Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy20 ratings
Bullish1155.0%
Neutral840.0%
Bearish15.0%
Pool Corporation · POOL · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026
Pool Corp Q2: Maintenance Demand Holds, Freight Costs Weigh on Margins
Pool Corp delivered a modest Q2 beat with EPS of $5.38 versus $5.33 consensus and revenue of $1.82B versus $1.82B consensus, but the stock sold off sharply (-6.6% market-adjusted) as gross margin compressed 30 bps year-over-year due to inbound freight costs and unfavorable large-customer mix. Sales growth decelerated to 2% from Q1's 6% pace. Management maintained its full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $10.87 to $11.17, narrowing the reported range by a $0.21 CEO transition charge. The durable recurring-revenue base from 5.5 million installed pools remains the core thesis, with European sales growing double digits and POOL360 digital adoption reaching a record 18% of total sales. The key tension is between the resilient maintenance-driven demand floor and mounting cost pressures squeezing margins even as top-line growth slows. The expanded $600 million buyback authorization signals…
Reported Before market openNASDAQIndustrials
$6.95B market cap
100quality score
Company context
Snapshot as of publicationPool Corporation, established in 1993 and based in Covington, Louisiana, serves as a leading wholesale distributor of swimming pool essentials, outdoor living accessories, and related recreational merchandise. Operating extensively across the United States and globally, the company supported its diverse clientele through 410 sales centers spanning North America, Europe, and Australia as of March 2022. Its comprehensive product portfolio encompasses a broad array of upkeep items like chemicals, general provisions, and pool accouterments; components for servicing and replacing critical pool machinery such as purification systems, heating units, circulation pumps, and lighting fixtures; and structural elements including complete fiberglass pools, luxury spas, and comprehensive pre-packaged pool kits designed for both subterranean and elevated installations, encompassing structural walls, liners, support braces, and coping. Furthermore, Pool Corp.…
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$5.38
Consensus $5
EPS surprise
+0.9%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$1.82B
Consensus $1.82B
Revenue surprise
+0.3%
Reported versus consensus
Earnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$185.71Current
$185Low
$283.57Average
$460High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Jul 31, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stifel | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stephens & Co. | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jul 24, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Underperform | Underperform | Maintain | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Apr 8, 2026 |
| Baird | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jan 13, 2026 |
| CFRA | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Dec 23, 2025 |
| William Blair | Market Perform | Outperform | Downgrade | Oct 15, 2025 |
| Loop Capital | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Oct 25, 2024 |
| Deutsche Bank | Hold | Buy | Downgrade | Dec 8, 2023 |
| Jefferies | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Feb 13, 2023 |
| Keybanc | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jan 25, 2023 |
| Longbow Research | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | Apr 19, 2022 |
| Sidoti & Co. | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Oct 8, 2020 |
| Johnson Rice | Buy | Accumulate | Maintain | Jul 24, 2017 |
| Wunderlich Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Feb 14, 2014 |
| Wunderlich | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Feb 14, 2014 |
| Wedbush | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Jul 17, 2012 |
| Morgan Keegan | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Feb 17, 2012 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $185.71. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $185 | $181.14 | -0.4% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $227 | $183.14 | +22.2% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $189 | $183.33 | +1.8% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $260 | $183.33 | +40.0% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $225 | $183.33 | +21.2% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $235 | $219.47 | +26.5% | Jul 6, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $210 | $187.77 | +13.1% | May 11, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $240 | $229.14 | +29.2% | Apr 24, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $280 | $219.04 | +50.8% | Feb 24, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $232 | $221.62 | +24.9% | Feb 23, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $246 | $218.36 | +32.5% | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $300 | $218.36 | +61.5% | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $275 | $267.33 | +48.1% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $310 | $258.46 | +66.9% | Jan 13, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $320 | $252.28 | +72.3% | Jan 12, 2026 |
| CFRA | Analyst unavailable | $304 | $232.3 | +63.7% | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $250 | $240.24 | +34.6% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $345 | $300.01 | +85.8% | Oct 24, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $360 | $300.31 | +93.9% | Oct 23, 2025 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $300 | $291.59 | +61.5% | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $300 | $291.59 | +61.5% | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $386 | $370.86 | +107.9% | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $335 | $377.33 | +80.4% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | Susan Maklari | $415 | $377.33 | +123.5% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $400 | $377.33 | +115.4% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $408 | $364.68 | +119.7% | Oct 16, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $310 | $336.43 | +66.9% | Jul 18, 2024 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $356 | $310.74 | +91.7% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Garik Shmois | $305 | $337.91 | +64.2% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $305 | $337.91 | +64.2% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $350 | $337.91 | +88.5% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $380 | $357.65 | +104.6% | May 29, 2024 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $436 | $414.62 | +134.8% | Mar 28, 2024 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $340 | $299.2 | +83.1% | Oct 19, 2022 |
| Stephens | Analyst unavailable | $460 | $426.54 | +147.7% | Apr 27, 2022 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Garik Shmois | $465 | $427.19 | +150.4% | Apr 22, 2022 |
Track every rating change on POOL the moment it posts. Free to start.
Start freeMarket reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
-6.6%
Event window
SPY move
-1.2%
Same window
Abnormal move
-5.3%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
2.6×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
+1.3%
Up to 20 sessions
POOLSPY benchmark
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Try FN2 freeTranscript intelligence
What changed
Q2 net sales grew just 2% year-over-year, a sharp deceleration from Q1's 6% growth, as soft new-construction demand offset recurring maintenance and building materials strength. Gross margin contracted 30 bps due to higher inbound freight costs and an unfavorable large-customer mix. The share repurchase authorization was increased substantially to $600 million with $580 million remaining, up from $271 million in Q1. POOL360 digital platform adoption hit a record 18% of total sales. Horizon Irrigation received new leadership amid a challenging quarter for that segment. The EPS guidance range was narrowed by a $0.21 CEO transition charge on a reported basis, though the adjusted range was maintained. European sales posted double-digit growth, partially offsetting U.S. regional weakness.
Guidance delta
Full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $10.87 to $11.17 was maintained on an adjusted basis, consistent with the prior quarter's stance. The reported EPS range was narrowed by $0.21 to account for a CEO transition charge. Management did not raise or lower the adjusted range despite margin pressure, signaling confidence in second-half cost mitigation and seasonal demand recovery.
Key takeaways
- EPS of $5.38 beat the $5.33 consensus by 0.9%; revenue of $1.82B beat the $1.82B estimate by 0.3%.
- Net sales growth decelerated to 2% from 6% in Q1, reflecting soft new-construction demand.
- Gross margin contracted 30 bps year-over-year due to higher inbound freight costs and unfavorable large-customer mix.
- Full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $10.87 to $11.17 maintained; reported range narrowed by a $0.21 CEO transition charge.
- POOL360 digital platform adoption reached a record 18% of total sales.
- European sales posted double-digit growth, partially offsetting U.S. regional weakness.
Management priorities
- Sales excellence: investing in talent, training, and digital tools to drive top-line growth.
- Pricing and supply chain discipline: implementing freight surcharges and pricing adjustments to offset transportation headwinds.
- Operational execution: optimizing branch economics and leveraging existing greenfield locations to full potential.
- Disciplined M&A: pursuing opportunistic tuck-in acquisitions that fit strategic and cultural criteria.
- POOL360 platform expansion: accelerating integrations and expanding the proprietary product portfolio.
Related earnings events
IndustrialsALLE · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026Allegion Beats on Q2 Revenue and EPS, Raises Full-Year Outlook as Americas Demand AcceleratesROL · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026Rollins Q2 2026: Revenue Misses as Digital Lead Slowdown Hits OrkinLUV · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026Southwest Airlines Q2 2026: EPS Beats by 84%, Unit Revenue Up 20%, Guidance Cut on Fuel
Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-07-23T17:04:13.122644+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-31T01:23:16.182055+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-07-31T21:41:22.904267+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-07-31T21:41:22.901701+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.