Group 1 - The London Company Mid Cap Strategy reported a portfolio return of 3.2% in Q4 2025, outperforming the Russell Midcap Index which increased by 0.2% [1] - The Russell 3000 Index rose by 2.4% in Q4 2025, marking the third consecutive quarter of higher returns for US equities [1] - Stock selection and sector exposure were significant contributors to the portfolio's relative performance during the quarter [1] Group 2 - Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) experienced a one-month return of -15.95% and a 52-week decline of 37.52%, with a market capitalization of $8.108 billion [2] - In Q4 2025, Pool Corporation's total sales reached $982 million, which is 1% lower than the previous year's level [5] - The company is facing cautious investor sentiment due to concerns around discretionary home improvement spending, despite stabilizing new pool construction and growth in building materials [3]

Covington, Louisiana-based Pool Corporation (POOL) is the world's leading independent distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products. With a market cap of $9.5 billion, Pool operates in nearly 450 locations through its distribution networks and serves over 125,000 customers worldwide. Pool stock has plummeted 35.9% over the past 52 weeks and 4.5 on a YTD basis, compared to the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 11.7% gains over the past year and marginal surge in 2026. More News from ...

Conestoga Capital Advisors, an asset management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. As many believe, US equities experienced solid returns in 2025, with double-digit gains across all major indices, yet underlying conditions revealed extreme volatility and market leadership. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, Conestoga Capital Advisors SMid Cap Strategy trailed the Russell 2500 Growth Index, returning -2.71% vs. 0.33% for the Index. Relative performance fluctuated ...

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates Pool Corp. (POOL) will report a year-over-year increase in earnings driven by higher revenues for the quarter ending December 2025, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected on February 19, with a consensus estimate of $0.99 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +2.1%. Revenues are projected to be $998.27 million, up 1.1% from the previous year [3][2]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.07% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Most Accurate Estimate for Pool Corp. is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of +1.01%, suggesting a bullish outlook from analysts [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Pool Corp. exceeded the expected earnings of $3.38 per share by delivering $3.39, resulting in a surprise of +0.30%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times [13][14]. Investment Considerations - While a potential earnings beat is a positive indicator, other factors may influence stock performance, making it essential to consider the broader context [15][17].

Core Insights - Pool Corp. is well-positioned to continue its earnings-beat streak in upcoming reports, having surpassed earnings estimates in the last two quarters by an average of 0.64% [1] Earnings Performance - For the most recent quarter, Pool Corp. reported earnings of $3.39 per share, exceeding the expected $3.38 per share, resulting in a surprise of 0.30% [2] - In the previous quarter, the company reported $5.17 per share against an expectation of $5.12 per share, achieving a surprise of 0.98% [2] Earnings Estimates and Predictions - There has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Pool Corp., with a positive Earnings ESP of +1.01%, indicating bullish sentiment among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [5][8] - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) suggests a high likelihood of another earnings beat, with historical data showing that such combinations lead to positive surprises nearly 70% of the time [6][8] Earnings ESP Explanation - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate reflecting the latest analyst revisions, which may be more accurate than earlier predictions [7] - A negative Earnings ESP reduces predictive power but does not necessarily indicate an earnings miss [9] Importance of Earnings ESP - Companies often beat consensus EPS estimates, but this is not the only factor influencing stock price movements; thus, checking the Earnings ESP before quarterly releases is crucial for investment decisions [10]

Core Thesis - Pool Corporation is viewed as a compelling long-term investment despite recent slowdowns linked to the housing market, reflecting the cyclical nature of its growth [2] Financial Performance - The company has shown resilience with revenue increasing for the first time in nine quarters, posting two consecutive quarters of positive growth [3] - Normalizing for COVID-related surges, Pool Corporation continues to exhibit higher revenue and improved profit margins compared to pre-pandemic levels, indicating a return to sustainable growth [3] Balance Sheet and Valuation - The balance sheet is strong, with long-term debt remaining below 3x free cash flow, positioning the company well for market rebounds [4] - Pool Corporation is trading near a 10% capitalization rate, not yet reflecting its historical ability to deliver sustained growth [4] Market Outlook - Potential housing policy reforms aimed at improving affordability could provide additional support for the business, although the exact impact is uncertain [4] - The combination of resilient operations, a strong balance sheet, and potential macroeconomic support underscores the company's attractiveness for patient investors [5] Investment Perspective - While short-term performance has been muted, the long-term trajectory remains intact, suggesting that investors maintaining their positions are likely to be rewarded as market conditions improve [5] - The current environment represents an opportunity for investors to remain invested in a well-managed, cash-generative company with significant upside potential [5] Recent Developments - As of May 2025, Pool Corporation's stock price has depreciated by approximately 12.78% due to continued revenue normalization and regional headwinds [6] - The ongoing complexity of market recovery and gradual return to historical growth trends is emphasized, reflecting a cautious outlook [6]

Core Viewpoint - Pool Corporation (POOL), a leading distributor of swimming pool supplies, is expected to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings for 2025 soon, with analysts projecting a slight increase in profit per share compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Analysts anticipate POOL will report a profit of $0.99 per share on a diluted basis for the upcoming quarter, reflecting a 2.1% increase from $0.97 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full fiscal year, analysts expect POOL's EPS to be $10.87, which is a decrease of 1.8% from $11.07 in fiscal 2024, but forecast a rise of 6.5% year over year to $11.58 in fiscal 2026 [3]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, POOL stock has underperformed, with a decline of 23.3%, compared to a 16.9% gain in the S&P 500 Index and a 21.9% rise in the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund [4]. - Following the Q3 results announcement on October 23, 2025, POOL shares closed marginally up, with an adjusted EPS of $3.39 exceeding Wall Street expectations of $3.38, and revenue meeting forecasts at $1.5 billion [5]. Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on POOL stock is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 15 analysts, five recommend a "Strong Buy," nine suggest a "Hold," and one advises a "Moderate Sell" [6]. - The average analyst price target for POOL is $311.09, indicating a potential upside of 16.1% from current levels [6].

Company Overview - POOL Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) is a leading distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products, serving a diverse customer base including pool builders, retailers, and service companies [1] - The company has a significant market presence with a market capitalization of approximately $8.68 billion [4] Market Position and Stock Performance - CFRA has set a price target of $304 for POOL, indicating a potential upside of approximately 30.87% from its current price of $232.30 [2][6] - The stock has shown slight fluctuations, trading between $231.11 and $234, with a recent increase of 0.12% or $0.29 [2][4] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Azureon are modernizing operations by adopting advanced technology platforms such as ServiceTitan, which may influence market dynamics and impact POOL's competitive stance [3][5][6] - The integration of enterprise-grade systems in the industry is expected to enhance operational efficiency and growth potential for companies like POOL [5]

Core Insights - Pool Corp. is a leading distributor in the swimming pool supplies and equipment industry, serving various customers including pool builders and retailers [1] - CFRA upgraded Pool Corp.'s stock to a "Buy" rating on December 22, 2025, with a stock price of $232.30, indicating a positive outlook for the company [2] - Azureon, a competitor, has adopted ServiceTitan as its core technology platform to improve operational efficiency, which may affect Pool Corp.'s competitive position [3] Financial Performance - Pool Corp.'s current stock price is $232.30, reflecting a slight increase of 0.12%, with trading fluctuations between $231.06 and $234 on the day [4] - Over the past year, the stock has experienced volatility, with a high of $374.74 and a low of $229.63 [4] - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $8.68 billion and a trading volume of 658,433 shares, indicating its significant presence in the market [5] Competitive Landscape - The upgrade by CFRA and Azureon's strategic technology adoption highlight the competitive dynamics within the pool industry, suggesting potential growth and innovation opportunities [5][6]

Company Overview - Pool Corporation, based in Covington, Louisiana, is the world's leading independent distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products, with a market cap of $8.9 billion and operations in hundreds of locations serving over 125,000 wholesale customers globally [1]. Market Position - Pool Corporation is classified as a mid-cap stock, fitting the description of companies valued between $2 billion and $10 billion, with extensive operations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia [2]. Stock Performance - Pool's stock has experienced a significant decline, with prices dropping 35.9% from its 52-week high of $374.74 on March 10, and a 26.3% decrease over the past three months, underperforming the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLI) 3.4% increase during the same period [3]. - Year-to-date, Pool's stock has fallen 29.5%, and over the past 52 weeks, it has decreased by 35%, contrasting with XLI's 19% surge in 2025 and 13.8% returns over the past year [4]. Recent Financial Results - Following the release of better-than-expected Q3 results on October 23, Pool's stock saw a slight uptick, maintaining momentum from Q2 with top-line growth and margin expansion [5]. - For Q3, Pool's revenue increased by 1.3% year-over-year to approximately $1.5 billion, surpassing market expectations by 14 basis points, while adjusted EPS rose 4% year-over-year to $3.39, exceeding consensus estimates by 30 basis points [6]. Competitive Analysis - Compared to its peer Leslie's, Inc., which saw a 94.6% decline in 2025 and a 95.1% drop over the past 52 weeks, Pool has notably outperformed [7]. - Among 15 analysts covering Pool stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $329.27, indicating a potential upside of 37% from current price levels [7].