Pool Corporation (POOL) reported first-quarter 2025 results, with earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both top and bottom lines declined from the prior-year quarter's actuals. Following the results, the company’s shares declined 6.7% during trading hours yesterday.Although discretionary project spending remained under pressure, overall sales picked up in March, recovering from the weather-related challenges seen in January and February.POOL’s Q1 Earnings & Revenue DiscussionIn the fi ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net sales of $1.1 billion for the first quarter, a decrease of 4% year-over-year, but a decline of only 2% on a same selling day basis, indicating an improving trend towards the end of the quarter [13][14] - Gross margins were reported at 29.2%, down from 30.2% in the first quarter of 2024, but reflecting year-over-year improvement when adjusted for a prior year tax benefit [15][39] - Operating income decreased to $77.5 million, with diluted earnings per share at $1.42, down from $2.04 in the prior year [18][43] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Maintenance product sales performed well, with chemicals showing volume and revenue growth, including double-digit growth in private label chemical products [14][36] - New construction and remodel activities continued to be affected by tight discretionary spending, but the drag on top-line sales was less severe than in previous quarters [14][37] - Equipment sales, excluding cleaners, declined by 4% during the quarter, while commercial business sales increased by 7% [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales increased by 2% in Arizona, remained flat in California, declined by 1% in Florida, and decreased by 11% in Texas, with challenging weather impacting sales in Texas and Florida [19][20] - In Europe, net sales declined by 4% in local currency and 6% in US dollars, with positive trends noted in Spain and Portugal [20][21] - Horizon's net sales also declined by 4%, impacted by commodity pricing deflation, particularly in PVC [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to achieve above-market growth through strategic initiatives focused on customer experience, private label products, and expanding its footprint [6][31] - The company is expanding its wholesale distribution network, having opened two new locations in the first quarter, bringing the total to nearly 450 [28] - The Pinch A Penny franchise network is expanding, with new stores opening to capture the do-it-yourself market [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the macroeconomic environment continues to weigh on new pool construction, with high interest rates causing a wait-and-see pattern in demand for large discretionary purchases [7][52] - There is cautious optimism regarding improving trends in sales, particularly in Florida and California, with expectations for some growth in new pool construction in the second half of the year [69][70] - The company confirmed its full-year EPS guidance range of $11.10 to $11.60, including an estimated benefit from ASU [30][60] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet, with total debt reported at $1 billion and a leverage ratio of 1.47, at the lower end of its target [47] - Cash flow from operating activities was reported at $27 million, with significant cash outflows related to inventory purchases and deferred tax payments [48] - The company plans to continue share repurchases, having completed $56 million in repurchases during the quarter [49] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for second quarter top line growth - Management expects low single-digit top line growth in the second quarter, consistent with full-year guidance [64][65] Question: Price expectations for the second quarter - Price increases are expected to be more pronounced in the second half of the year, with some impact in the second quarter [66][67] Question: New pool ASP and remodel expectations - The higher-end consumer market remains strong, with no significant trade-downs observed, although remodel projects are being spaced out over time [80][82][85] Question: Impact of macroeconomic conditions on margins - If macro conditions worsen, discretionary spending on new pool construction will be most affected, but maintenance and repair business remains strong [109][110] Question: Positioning of Pinch A Penny in a softening market - No significant shift to DIY from do-it-for-me has been observed, with both channels performing well [114][116] Question: Competitive pricing environment - Competitive pricing remains a challenge, but the company focuses on long-term value and customer experience rather than unsustainable pricing wars [122][125]

Pool Corp (POOL) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 24, 2025 08:05 PM ET Company Participants Melanie M. Hart - SVP, CFO & TreasurerPeter Arvan - President and CEORyan Merkel - Co-Group Head–IndustrialsQuinn Fredrickson - Vice President, Senior Research AssociateDavid Macgregor - PresidentStephen Volkmann - Managing DirectorScott Schneeberger - Managing DirectorW. Andrew Carter - Vice PresidentEthan Roberts - Research AssociateGarik Shmois - Managing Director Conference Call Participants Susan Maklari - AnalystSam ...

Financial Performance - Net sales for Q1 2025 were $1.07 billion, a decrease of 4% compared to $1.12 billion in Q1 2024[19] - Gross profit decreased by 8% to $312.4 million, with a gross margin of 29.2%, down from 30.2% in the previous year[5] - Operating income fell 29% to $77.5 million, resulting in an operating margin of 7.2%, compared to 9.7% in Q1 2024[7] - Net income decreased to $53.5 million, down from $78.9 million in Q1 2024, leading to earnings per diluted share of $1.42, a 30% decline[10] - Adjusted EBITDA for the same period was $95,439, down 23.4% from $124,481 in 2024[34] - Adjusted diluted EPS decreased to $1.32 from $1.85, reflecting a decline of 28.6% year-over-year[39] Guidance and Future Outlook - The company confirmed its annual earnings guidance range of $11.10 to $11.60 per diluted share, including a tax benefit of $0.10[8] - The company aims to strengthen its market position through continued innovation and expansion of its customer-centric digital ecosystem, POOL360[13] Cash Flow and Inventory - Net cash provided by operations was $27.2 million, a significant decline from $145.4 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to deferred tax payments[12] - Net cash provided by operating activities fell significantly to $27,224, a decrease of 81.3% compared to $145,442 in the prior year[23] - Inventory balance was $1.5 billion, a reduction of $36.3 million, or 2%, from the previous year[11] Expenses and Capital Allocation - Selling and administrative expenses increased by 2% to $234.8 million, representing 21.9% of net sales, up from 20.5% in Q1 2024[6] - Payments on common stock repurchases rose to $56,316, compared to $16,304 in the same period last year, indicating a strategic shift in capital allocation[23] Sales and Operations - The company added two greenfield sales center locations during the quarter, enhancing its sales center network[3] - The company had a total of 449 sales centers as of March 31, 2025, an increase of 0.2% from 448 centers at the end of 2024[28] Cash and Financing Activities - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were $71,644, an increase of 5.4% from $67,974 at the end of the previous year[23] - The company reported a net cash used in financing activities of $20,611, a significant improvement compared to $124,162 in the same quarter of 2024[23] - Proceeds from the revolving line of credit increased to $427,700, up 87.2% from $228,400 in the prior year[23] Foreign Currency Impact - The company experienced a foreign currency transaction loss of $44 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to a gain of $161 in the same period of 2024[34]

Financial Performance - Pool Corp. reported quarterly earnings of $1.32 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.42 per share, and down from $1.85 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -7.04% [1] - The company posted revenues of $1.07 billion for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.03%, and down from $1.12 billion year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Pool Corp. has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Performance - Pool Corp. shares have lost about 9.3% since the beginning of the year, compared to the S&P 500's decline of -8.6% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Pool Corp. is 4 (Sell), indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $5.15 on revenues of $1.78 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $11.27 on revenues of $5.36 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Pool Corp. is currently unfavorable, which may change following the recent earnings report [6] Industry Context - The Leisure and Recreation Products industry, to which Pool Corp. belongs, is currently in the bottom 27% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, suggesting that industry outlook can significantly impact stock performance [5][8]

Highlights COVINGTON, La., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pool Corporation (Nasdaq/GSM:POOL) today reported results for the first quarter of 2025. "Execution of our long-term strategic initiatives and organic growth investments contributed positively to our performance this quarter, and our team generated over $1.0 billion in net sales, highlighting the strength and resiliency of our business. During the quarter, we continued to expand our sales center network by adding two greenfield locations, optimiz ...

Core Insights - Gate.io is launching the World Crypto Trading Competition Season 7 (WCTC S7) in April 2025, which is highly anticipated in the crypto community [1] - The competition features a dynamic prize pool of up to $5 million, with both team and individual competitions [3][5] - Gate.io has over 22 million registered users and ranks among the top in global spot and futures trading [1] Company Growth and Brand Building - Gate.io has shown impressive growth, ranking in the Top 2 for spot trading and Top 5 for futures trading globally [1] - The platform has made significant strides in brand building, including sponsorship of Oracle Red Bull Racing in F1, aligning its brand with speed and excellence [2] Competition Structure and Rewards - The team competition comprises 80% of the total prize pool, with up to $4 million available, and features a two-stage challenge [4][5] - The individual competition accounts for 20% of the prize pool, offering up to $1 million in rewards for the top 300 participants [5] - Airdrop events during the competition guarantee a 100% winning rate, providing various prizes including trading fee rebates and exclusive merchandise [6][7] Inclusivity and Engagement - The competition is designed to be inclusive, allowing participants to choose between team or individual contests [7] - The airdrop events ensure that all participants have the opportunity to win prizes, catering to both newcomers and seasoned traders [7]

Core Viewpoint - Pool Corporation will release its first quarter 2025 earnings results on April 24, 2025, before market opens, followed by a conference call to discuss the results [1] Group 1: Earnings Announcement - The earnings release will be available on the Company's website [1] - A live webcast and replay of the conference call will also be accessible on the website [1] - The conference call is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) on the same day [1] Group 2: Company Overview - Pool Corporation is the largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products globally [2] - The company operates approximately 445 sales centers across North America, Europe, and Australia [2] - Pool Corporation distributes over 200,000 products to around 125,000 wholesale customers [2]

Group 1 - Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) is experiencing significant dark pool buying activity, which may indicate investor interest despite a decline in stock price since early February [1] - The company is well-known for its burritos and bowls, suggesting a strong brand presence in the fast-casual dining sector [1] Group 2 - The author emphasizes a data-driven approach to investment, focusing on options trading and macroeconomic trends, which may provide insights into market movements related to Chipotle [1] - The article aims to share research and connect with investors interested in understanding market drivers, indicating a collaborative approach to investment analysis [1]

Core Insights - LiqTech International, Inc. has entered a distribution and partnership agreement with PoolCourt Engineering Ltd. to target the Irish commercial swimming pool market, covering the full PurePool™ product range with the first order expected in Q2 2025 [1][2] Company Overview - LiqTech is a clean technology company specializing in advanced ceramic silicon carbide filtration technologies for gas and liquid purification, offering unique solutions for challenging water purification applications [6] Strategic Goals - The partnership aligns with LiqTech's strategic goal to expand its market presence in Europe, leveraging its innovative filtration technology to accelerate revenue growth and strengthen recurring business opportunities [2][4] Product Advantages - LiqTech's PurePool™ filtration system provides significant benefits over traditional filtration systems, including an 80% reduction in water consumption, 60% lower energy costs, and 30% less chlorine usage, while requiring only one-third of the space of conventional systems [4][5] Partner Profile - PoolCourt Engineering Ltd. is a well-established company in the Irish leisure market, specializing in the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of various pool types, which enhances LiqTech's opportunity for expansion in Ireland [3][4]