Leslie's(US:LESL) Goldman Sachs·2025-05-30 02:50Investment Rating - The report assigns a Neutral rating on Leslie's Inc. (LESL) with a 12-month price target of $3 based on EV/EBITDA multiples of 8.0x/9.0x/10.0x for downside/base/upside cases [40]. Core Insights - Memorial Day weekend demand for pools was in line with the previous year, and similar sales are expected for the summer, with chemical sales likely to remain stable but discretionary sales anticipated to decline [1][3]. - Google search trends indicate an increase in interest for pool-related topics in key states, suggesting a potential uptick in demand, although Leslie's Pool Supplies experienced a decline in search interest [19][24]. - Approximately 75% of surveyed retailers do not view Leslie's or Walmart as strong competitors in the pool supply market [3][16]. Summary by Sections Survey Results - A survey of 27 independent specialty pool retailers indicated that demand during Memorial Day 2025 was consistent with 2024, with no expectations for increased demand for chemicals or discretionary items [2][3]. - Retailers expressed that prices for pool supplies are not expected to be lower than the previous year [10]. Google Search Trends - Google search interest for "pool" in April and May 2025 remained stable compared to 2024, with increases noted against 2023 and pre-pandemic levels [24]. - Searches for Leslie's Pool Supplies showed a decline in interest compared to previous years, indicating potential challenges for the company [24][31]. Market Competitiveness - The majority of retailers surveyed do not consider Leslie's or Walmart as significant competitors, with 22% affirming Leslie's as a competitor and 5% for Walmart [3][16]. - Retailers are cautious about the competitive landscape, with many not expecting significant changes in market dynamics [3].