Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) Shares Gap Up Following Earnings Beat

Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped up prior to trading on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock had previously closed at $340.87, but opened at $357.89. Pool shares last traded at $338.09, with a volume of 121,687 shares.

The specialty retailer reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $987.48 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $961.04 million. Pool had a return on equity of 31.89% and a net margin of 8.42%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on POOL. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Pool from $370.00 to $360.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Pool from $380.00 to $386.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com raised Pool from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Pool from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Loop Capital raised their target price on Pool from $345.00 to $395.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $368.00.

Institutional Trading of Pool

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of POOL. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter worth approximately $83,000. Forum Financial Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter worth approximately $212,000. Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter worth approximately $3,255,000. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its stake in shares of Pool by 49.4% in the fourth quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 20,395 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $6,953,000 after acquiring an additional 6,744 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Pool in the fourth quarter worth approximately $354,000. 98.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Pool Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $343.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $355.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.03.

Pool Company Profile

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.