Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusHold20 ratings
Bullish1050.0%
Neutral945.0%
Bearish15.0%
Pool Corporation · POOL · FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026
POOL sales grow 4% as pricing offsets freight pressure
The quarter supports a measured resilience thesis: maintenance and building-material demand, pricing actions and share gains supported growth, but freight pressure and customer mix remain material constraints on margin recovery.
Reported Before market openNASDAQIndustrials
$6.27B market cap
80quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
—
Consensus $3.36
EPS surprise
—
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
—
Consensus $1.48B
Revenue surprise
—
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
+10.6%
Event window
SPY move
-1.3%
Same window
Abnormal move
+11.9%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
1.7×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
0.0%
Up to 20 sessions
POOLSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about POOL FY2026 Q3
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
What drove POOL's +10.6% move after FY2026 Q3 earnings?What changed in POOL's guidance and outlook in FY2026 Q3?Give me the bull and bear case for POOL after FY2026 Q3 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Compared with the prior-quarter analysis, Q3 sales growth accelerated from 2% to 4%, while gross-margin pressure increased from 30 basis points to 60 basis points year over year. POOL360 represented just over 17% of sales, inventory fell 3% year over year, and management added a commercial-growth leader.
Guidance delta
Management reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance; no change was supplied.
Key takeaways
- Q3 sales grew 4% year over year, supported by pricing, volume and share gains across all segments.
- Gross margin declined 60 basis points year over year as freight costs rose and customer mix shifted, while mid-season price increases began to help.
- Management pointed to private-label expansion, POOL360 adoption and productivity gains as ways to restore operating leverage.
- Operating cash flow was $420 million year to date; management also highlighted debt reduction and continued share repurchases.
Management priorities
- Advance sales-excellence tools, training and centers of excellence.
- Apply pricing and supply-chain discipline tied to costs and vendor inputs.
- Expand private-label chemicals and building-material products.
- Invest in POOL360, e-commerce and third-party technology integrations.
- Pursue selective, programmatic M&A.
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Try FN2 freeEarnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$197.21Current
$165Low
$265.06Average
$460High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Oct 22, 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 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Longbow Research | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Oct 19, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Stephens & Co. | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Aug 20, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jul 24, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Underperform | Underperform | Maintain | Jul 20, 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 |
| 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 $197.21. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $175 | $168.07 | -11.3% | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $165 | $169.12 | -16.3% | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $185 | $175.76 | -6.2% | Sep 11, 2026 |
| D.A. Davidson | Garik Shmois | $210 | $188.24 | +6.5% | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $185 | $181.14 | -6.2% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $227 | $183.14 | +15.1% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $189 | $183.33 | -4.2% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $260 | $183.33 | +31.8% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $225 | $183.33 | +14.1% | Jul 24, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $235 | $219.47 | +19.2% | Jul 6, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $210 | $187.77 | +6.5% | May 11, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $240 | $229.14 | +21.7% | Apr 24, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $280 | $219.04 | +42.0% | Feb 24, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $232 | $221.62 | +17.6% | Feb 23, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $246 | $218.36 | +24.7% | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $300 | $218.36 | +52.1% | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $275 | $267.33 | +39.4% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $310 | $258.46 | +57.2% | Jan 13, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $320 | $252.28 | +62.3% | Jan 12, 2026 |
| CFRA | Analyst unavailable | $304 | $232.3 | +54.2% | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $250 | $240.24 | +26.8% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $345 | $300.01 | +74.9% | Oct 24, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $360 | $300.31 | +82.5% | Oct 23, 2025 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $300 | $291.59 | +52.1% | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Sam Reid | $300 | $291.59 | +52.1% | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $386 | $370.86 | +95.7% | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $335 | $377.33 | +69.9% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | Susan Maklari | $415 | $377.33 | +110.4% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $400 | $377.33 | +102.8% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $408 | $364.68 | +106.9% | Oct 16, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Andrew Carter | $310 | $336.43 | +57.2% | Jul 18, 2024 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $356 | $310.74 | +80.5% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Garik Shmois | $305 | $337.91 | +54.7% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $305 | $337.91 | +54.7% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $350 | $337.91 | +77.5% | Jun 25, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $380 | $357.65 | +92.7% | May 29, 2024 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $436 | $414.62 | +121.1% | Mar 28, 2024 |
| Stephens | Trey Grooms | $340 | $299.2 | +72.4% | Oct 19, 2022 |
| Stephens | Analyst unavailable | $460 | $426.54 | +133.3% | Apr 27, 2022 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Garik Shmois | $465 | $427.19 | +135.8% | Apr 22, 2022 |
Track every rating change on POOL the moment it posts. Free to start.
Start freeCompany 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.…
Historical context
All POOL earningsIndustrials peers this season
Latest reports in the same sector| Company | Quarter | EPS surprise | Market move | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| URI United Rentals, Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +11.3% | +3.9% | United Rentals Q3: Records, Raised Guidance and Strong Specialty Demand |
| LMT Lockheed Martin Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +7.0% | Lockheed raises 2026 sales outlook as backlog reaches $292 billion |
| LUV Southwest Airlines Co. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +15.6% | +4.3% | Southwest maintains guidance as demand and loyalty initiatives support Q3 |
| GGG Graco Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | -2.5% | -16.6% | Graco posts record Q3 sales as backlog grows, but industrial timing stays measured |
| NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +2.4% | Norfolk Southern highlights growth, productivity, and higher planned capex |
| UNP Union Pacific Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +2.7% | Union Pacific Maintains Growth Outlook as Volumes and Productivity Improve |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- URIFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026+11.3% EPS+3.9% move
- LUVFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026+15.6% EPS+4.3% move
- RSFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026+17.4% EPS-0.7% move
- CACIFY2027 Q1 · October 21, 2026+16.6% EPS-1.5% move
- WCNFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026+3.9% EPS+8.8% move
- KMIFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026+9.2% EPS+1.2% move
Missed on EPS
- GGGFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026-2.5% EPS-16.6% move
- GL-PDFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026-1.2% EPS— move
- GLFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026-1.2% EPS-3.8% move
- METAFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026-41.4% EPS+0.5% move
- LVSFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026-20.9% EPS-1.7% move
- MCOFY2026 Q3 · October 21, 2026-2.6% EPS+1.2% move
Get the POOL recap when the next report posts
One email per quarter with the scorecard, the market reaction and what changed on the call. No account needed.
Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-10-22T18:03:36.594101+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-10-22T01:23:13.354406+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-10-22T18:40:43.850174+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-10-22T18:40:43.847451+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 · As of 2026-10-22. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.