Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) Sets New 52-Week Low - Here's Why

Shares of Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $285.91 and last traded at $290.96, with a volume of 620520 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $303.08.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. 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 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Pool from $370.00 to $360.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Two investment 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 a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $365.33.

Pool Trading Up 2.0 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 2.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.13. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $330.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $349.07.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.08. Pool had a net margin of 8.18% and a return on equity of 31.11%. The business had revenue of $987.48 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $961.04 million. On average, research analysts forecast that Pool Co. will post 11.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pool Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th were issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 12th. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. Pool's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.55%.

Insider Transactions at Pool

In other news, Director De La Mesa Manuel J. Perez sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now owns 62,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,651,642. The trade was a 13.78 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Jennifer M. Neil sold 1,223 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $385,245.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 9,667 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $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. Corporate insiders own 3.00% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pool

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of Pool by 2,300.0% in the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 72 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its stake in Pool by 471.4% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 80 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Atala Financial Inc bought a new stake in Pool in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pool in the first quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 98.99% of the company's stock.

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.