.com data showed.

Sonic Automotive in Focus

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Investors will now turn their attention to Sonic Automotive, which reports its Q2 results before the market opens on Thursday, July 30. The automotive retailer's stock has gained approximately 45% over the past year and recently touched a 52-week high of $105.68.

Analysts expect Sonic to report an EPS of $1.76 on revenue of $3.78 billion, per Investing.com consensus data. Sentiment appears constructive heading into the print, with seven upward analyst EPS revisions in the past 90 days compared to just two downward revisions.

What It Means for Investors

Despite operating in disparate sectors, both Hayward and Sonic Automotive are Charlotte-based mid-cap peers with market capitalizations around $3.3 billion. Their performance is being watched as a barometer for the city's corporate landscape.

For Hayward, the key question is whether the post-earnings momentum can push the stock toward its 52-week high of $17.73. For Sonic, Thursday's report will be a critical test of whether its strong year-long rally is supported by fundamental earnings growth, particularly given the heightened expectations from analysts.