Pool Corporation
- Open
- 210.00
- Day high
- 212.41
- Day low
- 200.38
- Prev close
- 207.92
- Volume
- 599K
- Mkt cap
- $7.3B
- P/E (TTM)
- 18.4
- EPS (TTM)
- $10.94
- P/B
- 6.5
- P/S
- 1.4
- Yield
- 2.51%
- Per share
- $5.05
- ▲Insiders net buying $4.0M over the last 3 months (5 open-market buys, 0 sales)
- ◆Cluster buying — multiple insiders bought within days
- 🏛Institutions mixed (13F)
Pool Corporation (POOL) is a Industrials company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is down 33% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 5 open-market buys and 0 sales (SEC Form 4).
Pool Corporation (POOL) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 2 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
POOL earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2026 | $1.34 | $1.43 | +6.7% | $1.1B | +3.6% |
| Feb 19, 2026 | $0.99 | $0.84 | -15.2% | $982M | -10.4% |
| Oct 23, 2025 | $3.38 | $3.39 | +0.3% | $1.5B | +45.2% |
| Jul 24, 2025 | $5.08 | $5.17 | +1.8% | $1.8B | +0.3% |
| Apr 24, 2025 | $1.46 | $1.32 | -9.6% | $1.1B | -2.5% |
| Feb 20, 2025 | $0.89 | $0.97 | +9.0% | $987M | +2.4% |
| Oct 24, 2024 | $3.14 | $3.27 | +4.1% | $1.4B | +49.8% |
| Jul 25, 2024 | $4.90 | $4.99 | +1.8% | $1.8B | +1.5% |
| Apr 25, 2024 | $1.91 | $2.04 | +6.8% | $1.1B | -0.5% |
| Feb 22, 2024 | $1.25 | $1.32 | +5.6% | $1.0B | -1.6% |
| Oct 19, 2023 | $3.49 | $3.51 | +0.6% | $1.5B | +44.1% |
| Jul 20, 2023 | $6.10 | $5.91 | -3.1% | $1.9B | -1.8% |
POOL insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2026 | PEREZ DE LA MESA MANUEL Jdirector | Buy | 10,000 | $175.95 |
| May 12, 2026 | WHALEN DAVID Gdirector | Buy | 525 | $190.44 |
| May 8, 2026 | STOKELY JOHN Edirector | Buy | 1,000 | $193.06 |
| May 8, 2026 | Hope James Ddirector | Buy | 464 | $194.41 |
| May 8, 2026 | PEREZ DE LA MESA MANUEL Jdirector | Buy | 10,000 | $190.00 |
| May 5, 2026 | Watwood John Bruceofficer: President/CEO | Grant | 8,610 | — |
| May 5, 2026 | Watwood John Bruceofficer: President/CEO | Grant | 4,305 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | OLER DEBRA SUEdirector | Grant | 644 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | GERVASI MARTHA Sdirector | Grant | 644 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | PEREZ DE LA MESA MANUEL Jdirector | Grant | 2,604 | $209.61 |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Hope James Ddirector | Grant | 644 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | STOKELY JOHN Edirector | Grant | 644 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | WHALEN DAVID Gdirector | Grant | 644 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | POMPA MARK Adirector | Grant | 1,169 | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Murphy Kevin Michaeldirector | Grant | 644 | — |
Source: POOL SEC Form 4 filings, latest May 14, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full POOL insider & 13F page →Pool Corporation company profile
Overview
Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) is the world's largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products. Founded in 1993 and publicly traded since 1995, the company has grown from a regional distributor to a dominant force in the pool industry through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion. Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, Pool Corporation operates approximately 450 sales centers across North America, Europe, and Australia, serving a diverse customer base that includes pool builders, retailers, service companies, and commercial facilities.
Business
Pool Corporation operates as a wholesale distributor in the swimming pool and outdoor living industry, serving as the critical intermediary between manufacturers and end customers. The company distributes a comprehensive range of products across several key categories that support the entire pool ecosystem. Maintenance Products represent the largest segment at approximately 64% of total sales, encompassing pool chemicals, cleaning supplies, testing equipment, and routine maintenance accessories. These products are essential for keeping existing pools operational and safe, creating a recurring revenue stream as pool owners must continuously purchase chemicals and replacement parts regardless of economic conditions. Building Materials account for roughly 22% of sales and include concrete, plumbing components, electrical systems, decorative surfaces, decking materials, tiles, and hardscaping products used in pool construction and renovation projects. This segment serves both new pool construction and the remodeling of existing installations. Equipment Sales comprise about 14% of revenue, featuring pumps, filters, heaters, cleaners, lights, and automation systems. This category includes both replacement equipment for existing pools and new equipment for pool construction projects. The company also distributes Commercial Products specifically designed for hotels, universities, community centers, and other institutional facilities, which has shown strong growth with 9% increases in recent years. Additionally, Pool Corporation offers Irrigation and Landscape Products and Outdoor Living Products such as grills and outdoor kitchen components, expanding beyond traditional pool supplies into the broader outdoor recreation market. Pool Corporation operates through multiple channels, including its flagship wholesale distribution network, the Pinch A Penny franchise system (approaching 300 retail locations), and the Pool 360 digital platform that now represents approximately 13% of total sales.
Revenue model
Pool Corporation generates revenue primarily through wholesale distribution margins, purchasing products from manufacturers at wholesale prices and selling them to dealers, retailers, and service companies at marked-up prices. The company typically achieves gross margins around 29-30%, earning the difference between wholesale purchase costs and selling prices. The business model benefits from several revenue streams. The core wholesale distribution generates the majority of revenue through product sales to independent pool dealers, national chains, service companies, and pool builders. The Pinch A Penny franchise system provides additional revenue through franchise fees, royalties, and product sales to franchisees. The company's Pool 360 digital platform creates efficiency gains and customer stickiness while enabling higher-margin private label product sales. Pool Corporation's margins are influenced by several key factors. Positive margin drivers include the company's scale advantages in purchasing power, allowing better terms with suppliers; the growing private label chemical business that offers higher margins; pricing power due to market leadership position; and the defensive nature of maintenance products that provide steady demand. The Pool 360 technology platform also improves operational efficiency and customer retention. Margin pressures come from commodity price volatility, particularly for chemicals; competitive pricing pressure in certain product categories; seasonal demand fluctuations that affect capacity utilization; and the cyclical nature of new pool construction that impacts higher-margin building materials and equipment sales. Interest rate changes significantly affect new pool construction demand, as most pool installations are financed projects. Economic downturns can reduce discretionary spending on pool renovations and upgrades, though basic maintenance remains relatively stable. The company's business model demonstrates resilience through economic cycles, as approximately 80% of revenue comes from maintenance and repair of existing pools rather than new construction, providing a defensive revenue base even during challenging economic periods.
Competitive moat
Pool Corporation possesses a strong competitive moat built on several reinforcing advantages that create significant barriers to entry and competitive displacement. The company's primary moat stems from its unmatched distribution network of nearly 450 strategically located sales centers that provide local market coverage and rapid delivery capabilities essential in the pool industry, where downtime during peak season is costly for customers. The company benefits from substantial scale economies that smaller competitors cannot replicate. Pool Corporation's size enables superior purchasing power with manufacturers, allowing better pricing, terms, and exclusive product arrangements. This scale also supports the significant technology investments required for the Pool 360 digital platform, which smaller distributors cannot afford to develop or maintain. Customer switching costs reinforce the moat through established relationships, credit arrangements, and integrated ordering systems. Pool dealers rely on Pool Corporation's broad product selection, technical expertise, and reliable delivery schedules. The Pool 360 platform creates additional stickiness by integrating into customers' daily operations and providing valuable tools like water testing recommendations and inventory management. The company's market leadership position creates a virtuous cycle where manufacturers prioritize Pool Corporation for new product launches and exclusive arrangements, while customers benefit from the broadest product selection and best service levels. The Pinch A Penny franchise network adds another layer of competitive advantage by creating a captive retail channel. However, the moat faces some potential threats. Large home improvement retailers like Home Depot (which recently acquired SRS Distribution) could potentially leverage their scale and customer relationships to compete more aggressively in pool supplies. Direct-to-consumer sales by manufacturers or online retailers could bypass traditional distribution, though the technical nature of pool products and need for local service support this threat. Regional competitors with strong local relationships could potentially gain share in specific markets, though they lack the scale advantages to compete nationally. Overall, Pool Corporation's moat appears durable due to the combination of network effects, scale economies, and switching costs, though the company must continue investing in technology and customer relationships to maintain its competitive advantages.
Risks & safety
Pool Corporation demonstrates a moderate margin of safety with solid fundamentals but elevated valuation metrics that warrant caution. • Financial Strength: Current ratio of 1.79x and quick ratio of 0.53x indicate adequate liquidity. Free cash flow of $14 million in Q1 2025 shows positive cash generation, though significantly lower than historical levels due to seasonal patterns. • Debt Position: Debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09x represents manageable leverage levels for a distribution business. The company maintains access to credit facilities and has demonstrated strong cash flow generation historically ($600 million free cash flow in 2024). • Valuation Concerns: Trading at 55.7x P/E ratio and 36.9x EV/EBITDA based on Q1 2025 results, indicating expensive valuation. Price-to-book ratio of 9.6x suggests significant premium to tangible assets. • Cyclical Risks: Business faces headwinds from high interest rates impacting new pool construction, with construction down approximately 50% from pandemic peaks. Seasonal cash flow patterns create working capital volatility. • Defensive Elements: Approximately 80% of revenue from maintenance of existing pools provides stability. Strong market position and recurring revenue nature of chemicals and maintenance products offer downside protection.
Recent development
Pool Corporation has undertaken several strategic initiatives over recent years to strengthen its market position and adapt to changing industry dynamics. The company's most significant investment has been in the Pool 360 digital ecosystem, a comprehensive technology platform that now accounts for approximately 13% of total sales. This platform includes water testing tools, service software, and B2B ordering systems that have recommended over 1 million product applications and increased digital orders by 12-15% annually. The company has aggressively expanded its private label chemical business, achieving double-digit growth rates and higher margins compared to national brands. Pool Corporation expanded its chemical packaging facility production capacity by 60% and continues to develop proprietary products that create differentiation and improve profitability. Network expansion remains a key growth driver, with Pool Corporation opening 8-10 new sales centers annually while strategically acquiring smaller regional distributors. The company has also expanded the Pinch A Penny franchise network from approximately 280 stores to nearly 300 locations, adding 11-15 new franchise stores per year and creating a captive retail channel. In response to challenging market conditions, Pool Corporation has focused on operational efficiency initiatives, including inventory optimization that reduced inventory levels by over $230 million in 2023 while maintaining service levels. The company has also emphasized serving commercial customers, achieving 7-9% growth in this higher-margin segment. Recent strategic moves include increased technology spending of approximately $20 million annually to enhance the Pool 360 platform and improve customer experience. The company has also adapted its product mix strategy, focusing more heavily on maintenance and repair products that provide stability during economic uncertainty while positioning for recovery in construction and renovation markets when interest rates decline.
POOL company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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