MQS Management LLC Takes Position in Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL)

MQS Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,527 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $486,000.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of POOL. Whipplewood Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Pool by 471.4% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 80 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. City Holding Co. bought a new stake in shares of Pool in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Atala Financial Inc purchased a new position in shares of Pool during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Pool during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in Pool by 790.9% in the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 98 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. 98.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on POOL. Stephens reduced their price objective on shares of Pool from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on shares of Pool from $370.00 to $322.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $300.00 price target on shares of Pool in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Pool from $325.00 to $310.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Pool from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $344.50.

Pool Price Performance

Shares of POOL opened at $306.32 on Monday. Pool Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $282.22 and a fifty-two week high of $395.60. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $301.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $319.74. The stock has a market cap of $11.52 billion, a PE ratio of 28.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 1.79.

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

Pool Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were paid a $1.25 dividend. This is a boost from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.63%. Pool's payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Pool declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock 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 purchase up to 5.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.