Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) Shares Gap Up After Earnings Beat

Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock had previously closed at $340.87, but opened at $357.89. Pool shares last traded at $338.09, with a volume of 121,687 shares trading hands.

The specialty retailer reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.08. Pool had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 31.89%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently issued reports on POOL shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Pool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Pool from $380.00 to $386.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Pool from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Pool from $370.00 to $360.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Loop Capital increased their target price on shares of Pool from $345.00 to $395.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $368.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pool

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of POOL. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of Pool by 2,300.0% in the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 72 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Atala Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in shares of Pool in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 98.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Pool Price Performance

The business’s 50-day moving average price is $343.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $355.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a market capitalization of $13.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.03.

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.