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Pool (POOL)
NASDAQ:POOL

Pool (POOL) AI Stock Analysis

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PO

Pool

(NASDAQ:POOL)

67Neutral
Pool Corporation demonstrates strong cash flow and profitability, which provides resilience despite challenges in revenue growth and new pool construction. Technical indicators suggest moderate momentum, although valuation concerns remain due to a high P/E ratio. The earnings call confirms a stable outlook with some headwinds, resulting in a balanced overall score.
Positive Factors
Growth Initiatives
Pool sounded confident that initiatives like POOL360 and new branches would drive share gains.
Negative Factors
Earnings Guidance
Management initiated 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of $11.08-$11.58, below consensus of $11.94, indicating a less optimistic outlook for earnings.
Stock Valuation
The price objective for the stock is set at $325, which is lower than the current price of $344.32, suggesting potential downside.

Pool (POOL) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Pool Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPool Corporation (POOL) is a leading wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products. The company operates primarily within the outdoor and leisure sector, focusing on providing a comprehensive range of products for residential and commercial pool and outdoor living spaces. Pool Corporation offers a wide array of products, including chemicals, equipment, parts, and accessories, servicing a network of approximately 410 sales centers across North America, Europe, and Australia.
How the Company Makes MoneyPool Corporation generates revenue through the distribution and sale of swimming pool and outdoor living products. The company sources products from a wide range of manufacturers and sells them to a diverse customer base, including pool builders, retail stores, and service companies. Its revenue streams are primarily driven by sales of non-discretionary pool maintenance products like chemicals and parts, as well as discretionary products such as pool equipment and outdoor living goods. The company benefits from strong supplier relationships and a vast distribution network, ensuring efficient delivery and availability of products. Additionally, Pool Corporation capitalizes on the consistent demand for pool maintenance supplies, as well as growth trends in outdoor living and swimming pool installations.

Pool Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Pool Corporation demonstrates strong profitability and cash flow generation, supported by a solid balance sheet with reduced leverage. The company's decline in revenue growth is a concern, but effective cost management and cash flow generation offer resilience.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Pool has shown a decline in revenue from 2022 to 2024, indicating a negative revenue growth trend. Despite this, the company maintains a healthy gross profit margin and EBIT margin, though these metrics have also seen a slight decrease over the years. The net profit margin has held relatively steady, suggesting effective cost management. Overall, while profitability remains robust, the declining revenue trend is a concern.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows a strong equity position, with a stable equity ratio over the years. The debt-to-equity ratio has significantly improved from 2022 to 2024, indicating reduced leverage and financial risk. Return on equity has remained stable, reflecting consistent shareholder value creation. However, the decrease in total assets and liabilities suggests a contraction in business operations, which could pose future risks.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Pool demonstrates strong cash flow management, with free cash flow remaining positive and showing growth from 2022 to 2024. The operating cash flow to net income ratio indicates effective conversion of earnings into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio further emphasizes the company's ability to generate cash relative to its earnings. While operating cash flow has decreased, efficient capital expenditure management has supported free cash flow growth.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
5.31B5.54B6.18B5.30B3.94B
Gross Profit
1.58B1.66B1.93B1.62B1.13B
EBIT
617.20M747.12M1.03B832.78M464.03M
EBITDA
662.68M786.71M1.06B862.81M493.43M
Net Income Common Stockholders
434.32M523.23M748.46M650.62M366.74M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
77.86M66.54M45.59M24.32M34.13M
Total Assets
3.37B3.43B3.57B3.23B1.74B
Total Debt
1.27B1.36B1.66B1.43B623.84M
Net Debt
1.19B1.30B1.62B1.40B589.71M
Total Liabilities
2.09B2.12B2.33B2.16B1.10B
Stockholders Equity
1.27B1.31B1.24B1.07B639.47M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
599.71M828.13M441.24M275.83M375.88M
Operating Cash Flow
659.19M888.23M484.85M313.49M397.58M
Investing Cash Flow
-66.17M-71.60M-50.87M-849.61M-146.29M
Financing Cash Flow
-576.55M-798.13M-411.66M526.13M-244.37M

Pool Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price364.12
Price Trends
50DMA
344.09
Positive
100DMA
354.68
Positive
200DMA
350.13
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.39
Negative
RSI
66.36
Neutral
STOCH
86.94
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For POOL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 364.12 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 345.45, above the 50-day MA of 344.09, and above the 200-day MA of 350.13, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.39 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 66.36 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 86.94 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for POOL.

Pool Risk Analysis

Pool disclosed 23 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Pool reported the most risks in the “Macro & Political” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Pool Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
JCJCI
75
Outperform
$51.44B30.579.80%1.85%-4.53%-14.72%
AWAWI
71
Outperform
$6.26B24.8439.28%0.77%11.62%20.76%
67
Neutral
$13.70B32.2333.41%1.29%-4.16%-15.44%
66
Neutral
$3.12B27.028.68%5.96%45.69%
62
Neutral
$8.27B12.810.55%3.01%3.90%-15.60%
MAMAS
60
Neutral
$15.67B20.04-118.61%1.57%-1.74%-6.91%
WHWHR
47
Neutral
$5.24B13.03-12.77%7.38%-14.64%-167.22%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
POOL
Pool
343.56
-56.38
-14.10%
AWI
Armstrong World
141.49
20.84
17.27%
JCI
Johnson Controls
76.99
16.27
26.80%
MAS
Masco
71.39
-2.99
-4.02%
WHR
Whirlpool
94.62
-6.02
-5.98%
HAYW
Hayward Holdings
14.19
0.02
0.14%

Pool Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 20, 2025 | % Change Since: 6.82% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 17, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Pool Corporation demonstrated resilience in a challenging market with solid revenue and cash flow performance, expansion in sales centers, and growth in chemical sales. However, significant declines in new pool construction and building material sales, along with challenges in Europe, tempered the overall positive outcomes.
Highlights
Solid Revenue Performance Despite Challenges
Pool Corporation achieved $5.3 billion in revenue for 2024, down only 4% from 2023, despite a significant decline in new pool construction and economic headwinds. This performance slightly exceeded the company's guidance.
Gross Margin Stability
The company maintained a gross margin of 29.7% for 2024, despite a weaker product mix and competitive pressures.
Expansion and Investment in Growth
Pool Corporation opened ten new sales centers and added two through acquisitions, expanding its network to nearly 450 centers. The company also added 11 new Pinch A Penny stores, enhancing its market presence.
Growth in Chemical Sales
Chemical sales increased 2% for the year and 8% in the fourth quarter, driven by mid-teens growth in private label chemical sales.
Positive Operating Cash Flow
The company generated $659 million in operating cash flow, demonstrating strong cash management despite challenges.
Lowlights
Decline in New Pool Construction
New pool construction for 2024 declined by approximately 15%, with a 50% drop from the pandemic-driven peak.
Decrease in Building Material Sales
Building material sales declined 10% for the full year and 8% in the fourth quarter, reflecting pressure in construction-related products.
Lower Sales in Europe
Sales in Europe declined 9% for the full year and 5% in the fourth quarter, although there was sequential improvement during the swimming pool season.
Flat Equipment Sales
Equipment sales, excluding cleaners, were flat for the year, indicating limited growth in this segment.
Company Guidance
During the Pool Corporation's fourth-quarter 2024 conference call, guidance for 2025 was provided with several key metrics highlighted. The company expects total sales growth to be relatively flat to slightly up, influenced by inflation benefits of 1% to 2%, stable maintenance-related product sales, and continued market share expansion. New pool construction is anticipated to remain flat at around 60,000 units due to economic uncertainties and high interest rates impacting consumer financing. The gross margin for 2025 is projected to be within the range of the 2024 gross margin, with a long-term target of around 30%. Operating expenses are expected to rise due to investments in technology and new sales centers, with interest expense projected between $40 to $45 million. Capital allocation plans for 2025 include $25 to $50 million on acquisitions and around $200 million on dividends, with cash flow expected to be 90% to 100% of net income. The company forecasts diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $11.08 to $11.58, including an estimated $0.08 ASU tax benefit.

Pool Corporate Events

Dividends
Pool Corporation Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Positive
Feb 26, 2025

On February 26, 2025, Pool Corporation announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.20 per share, payable on March 26, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 12, 2025. This decision reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering shareholder value and may impact its financial performance and investor relations positively.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Pool Corporation Reports 2024 Financial Results Amid Challenges
Neutral
Feb 20, 2025

Pool Corporation reported its 2024 financial results, with net sales of $5.3 billion and operating income of $617.2 million, despite a challenging economic environment. The company saw a 4% decline in net sales compared to 2023, attributed to reduced spending on discretionary products. However, its strategic initiatives, including the expansion of its digital ecosystem and sales centers, helped maintain a solid operating margin. Looking forward to 2025, Pool Corporation anticipates earnings per share to be between $11.08 and $11.58, bolstered by ongoing industry trends and strong operational foundations.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.