Company Description
Hawkins, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWKN) is a water treatment and specialty ingredients company that formulates, manufactures, distributes, and blends products for customers across its Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions segments. According to company disclosures, Hawkins was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Roseville, Minnesota, with a network of facilities serving customers in multiple U.S. states. The company is incorporated in Minnesota and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker HWKN.
Business Segments and Operations
Hawkins organizes its operations into three primary reporting segments: Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions. These segments reflect how the company manages its operations and allocates resources, as described in its public communications and SEC filings.
Water Treatment is a core focus of Hawkins. The company states that it formulates, manufactures, distributes, and blends products for water treatment customers. This segment serves markets that use chemicals and related products to treat water, and Hawkins has expanded this business through acquisitions, including WaterSurplus and StillWaters Technology, Inc. The company has also acquired Redbird Chemical, Inc., which distributes chemicals to water treatment and industrial customers in eastern Texas. Hawkins has indicated that it is using these acquisitions to grow its water treatment presence, particularly in the southern United States.
Food & Health Sciences includes Hawkins’ nutrition, food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical businesses. The company has described this segment as part of its specialty ingredients focus, supplying ingredients and related products to customers in these areas. In its financial reporting, Hawkins notes that Food & Health Sciences segment performance is influenced by sales volumes and pricing dynamics, including competitive pricing pressures in certain product lines.
Industrial Solutions encompasses Hawkins’ industrial-focused products and services. The company reports that this segment includes manufactured, blended, and repackaged products sold into industrial markets. Segment results are affected by sales volumes, operating costs, and pricing conditions. Hawkins has indicated that both its Water Treatment and Industrial Solutions segments have delivered double-digit revenue growth in certain reporting periods.
Water Treatment and Specialty Ingredients Focus
Across its operations, Hawkins describes itself as a leading water treatment and specialty ingredients company. It emphasizes its role in formulating, manufacturing, distributing, and blending products tailored to the needs of its Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions customers. The company highlights that it creates value through customer service and support, quality products, and personalized applications.
Hawkins has reported that it operates dozens of facilities in multiple U.S. states, supporting a broad geographic footprint for its segments. The company has also stated that it has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue and employs a workforce of approximately one thousand people, underscoring its scale within its chosen markets.
Growth Through Acquisitions and Segment Realignment
Public announcements and filings show that Hawkins has pursued growth through acquisitions and segment realignment. The company has completed acquisitions such as WaterSurplus, StillWaters Technology, Inc., and Redbird Chemical, Inc. Hawkins has described WaterSurplus as bringing design, engineering, and filtration systems capabilities into its Water Treatment segment, enabling a combined offering of equipment and chemicals for water treatment customers in the United States. StillWaters Technology and Redbird Chemical expand Hawkins’ customer base and distribution reach in Alabama and eastern Texas, respectively, particularly in water treatment and industrial markets.
Hawkins has also realigned its reporting structure. It reports that, beginning in its fiscal 2026, it reorganized its segments into Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions to better reflect organizational changes and how management operates the business. Under this structure, Food & Health Sciences includes the nutrition, food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical businesses, which were previously part of the historic Industrial segment.
Financial Reporting and Performance Metrics
Hawkins provides detailed financial information in its earnings releases and SEC filings. The company reports sales, gross profit, operating income, net income, and segment performance for each quarter and fiscal period. It also discloses non-GAAP measures such as adjusted EBITDA, which it defines as net income adjusted for interest expense, income tax expense, amortization of intangibles, depreciation, non-cash compensation expense, and certain non-recurring acquisition-related items. Management states that adjusted EBITDA is used internally to understand, manage, and evaluate the business and as a key compliance measure under its credit agreement.
Hawkins’ financial discussions highlight factors that influence its results, including sales volumes, pricing, acquisition-related expenses, amortization of intangibles, interest expense, and changes in its LIFO reserve. The company also discloses its effective income tax rate and notes that it is affected by projected taxable income, permanent items, and state taxes.
Capital Structure, Dividends, and Governance
Hawkins reports on its capital structure, including total debt, working capital, and leverage ratio based on trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA. The company has disclosed that it uses its cash flow to fund acquisitions, invest in its business, and manage its debt levels.
The company’s board of directors has authorized regular cash dividends. Hawkins states that it has paid a dividend consistently since 1985 and has announced increases in its quarterly cash dividend per share in its public releases. Dividend decisions are communicated through board actions and press releases.
Corporate governance matters, such as the election of directors, ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm, and advisory votes on executive compensation, are reported through proxy materials and Form 8-K filings. Hawkins’ SEC filings indicate that it is subject to U.S. securities regulations and that it communicates material business and financial information through its website, press releases, and SEC filings.
Regulatory Filings and Investor Communications
Hawkins files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Form 8-K filings related to earnings releases, segment realignments, and shareholder meeting results. The company has stated that it uses its website, investor relations materials, press releases, and SEC filings to communicate with investors and other interested parties. It has also indicated that information made available through its website may be deemed material.
Through these channels, Hawkins provides updates on its financial performance, acquisitions, reporting segment changes, and participation in investor conferences hosted by firms such as Sidoti & Company and Seaport Research Partners. These events offer opportunities for institutional investors and other stakeholders to engage with Hawkins’ management and learn more about its strategy and operations.
Stock Information and Sector Classification
Hawkins, Inc. is classified in the broader manufacturing sector and is associated with activities such as chemical and ingredient production and distribution. The company’s stock trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol HWKN, and it is identified in industry references as a water treatment and specialty ingredients company. Investors researching HWKN stock can review Hawkins’ public filings, earnings releases, and segment information to understand how the Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions segments contribute to its overall performance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN)
- What does Hawkins, Inc. do?
Hawkins, Inc. formulates, manufactures, distributes, and blends products for its Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions customers. The company describes itself as a water treatment and specialty ingredients company. - When was Hawkins, Inc. founded?
Hawkins, Inc. states that it was founded in 1938. - Where is Hawkins, Inc. headquartered?
The company reports that it is headquartered in Roseville, Minnesota, and is incorporated in the state of Minnesota. - What are Hawkins’ main business segments?
Hawkins reports three segments: Water Treatment, Food & Health Sciences, and Industrial Solutions. Food & Health Sciences includes its nutrition, food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical businesses. - On which exchange does HWKN trade?
Hawkins, Inc. common stock trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol HWKN. - How does Hawkins describe its Water Treatment business?
The company describes Water Treatment as a key segment in which it formulates, manufactures, distributes, and blends products for water treatment customers. Hawkins has expanded this segment through acquisitions such as WaterSurplus, StillWaters Technology, Inc., and Redbird Chemical, Inc. - What is included in the Food & Health Sciences segment?
Hawkins states that the Food & Health Sciences segment includes its nutrition, food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical businesses, which provide specialty ingredients and related products to customers in these areas. - What is the Industrial Solutions segment?
The Industrial Solutions segment includes manufactured, blended, and repackaged products sold into industrial markets. Hawkins reports that segment performance is influenced by sales volumes, pricing, and operating costs. - Does Hawkins, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes. Hawkins has publicly stated that it has consistently paid out a dividend since 1985 and has announced quarterly cash dividends per share through board actions and press releases. - How does Hawkins report non-GAAP financial measures?
Hawkins reports adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure. It defines adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for interest expense, income tax expense, amortization of intangibles, depreciation, non-cash compensation expense, and certain non-recurring acquisition-related expenses, and notes that management uses this measure to evaluate the business. - How does Hawkins communicate with investors?
The company states that it communicates material business and financial information through its website, investor relations page, press releases, and SEC filings, and encourages investors to review information made available through these channels.