Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. Takes Position in Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL)

Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. purchased a new position in Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 11,044 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $3,516,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of POOL. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Pool by 2,300.0% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 72 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Pool by 471.4% during the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 80 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the period. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in Pool during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Atala Financial Inc acquired a new stake in Pool during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in Pool by 790.9% during the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 98 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the period. 98.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Pool Stock Performance

Pool stock traded down $5.84 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $296.18. 446,905 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 427,539. The firm has a market cap of $11.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.78, a PEG ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $300.75 and a 200 day moving average of $320.95. Pool Corporation has a 12 month low of $282.22 and a 12 month high of $395.60.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The specialty retailer reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.42 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.10 billion. Pool had a return on equity of 30.11% and a net margin of 7.77%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.85 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Pool Corporation will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Pool announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 30th that allows the company to repurchase $600.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the specialty retailer to repurchase up to 5.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's management believes its shares are 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 given a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.69%. 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 dividend payout ratio is currently 46.90%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Stephens dropped their target price on Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 target price on Pool in a report on Friday, April 25th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Pool from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $300.00 price target on Pool in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered their price target on Pool from $370.00 to $322.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $342.00.

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.