Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL) Stock Position Lifted by GAMMA Investing LLC

GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL) by 18.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 311 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in Pool were worth $125,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in POOL. Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Pool by 4.1% during the third quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,924 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $685,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Pool during the 3rd quarter worth $217,000. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Pool by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,882 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $1,026,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new stake in shares of Pool in the 3rd quarter valued at $581,000. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund boosted its holdings in Pool by 307.7% in the third quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 10,874 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $3,872,000 after purchasing an additional 8,207 shares in the last quarter. 98.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Pool Price Performance

NASDAQ POOL opened at $337.92 on Friday. Pool Co. has a twelve month low of $308.45 and a twelve month high of $422.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 1.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.95 billion, a PE ratio of 26.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $360.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $379.45.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The specialty retailer reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.87 by ($0.02). Pool had a return on equity of 35.49% and a net margin of 9.17%. The business had revenue of $1.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.13 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.46 EPS. Pool’s revenue for the quarter was down 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Pool Co. will post 13.02 EPS for the current year.

Pool Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 16th were given a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 15th. This is a boost from Pool’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.10. Pool’s payout ratio is currently 37.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on POOL. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Pool from $370.00 to $360.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 29th. Loop Capital reduced their price target on Pool from $415.00 to $370.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their price target on Pool from $436.00 to $416.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pool presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $382.80.

Pool Company Profile

Pool Corporation distributes swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products in the United States and internationally. The company offers maintenance products, including chemicals, supplies, and pool accessories; repair and replacement parts for pool equipment, such as cleaners, filters, heaters, pumps, and lights; and building materials, such as concrete, plumbing and electrical components, functional and decorative pool surfaces, decking materials, tiles, hardscapes, and natural stones for pool installations and remodeling.