Nomura Holdings Inc. Invests $429,000 in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 1,258 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $429,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Focus Partners Wealth raised its stake in shares of Pool by 907.2% in the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 37,399 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $12,768,000 after acquiring an additional 33,686 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in Pool by 816.8% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 40,860 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $13,601,000 after purchasing an additional 36,403 shares in the last quarter. L. Roy Papp & Associates LLP acquired a new position in shares of Pool during the fourth quarter worth about $653,000. World Equity Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Pool during the fourth quarter worth about $272,000. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. boosted its position in shares of Pool by 104.0% in the fourth quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 3,778 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,288,000 after buying an additional 1,926 shares during the period. 98.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other Pool news, SVP Jennifer M. Neil sold 1,223 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total value of $385,245.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 9,667 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,045,105. This represents a 11.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director De La Mesa Manuel J. Perez sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $346.00, for a total transaction of $3,460,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 62,577 shares in the company, valued at $21,651,642. The trade was a 13.78% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 3.00% of the company's stock.

Pool Stock Performance

Shares of POOL stock traded down $1.18 on Friday, hitting $302.29. 363,784 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 400,273. The company's fifty day moving average is $308.58 and its 200 day moving average is $336.26. Pool Co. has a 1-year low of $284.28 and a 1-year high of $395.60. The company has a market capitalization of $11.36 billion, a PE ratio of 26.80, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The specialty retailer reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.42 by ($0.10). Pool had a return on equity of 31.11% and a net margin of 8.18%. The business had revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.10 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.85 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict 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 share repurchase program 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 programs are generally a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Pool Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be paid a $1.25 dividend. This is an increase from Pool's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. Pool's payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently commented on POOL. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on Pool from $370.00 to $322.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of 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 price target on shares of Pool in a report on Friday, April 25th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Pool in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "hold" rating and a $344.00 price objective for the company. Two 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 company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target 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.