Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ Acquires New Shares in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ acquired a new position in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 12,291 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $4,190,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cim LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pool by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Cim LLC now owns 2,955 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,007,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter valued at about $88,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new position in Pool during the fourth quarter worth about $6,414,000. Putney Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Pool during the fourth quarter worth about $83,000. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP purchased a new position in Pool during the fourth quarter worth about $212,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.99% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Pool

In other news, SVP Jennifer M. Neil sold 1,223 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $385,245.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 9,667 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,045,105. This trade represents a 11.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 3.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Pool Price Performance

POOL traded down $1.24 during trading on Friday, hitting $299.55. The company's stock had a trading volume of 749,490 shares, compared to its average volume of 402,873. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $306.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $334.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Pool Co. has a 12 month low of $284.28 and a 12 month high of $395.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.20.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last announced 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 company had revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.10 billion. Pool had a return on equity of 31.11% and a net margin of 8.18%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.85 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Pool Co. will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Pool Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.67%. This is a positive change from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. Pool's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.90%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Pool in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "hold" rating and a $344.00 target price on the stock. Stephens cut their price target on Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 target price on shares of Pool in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Wall Street Zen cut Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Pool from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $336.22.

About Pool

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.