Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) Shares Acquired by Bryce Point Capital LLC

Key Points

• Bryce Point Capital LLC increased its stake in Pool Corporation by 79.1%, now holding 2,722 shares worth approximately $911,000.
• Pool Corporation reported earnings of $5.17 per share for the most recent quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $5.12, with revenue of $1.78 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.25 per share, reflecting confidence in its financial performance with an annualized payout of $5.00.

Bryce Point Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) by 79.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,722 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 1,202 shares during the quarter. Bryce Point Capital LLC's holdings in Pool were worth $911,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Pool by 44.4% during the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 60,073 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $19,124,000 after buying an additional 18,477 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in shares of Pool by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 7,988 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $2,543,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pool by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 1,169 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pool by 16.0% during the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,332 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $424,000 after acquiring an additional 184 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mediolanum International Funds Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Pool by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 12,453 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $3,922,000 after acquiring an additional 355 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.99% of the company's stock.

Pool Trading Down 1.4%

Shares of NASDAQ POOL traded down $4.30 during trading on Thursday, hitting $307.94. 207,805 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 525,379. Pool Corporation has a 1 year low of $282.22 and a 1 year high of $395.60. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $301.50 and a 200-day moving average price of $317.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.41, a P/E/G ratio of 4.37 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 2.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The specialty retailer reported $5.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.12 by $0.05. Pool had a net margin of 7.79% and a return on equity of 30.99%. The firm had revenue of $1.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.99 EPS. The firm's revenue was up .9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Pool Corporation will post 11.32 EPS for the current year.

Pool announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, April 30th that allows the company to buyback $600.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 5.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Pool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. Pool's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.13%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

POOL has been the subject of several research reports. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Pool from $310.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Pool from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Stephens cut their price target on Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Pool from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 price target on Pool in a report on Friday, April 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $342.14.

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.