Baird R W Upgrades Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) to Strong-Buy

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) was upgraded by stock analysts at Baird R W from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note issued on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on POOL. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Pool from $295.00 to $240.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. William Blair reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Pool in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Pool in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Pool from $320.00 to $250.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $320.00 target price on shares of Pool and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Pool currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $308.00.

Pool Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:POOL opened at $261.98 on Monday. Pool has a 52 week low of $226.10 and a 52 week high of $374.74. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $240.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $283.61. The company has a market cap of $9.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.88, a PEG ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 2.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The specialty retailer reported $3.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.38 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.46 billion. Pool had a return on equity of 31.40% and a net margin of 7.77%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.26 EPS. Pool has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.700-11.200 EPS. Research analysts predict that Pool will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Pool

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of POOL. Clearstead Trust LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pool during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Pool during the third quarter worth $29,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pool in the second quarter worth $30,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pool in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in shares of Pool in the second quarter valued at $33,000. 98.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Pool

Here are the key news stories impacting Pool this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Baird upgraded POOL to a buy/strong‑buy and set a $320 price target, citing durable maintenance revenue and self‑help catalysts — a clear analyst catalyst supporting higher valuation and buying interest. Pool Corporation: Depressed Valuation, Durable Maintenance Revenue, and Self‑Help Catalysts Support Buy Rating and 2027 Upside
• Positive Sentiment: Pool hired John B. Watwood as Executive VP to run North American pool operations and lead digital/technology initiatives — his distribution and operations background is positioned to improve execution and margins over time. Pool Corporation Announces the Retirement of Kenneth G. St. Romain and the Appointment of John B. Watwood
• Neutral Sentiment: Consumer/industry coverage (e.g., roundups and human-interest pieces) mentioned pools but are marketing/consumer stories with little direct impact on POOL’s wholesale business or near‑term earnings. The 9 best pool tables for your home game room Tenant tried to pay for extra pool passes…
• Neutral Sentiment: Other market notices (e.g., unrelated fund redemption news) do not directly affect POOL’s fundamentals. Mobius Investment Trust Nears Completion of Voluntary Share Redemption Pool
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling has been reported (CEO/insider sales in recent months), which can create short‑term investor caution even as the company executes. Pool Corporation Announces Retirement of Senior Vice President Kenny G. St. Romain…
• Negative Sentiment: The retirement of a 40‑year veteran SVP introduces transition risk; although management says there will be an orderly handover, some investors may view leadership turnover as a short‑term uncertainty. Pool Corporation Announces the Retirement of Kenneth G. St. Romain and the Appointment of John B. Watwood

Pool Company Profile

Pool Corporation is a leading wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related outdoor living products. Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, the company serves a diverse customer base that includes service professionals, independent retailers, high-volume builders, and national retail chains. Pool Corporation’s extensive branch network enables it to maintain strong local customer relationships while leveraging its scale to source products efficiently from manufacturers around the world.

The company’s product portfolio spans pool and spa chemicals, water treatment equipment, pumps, filters, heaters, automation and control systems, liners, safety covers, and cleaning accessories.