IFM Investors Pty Ltd Invests $3.23 Million in Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL)

IFM Investors Pty Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Pool Co. (NASDAQ:POOL) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 8,010 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $3,232,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. raised its stake in shares of Pool by 11.7% in the first quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 679 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $274,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Norden Group LLC increased its holdings in Pool by 2,149.4% in the 1st quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 63,702 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $25,704,000 after buying an additional 60,870 shares during the period. Wasatch Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Pool by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 525,004 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $211,839,000 after buying an additional 45,953 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pool by 46.3% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,376 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,766,000 after acquiring an additional 1,385 shares during the period. Finally, Congress Wealth Management LLC DE boosted its position in shares of Pool by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 43,075 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $17,381,000 after acquiring an additional 479 shares in the last quarter. 98.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pool Trading Up 0.3 %

Pool stock traded up $1.17 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $371.17. 437,342 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 372,053. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.04, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 1.88. Pool Co. has a fifty-two week low of $307.77 and a fifty-two week high of $422.73. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $392.78 and its 200-day moving average is $373.76.

Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The specialty retailer reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by ($0.02). Pool had a net margin of 9.17% and a return on equity of 35.49%. The business had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.13 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.46 earnings per share. Pool’s revenue was down 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Pool Co. will post 13.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Pool Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $1.10 per share. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.19%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 13th. Pool’s payout ratio is 34.43%.

Insider Activity at Pool

In other Pool news, General Counsel Jennifer M. Neil sold 1,100 shares of Pool stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.00, for a total transaction of $441,100.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 8,622 shares in the company, valued at $3,457,422. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 3.00% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

POOL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Pool from $407.00 to $436.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Pool from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $380.00 to $415.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $370.00 price objective on shares of Pool in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of Pool from a “b” rating to a “c+” rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $397.80.

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.