Hillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN) AI Stock Analysis
HLMN AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchHillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN) is a North American provider of hardware products and merchandising services. In FY2025, the company generated $1.55B in revenue and posted net income of $40.3M, while expanding trailing twelve month revenue to $1.60B through June 30, 2026. However, the business carries $801.0M in total debt against $35.8M in cash and short-term investments.
- Market cap
- $1.43B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $1.60B
- P/E
- 36.9x fwd 9.4x
- 1Y return
- -21.8% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $12.00 62.8% vs last close
Bull case
- Hillman's quarterly earnings expanded 34.8% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, supported by 9.8% quarterly revenue growth.
- Operating margin improved from 0.7% in FY2021 to 7.6% in FY2025, helping net income reach $40.3M.
- The company trades at a forward P/E of 9.4x and an EV/EBITDA of 8.4x, both lower than the US-listed Industrials peer medians of 17.2x and 13.9x, respectively.
Bear case
- The company holds $801.0M in total debt against $35.8M in cash and short-term investments as of June 30, 2026.
- Hillman's stock fell 21.8% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
- The company exceeded earnings expectations in only 1 of the last 4 quarters.
What Hillman Solutions does
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hillman Solutions Corp. supplies hardware products and merchandising services across North America. Its product catalog includes fasteners such as bolts, screws, nuts, nails, rivets, and threaded inserts, alongside home hardware like door hinges, garage door components, safety hasps, corner braces, and storage solutions. The company also provides tools, wall hanging accessories, personal protective equipment, keys, and engraving services under brands including DECK PLUS, GORILLA GRIP, HILLMAN, HARDWARE Essentials, and OOK. Hillman distributes these offerings through hardware stores, home centers, mass merchants, pet supply retailers, and industrial original equipment manufacturers.
Growth and profitability
Hillman recorded a 5-year revenue CAGR of 2.6% between FY2020 and FY2025. Annual revenue grew 4.2% in FY2021 to $1.43B and 4.2% in FY2022 to $1.49B, followed by minor contractions of 0.7% in FY2023 to $1.48B and 0.3% in FY2024 to $1.47B. Revenue rebounded 5.4% in FY2025 to reach $1.55B. Operating margin steadily expanded from 0.7% in FY2021 to 7.6% in FY2025. Net income improved from -$38.3M in FY2021 to $40.3M in FY2025, producing EPS of $0.59. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $1.60B, with latest quarter revenue growing 9.8% and quarterly earnings up 34.8% year-over-year.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Hillman held $35.8M in cash and short-term investments alongside $801.0M in total debt, resulting in net debt of $765.2M. Shareholders' equity was $1.23B, reflecting a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 2.71. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $105.2M and free cash flow was $35.1M. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $70.1M in capital expenditures and $12.4M dedicated to share buybacks, while the five-year share count increased by 3.7%.
Valuation and performance
Hillman trades at an enterprise value of $2.15B and a market capitalization of $1.43B. Its trailing P/E of 36.9x is higher than the 24.8x median of its US-listed Industrials peers, while its forward P/E of 9.4x sits below the peer median of 17.2x. The stock's EV/EBITDA of 8.4x compares to 13.9x for the peer group, and its price-to-sales of 0.9x is below the peer median of 1.5x. Over the past year, HLMN declined 21.8%, lagging the 16.8% return of the S&P 500.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage consists of 4 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, and 2 Hold ratings, with no Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $12.00 implies upside of 62.8% above the last close of $7.37. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $1.68B and EPS of $0.59. Seven analysts projecting FY2027 anticipate revenue of $1.80B and EPS of $0.69. Hillman beat earnings estimates in 1 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 2, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Net debt stands at $765.2M on June 30, 2026, creating ongoing financial obligations relative to FY2025 free cash flow of $35.1M.
- With a beta of 1.42, HLMN exhibits above-average share price volatility relative to the broader market.
- Operating margin of 8.3% for the trailing twelve months remains below the US-listed Industrials peer median of 11.7%.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this HLMN AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Hillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: HLMN income statement, HLMN balance sheet, HLMN key metrics, HLMN analyst forecast, HLMN chart. See the HLMN stock overview for the latest quote and news.
HLMN AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Hillman Solutions Corp.'s core business?
Hillman Solutions Corp. provides hardware-related products, fasteners, keys, engraving services, and merchandising support to retail partners and original equipment manufacturers across North America.
Does Hillman Solutions Corp. pay a dividend?
The company does not currently report an active dividend payout in its latest financial data.
What is Hillman's debt level?
As of June 30, 2026, Hillman carried $801.0M in total debt and $35.8M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $765.2M.
What are analysts expecting for Hillman's earnings and price target?
Analysts maintain a mean price target of $12.00, representing a 62.8% premium to its last close of $7.37, while projecting FY2026 EPS of $0.59.