Bell Asset Management Ltd Decreases Stock Holdings in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

Bell Asset Management Ltd reduced its holdings in shares of Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Free Report) by 12.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,930 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 2,209 shares during the quarter. Bell Asset Management Ltd's holdings in Pool were worth $5,431,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Pool by 2,300.0% in the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 72 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Atala Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of Pool during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in Pool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in Pool by 76.9% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 138 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in Pool in the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000. 98.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Pool

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

Pool Price Performance

Shares of POOL stock traded up $5.97 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $311.27. The company's stock had a trading volume of 411,866 shares, compared to its average volume of 378,532. 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 fifty-two week low of $284.28 and a fifty-two week high of $395.60. The company has a market capitalization of $11.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.59, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.13. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $331.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $349.59.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.08. Pool had a return on equity of 31.11% and a net margin of 8.18%. The company had revenue of $987.48 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $961.04 million. Sell-side analysts forecast that Pool Co. will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Pool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 12th were given a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 12th. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.54%. Pool's payout ratio is 42.55%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Pool in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "hold" rating and a $344.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Pool from $370.00 to $360.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $365.33.

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.