Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (ZWS) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: ZWSAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

ZWS AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (NYSE: ZWS) designs, manufactures, and distributes commercial water system solutions. Over the past five fiscal years, annual revenue expanded from $910.9M in FY2021 to $1.70B in FY2025, registering a 5-year revenue CAGR of 24.7%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 10.5% year-over-year while trailing twelve-month profit margin reached 15.4%.

Market cap
$7.81B
Revenue (TTM)
$1.79B
P/E
29.2x
fwd 22.9x
1Y return
3.4%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$57.56
22.3% vs last close

Bull case

  • Free cash flow expanded to $316.6M in FY2025, enabling $159.9M in share repurchases and $63.9M in dividend payments.
  • Quarterly earnings increased 132.0% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026, alongside 10.5% revenue growth.
  • Consensus estimates forecast full-year FY2026 EPS of $1.83, reflecting expected year-over-year growth of 20.6%.

Bear case

  • The stock trades at a premium valuation with an EV-to-EBITDA of 16.9x and a trailing P/E of 29.2x, compared to US-listed Industrials peer medians of 13.9x and 24.8x.
  • Share count increased 31.5% over the past five fiscal years.
  • ZWS returned 3.4% over the trailing one-year period, underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.

What Zurn Elkay Water Solutions does

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes water system solutions that optimize water quality, safety, flow control, and conservation within non-residential buildings. Its product portfolio spans finish plumbing, drainage systems, water control and backflow prevention devices, fire protection equipment, PEX pipe fittings, and repair parts marketed under the Zurn brand. It also supplies hand dryers and baby changing stations under the World Dryer brand, alongside stainless steel sinks, ADA-compliant fixtures, and faucets under the Just Manufacturing brand. The company serves higher education, healthcare, retail, hospitality, institutional, restaurant, government, and fire protection sectors.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2021 and FY2025, annual revenue grew from $910.9M to $1.70B, supported by an 8.3% top-line increase in FY2025. Over the same span, gross margin moved from 41.0% to 41.6%, while operating margin expanded from 11.7% to 17.0%. Net income climbed from $120.9M in FY2021 to $198.0M in FY2025, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $1.52. Operating cash flow reached $346.5M and free cash flow stood at $316.6M in FY2025. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue totaled $1.79B with an operating margin of 31.4%. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 10.5% and quarterly earnings surged 132.0% year-over-year.

ZWS income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions held $365.0M in cash and short-term investments against $550.5M in total debt, leaving net debt at $185.5M. The company reported a current ratio of 3.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, with shareholders' equity of $1.66B and total assets of $2.78B. During FY2025, capital expenditures totaled $29.9M, while capital return to shareholders consisted of $159.9M in share buybacks and $63.9M in dividends paid.

ZWS balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At a closing price of $47.06 on October 16, 2026, ZWS traded at a trailing P/E of 29.2x and a forward P/E of 22.9x, both at a premium to the median of its US-listed Industrials peers (24.8x and 17.2x, respectively). Enterprise value stood at $7.94B, resulting in an EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 16.9x versus the peer median of 13.9x, and a price-to-sales multiple of 4.4x versus 1.5x for peers. Over the past year, ZWS returned 3.4%, lagging the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock gained 38.0% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.

ZWS key metrics →

ZWS dividend

ZWS pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $0.44 per share, providing a dividend yield of 0.94%. The payout ratio is 25.9%, and the company has paid dividends for 7 consecutive years. Over the trailing five years, dividend growth annualized at 19.8%. The last ex-dividend date was August 20, 2026.

ZWS dividend history →

What analysts expect

Analyst ratings include 3 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 6 Hold recommendations, with 0 Sell ratings. The mean price target of $57.56 implies an upside of 22.3% from the last close of $47.06. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $1.85B and EPS of $1.83, representing expected EPS growth of 20.6%. ZWS beat EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings release is scheduled for October 27, 2026.

ZWS forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Total debt stood at $550.5M against $365.0M in cash and short-term investments as of June 30, 2026, resulting in net debt of $185.5M.
  • Consensus projections indicate revenue growth may moderate to 6.4% in the next fiscal year.
  • The stock closed at $47.06, sitting 2.2% below its 200-day moving average and below its 52-week high of $55.00.

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 ZWS AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (ZWS). 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: ZWS income statement, ZWS balance sheet, ZWS key metrics, ZWS analyst forecast, ZWS chart. See the ZWS stock overview for the latest quote and news.

ZWS AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Zurn Elkay Water Solutions' dividend yield and payout ratio?

ZWS pays an annualized dividend of $0.44 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 0.94% and a dividend payout ratio of 25.9%.

When is ZWS scheduled to report its next quarterly earnings?

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is scheduled to report its next financial results on October 27, 2026.

How do ZWS valuation multiples compare to sector peers?

ZWS trades at a trailing P/E of 29.2x and an EV-to-EBITDA of 16.9x, both above the median of its US-listed Industrials peers of 24.8x and 13.9x, respectively.

What is the Wall Street consensus price target for ZWS?

The mean analyst price target is $57.56, which sits 22.3% above the October 16, 2026 closing price of $47.06.

More Industrials AI stock analysis