Financial Counselors Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL)

Financial Counselors Inc. raised its position in Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) by 21.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 7,892 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 1,377 shares during the period. Financial Counselors Inc.'s holdings in Pool were worth $2,512,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Pool by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,443,451 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,514,950,000 after buying an additional 21,870 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Pool by 27.5% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,042,514 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $355,435,000 after buying an additional 224,674 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Pool by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 977,862 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $332,566,000 after buying an additional 13,519 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Pool by 6.2% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 763,817 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $260,416,000 after buying an additional 44,884 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its holdings in Pool by 25.6% during the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 636,007 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $216,840,000 after buying an additional 129,780 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.99% of the company's stock.

Pool Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:POOL traded up $5.82 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $308.46. 733,354 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 429,342. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. Pool Corporation has a 12 month low of $282.22 and a 12 month high of $395.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 1.10. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $300.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $320.82.

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 the consensus estimate of $1.42 by ($0.10). Pool had a return on equity of 30.11% and a net margin of 7.77%. The business had revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.85 earnings per share. Pool's quarterly revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Pool Corporation will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current year.

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

Pool Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.62%. This is a boost from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Pool's payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

POOL has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Stephens dropped their price target on Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Pool in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "hold" rating and a $344.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Pool from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on Pool from $370.00 to $322.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Pool from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pool currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $344.50.

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.