Caledonia Investments PLC Raises Holdings in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

Caledonia Investments PLC lifted its holdings in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) by 6.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 129,387 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after buying an additional 7,700 shares during the period. Pool comprises approximately 4.8% of Caledonia Investments PLC's portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Caledonia Investments PLC owned about 0.34% of Pool worth $41,152,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its position in Pool by 2,300.0% during the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 72 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its position in Pool by 471.4% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 80 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Atala Financial Inc acquired a new stake in Pool during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in Pool during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Pool during the first quarter valued at $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.99% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Pool

In other news, SVP Jennifer M. Neil sold 1,223 shares of Pool stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 31st. The stock was 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. The trade was a 11.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 3.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Pool Stock Down 3.7%

NASDAQ POOL traded down $11.37 during trading on Friday, hitting $297.08. 967,648 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 409,767. Pool Co. has a 12 month low of $284.28 and a 12 month high of $395.60. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $304.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $332.26. The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a market capitalization of $11.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.34, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.12.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 business 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 quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.85 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Pool Co. will post 11.32 EPS for the current year.

Pool declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 30th that permits the company to buyback $600.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 5.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Pool Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were paid a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. This is a positive change from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.68%. Pool's payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Pool in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "hold" rating and a $344.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 price objective on Pool in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Stephens reduced their price objective on Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price 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 Pool in a report on Friday, April 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $336.22.

Pool 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.