Robert W. Baird Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) Stock Price

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by equities research analysts at Robert W. Baird from $325.00 to $310.00 in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "neutral" rating on the specialty retailer's stock. Robert W. Baird's target price indicates a potential upside of 6.41% from the stock's previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Pool in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "hold" rating and a $344.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Pool from $340.00 to $330.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Pool from $360.00 to $315.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Pool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pool has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $341.22.

Pool Price Performance

Shares of Pool stock traded down $0.26 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $291.33. 515,576 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 383,018. Pool has a 1 year low of $284.28 and a 1 year high of $395.60. The company has a market capitalization of $10.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a fifty day moving average of $322.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $343.91. 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 (NASDAQ:POOL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The specialty retailer reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) 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 analysts' expectations of $1.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.85 EPS. Pool's quarterly revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Pool will post 11.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Pool

In other news, Director De La Mesa Manuel J. Perez sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $21,651,642. This represents a 13.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 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 sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,667 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,045,105. This trade represents a 11.23 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Teacher Retirement System of Texas purchased a new position in Pool during the first quarter worth about $1,772,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Pool by 4.4% in the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 901 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $287,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Pool in the first quarter valued at about $101,000. WCM Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Pool by 4.6% in the first quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 6,219 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,958,000 after buying an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its holdings in Pool by 7.8% in the first quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 1,699 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $541,000 after buying an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. 98.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.