Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC Invests $3.26 Million in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 9,546 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $3,255,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Pool by 2,300.0% during 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 period. Atala Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of Pool during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in Pool in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. FWL Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Pool during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA lifted its position in Pool by 76.9% during the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 138 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. 98.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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 sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 9,667 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,045,105. The trade was a 11.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 3.00% of the company's stock.

Pool Price Performance

NASDAQ:POOL traded down $2.57 on Wednesday, reaching $298.96. 531,219 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 401,724. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $307.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $335.28. The firm has a market cap of $11.24 billion, a PE ratio of 26.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.20. Pool Co. has a 12 month low of $284.28 and a 12 month high of $395.60.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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 business had revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.10 billion. Pool had a net margin of 8.18% and a return on equity of 31.11%. Pool's revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.85 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Pool Co. will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Pool announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, April 30th that permits the company to repurchase $600.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 5.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Pool Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be issued a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. This is a boost from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. Pool's payout ratio is 46.90%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

POOL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 target price on Pool in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Oppenheimer lowered their target price on Pool from $370.00 to $322.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Pool from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $300.00 target price on Pool in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $336.22.

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.