Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) Shares Gap Down – What’s Next?

Shares of Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $210.07, but opened at $195.89. Pool shares last traded at $202.6090, with a volume of 177,675 shares traded.

Trending Headlines about Pool

Here are the key news stories impacting Pool this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Pool Corp. remains a name traders are watching into its July 23 second-quarter report, and recent coverage from Jim Cramer was bullish on POOL, which may be supporting sentiment. Jim Cramer: Buy This Industrial Stock, EquipmentShare Is ‘Disappointing’
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks said POOL is expected to grow earnings, but also noted the stock does not currently have the setup for a likely earnings beat, keeping expectations cautious. Pool Corp. (POOL) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?
• Negative Sentiment: Fresh weakness at Pentair highlighted pool-industry destocking, weaker channel demand, and cut guidance, which could signal softer near-term orders for Pool Corp. and pressure the stock. Leslie’s Stock Climbs; Pentair’s Weak Guidance Highlights Pool Issues
• Negative Sentiment: A separate report on Pentair said pool destocking and a deep 2026 guidance cut raised concerns about inventory and demand conditions across the pool supply chain. Pentair Stock Plunges as Pool Destocking Forces Deep 2026 Guidance Cut

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

POOL has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Pool from $230.00 to $215.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Pool from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Wall Street Zen raised Pool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Zacks Research upgraded Pool from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Pool from $210.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $264.50.

Pool Price Performance

The stock’s 50-day moving average is $194.48 and its 200 day moving average is $217.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $7.58 billion, a PE ratio of 19.13, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.05.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The specialty retailer reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion. Pool had a net margin of 7.57% and a return on equity of 32.37%. Pool’s revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. Pool has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.870-11.170 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Pool Corporation will post 11.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pool Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 14th were given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 14th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. This is an increase from Pool’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. Pool’s dividend payout ratio is currently 47.84%.

Pool declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, April 29th that allows the company to buyback $600.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the specialty retailer to purchase up to 7.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director David G. Whalen acquired 525 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $190.44 per share, for a total transaction of $99,981.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 8,936 shares in the company, valued at $1,701,771.84. The trade was a 6.24% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director James D. Hope acquired 464 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $194.41 per share, with a total value of $90,206.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 3,678 shares in the company, valued at $715,039.98. The trade was a 14.44% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have purchased 21,989 shares of company stock valued at $4,042,747. 3.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Pool

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pool during the fourth quarter valued at $4,575,000. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. raised its stake in Pool by 197.5% in the 1st quarter. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. now owns 170,676 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $34,533,000 after acquiring an additional 113,306 shares during the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated acquired a new stake in Pool during the 4th quarter worth about $2,399,000. CenterBook Partners LP acquired a new stake in Pool during the 4th quarter worth about $3,381,000. Finally, King Luther Capital Management Corp grew its stake in Pool by 236.4% during the 4th quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 11,146 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $2,550,000 after purchasing an additional 7,833 shares during the last quarter. 98.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Pool Company Profile

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.