Pool (NASDAQ:POOL – Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The specialty retailer reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.09, Zacks reports. Pool had a return on equity of 31.49% and a net margin of 7.67%.The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.32 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Pool updated its FY 2026 guidance to 10.870-11.170 EPS.
Here are the key takeaways from Pool’s conference call:
- Reported a solid Q1 with net sales +6%, operating income +7%, a 10 bps operating margin expansion and EPS of $1.45, while management confirmed full‑year diluted EPS guidance of $10.87–$11.17.
- Category strength included chemicals +8% (driven by proprietary/private‑label lines), equipment +7% and building materials +5%, and digital penetration rose as Pool360 reached 13% of net sales—supporting margin and share gains.
- Capital allocation remained disciplined: the company repurchased ~$64M of stock in Q1 with ~$271M remaining authorizations, maintained a targeted measured expansion (only five new sales centers expected) and reiterated expense‑moderation plans to drive leverage.
- Inventory rose to $1.7 billion (up 14% YoY) due to early buys, new products and stocking, contributing to higher seasonal debt (~$1.2B) and increased interest expense, which could pressure cash flow if demand softens.
- Management reiterated its thesis that growth will be driven by the ~5.5M installed in‑ground pools (maintenance/remodel/share capture) rather than a recovery in new pool builds, and expects low single‑digit same‑day sales growth with gross margin roughly in line with 2025.
Pool Trading Down 2.4%
Shares of POOL opened at $228.68 on Friday. Pool has a 52-week low of $195.49 and a 52-week high of $345.00. The business’s fifty day moving average is $217.20 and its 200-day moving average is $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 2.24. The firm has a market cap of $8.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.10, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 1.26.
Pool Announces Dividend
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Pool from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Sunday, April 19th. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on Pool from $346.00 to $280.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Pool from $240.00 to $232.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Pool from $230.00 to $215.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $246.00 price objective on shares of Pool in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $273.67.
View Our Latest Report on Pool
Insider Transactions at Pool
In other Pool news, Director De La Mesa Manuel J. Perez acquired 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $205.00 per share, for a total transaction of $1,025,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 110,108 shares in the company, valued at $22,572,140. This represents a 4.76% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Romain Kenneth G. St acquired 5,560 shares of Pool stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $218.67 per share, for a total transaction of $1,215,805.20. Following the completion of the purchase, the senior vice president directly owned 82,845 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,115,716.15. This represents a 7.19% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 3.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pool
A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Pool during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in Pool in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Pool in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pool by 164.4% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 156 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of Pool by 719.6% during the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 459 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $105,000 after buying an additional 403 shares during the last quarter. 98.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Key Headlines Impacting Pool
Here are the key news stories impacting Pool this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Q1 results: Net sales rose 6%, operating income grew 7% and diluted EPS increased modestly; management confirmed FY26 EPS guidance of $10.87–$11.17, reaffirming confidence in the year. Pool Corporation Reports First Quarter Results and Confirms Annual Earnings Guidance Range
- Positive Sentiment: Market reaction to the quarterly print: outlets reported the quarter beat certain expectations and the raised/confirmed guidance drew early positive commentary from investors. Pool Corp Q1 Earnings: EPS And Sales Beat Estimates, Stock Gains On Raised Guidance
- Positive Sentiment: Independent summaries highlight operating income expansion, modest EPS growth (adjusted EPS +8% ex-tax benefit) and continued focus on service/greenfield investment as drivers of durable demand. Pool Corporation Reports Q1 2026 Results: Net Sales Up 6% with Operating Income Growth of 7%
- Neutral Sentiment: FY26 guidance was reiterated at $10.87–$11.17 (consensus ~$11.00) — essentially in line but not a material upside surprise, leaving room for mixed investor interpretation. FY26 guidance update
- Neutral Sentiment: Analyst stance: some firms kept neutral/hold ratings citing balanced risk/reward amid macro uncertainty and margin pressure (William Blair maintained a Hold). Balanced Risk/Reward Keeps Pool at Hold Amid Margin Pressures, Inventory Build, and Macro Uncertainty
- Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings call and slides are available for details — useful for investors wanting management commentary on margin, inventory and capital allocation. Pool Corporation (POOL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
- Negative Sentiment: Inventory and leverage: inventory rose ~14% Y/Y to $1.7B and total debt increased by ~$223M (to fund ~$349M in share repurchases), raising concerns about working-capital management and higher interest expense. Pool Corporation Reports First Quarter Results and Confirms Annual Earnings Guidance Range
- Negative Sentiment: Margin pressure: gross margin contracted ~20 bps (to 29.0%) due to seasonal mix and customer “early buys”; analysts flagged margin trends as a near-term headwind. Pool Corp. (POOL) Tops Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
- Negative Sentiment: Institutional positioning and analyst downgrades: major funds trimmed positions recently (UBS, BlackRock among sellers) and at least one bank lowered expectations — adding selling pressure despite the quarter’s positives. Pool Corporation Reports Q1 2026 Results: Net Sales Up 6% with Operating Income Growth of 7%
About Pool
Pool Corporation is a leading wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related outdoor living products. Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, the company serves a diverse customer base that includes service professionals, independent retailers, high-volume builders, and national retail chains. Pool Corporation’s extensive branch network enables it to maintain strong local customer relationships while leveraging its scale to source products efficiently from manufacturers around the world.
The company’s product portfolio spans pool and spa chemicals, water treatment equipment, pumps, filters, heaters, automation and control systems, liners, safety covers, and cleaning accessories.
Further Reading
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