BNP Paribas Financial Markets Increases Stock Position in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) by 71.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 74,374 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 30,999 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned approximately 0.20% of Pool worth $25,357,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its stake in Pool by 2,300.0% in the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 72 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Atala Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of Pool in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in Pool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in Pool by 76.9% in the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 138 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in Pool during the third quarter valued at $60,000. 98.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Stephens decreased their price objective on Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 price target on shares of Pool in a research note on Friday, April 25th. StockNews.com downgraded Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Pool from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $300.00 target price on shares of Pool in a report on Friday, April 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $336.22.

Insider Activity

In other Pool news, SVP Jennifer M. Neil sold 1,223 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total value of $385,245.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 9,667 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,045,105. This trade represents a 11.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director De La Mesa Manuel J. Perez sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $346.00, for a total transaction of $3,460,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 62,577 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $21,651,642. The trade was a 13.78 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 3.00% of the company's stock.

Pool Stock Up 0.1 %

Pool stock traded up $0.28 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $301.92. The stock had a trading volume of 391,456 shares, compared to its average volume of 388,220. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.20. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $314.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $339.77. Pool Co. has a 12-month low of $284.28 and a 12-month high of $395.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The specialty retailer reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.42 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $1.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.10 billion. Pool had a return on equity of 31.11% and a net margin of 8.18%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.85 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Pool Co. will post 11.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pool Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This is an increase from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. Pool's payout ratio is currently 46.90%.

Pool announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, April 30th that permits the company to buyback $600.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the specialty retailer to reacquire up to 5.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

About Pool

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.