POOL Corporation Q4 Earnings Miss Expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 19 2026
0mins
Should l Buy POOL?
Source: seekingalpha
Pool Corporation's stock fell 12.77% as it hit a 52-week low amid disappointing earnings results.
The company reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.85, missing expectations by $0.12, which indicates pressure on profitability that could affect investor confidence. Additionally, revenue declined slightly by 0.5% year-over-year to $982.2 million, falling short of expectations, reflecting weak market demand. Despite a cautious outlook for 2026, with anticipated earnings between $10.85 and $11.15 per diluted share, concerns about short-term performance may impact the stock price further.
This disappointing performance highlights the challenges Pool Corporation faces in a fluctuating market, and investors may need to reassess their expectations for the company's growth trajectory moving forward.
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Analyst Views on POOL
Wall Street analysts forecast POOL stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 227.180
Low
240.00
Averages
304.29
High
360.00
Current: 227.180
Low
240.00
Averages
304.29
High
360.00
About POOL
Pool Corporation is a wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products. The Company also distributes irrigation and landscape products in the United States. The Company operates approximately 448 sales centers in North America, Europe, and Australia through its five distribution networks: SCP Distributors (SCP), Superior Pool Products (Superior), Horizon Distributors (Horizon), National Pool Tile (NPT), and Sun Wholesale Supply (Sun Wholesale). The Company distributes swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products domestically through its SCP and Superior sales center networks through SCP network. Its Horizon sales centers offer organic fertilizers, organic pesticides, and irrigation and drainage products that reduce water usage and soil erosion. Sun Wholesale distributes swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products, primarily servicing independently owned and operated Pinch A Penny, Inc. franchise locations.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Complete Exit: Wedgewood Partners fully divested its position in Pool Corporation during Q4 2026, selling 32,322 shares worth $10.02 million, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future performance.
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- Financial Overview: Pool Corporation reported $5.3 billion in sales for 2025 with a steady gross margin of 29.7%, but net income fell by 4% year-over-year, highlighting challenges as the company navigates a normalization phase post-pandemic.
- Investor Focus: While Pool's scale and extensive sales center network provide leverage, future growth hinges on the stability of housing turnover and backyard renovation trends, requiring investors to exercise patience amid uncertainty.
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- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on March 26, with a record date of March 12 and an ex-dividend date also on March 12, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and bolstering shareholder confidence.
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- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 23,000 to 206,000, marking a 5-week low and indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations and suggesting challenges in economic recovery.
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- Complete Exit: Wedgewood Partners fully divested its position in Pool Corporation during Q4 2026, selling 32,322 shares worth $10.02 million, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future performance.
- Stock Performance: As of February 17, 2026, Pool's shares were priced at $255.46, down 24.4% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 36.5 percentage points, reflecting market concerns about its growth prospects.
- Financial Overview: Pool Corporation reported $5.3 billion in sales for 2025 with a steady gross margin of 29.7%, but net income fell by 4% year-over-year, highlighting challenges as the company navigates a normalization phase post-pandemic.
- Investor Focus: While Pool's scale and extensive sales center network provide leverage, future growth hinges on the stability of housing turnover and backyard renovation trends, requiring investors to exercise patience amid uncertainty.
See More
Pool Corporation Declares $1.25 Quarterly Dividend Amidst Low Growth Outlook
- Quarterly Dividend Declaration: Pool Corporation has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.25 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's ongoing ability to maintain stable cash flow despite market challenges.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 2.33% reflects investor expectations for stable returns, highlighting the company's attractiveness in the current economic environment while signaling confidence in its financial health.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on March 26, with a record date of March 12 and an ex-dividend date also on March 12, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and bolstering shareholder confidence.
- Future Performance Outlook: Although Pool Corporation anticipates low single-digit sales growth for 2026 and sets an EPS target between $10.85 and $11.15, the advancement of its digital and operational initiatives may lay the groundwork for future growth opportunities.
See More
Economists Predict No End to Tariffs Anytime Soon
- Recent Commentary: Money managers, research firms, and market newsletter writers have issued a commentary that has been edited by Barron's.
- Market Insights: The commentary provides insights and perspectives on current market trends and investment strategies.
See More
US Economic Slowdown and Tariff Ruling Impact Markets
- Economic Slowdown: The US economy expanded at an annualized rate of only 1.4% in Q4, a significant drop from 4.4% in the previous quarter and well below the expected 3%, indicating a fragile recovery that could dampen market confidence.
- Accelerating Inflation: The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge rose to a 3% annual rate in December, with a monthly increase of 0.4%, marking the fastest pace since February, which may prompt the Fed to adopt a more cautious approach in future monetary policy.
- Tariff Authority Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the president lacks the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, emphasizing that only Congress has this power during peacetime, potentially leading to litigation over the refund of over $130 billion in tariffs already collected, increasing policy uncertainty.
- Widening Trade Deficit: The US goods and services deficit widened to $70 billion in December, with the full-year 2025 trade gap remaining at $901 billion, indicating that tariff policies have failed to effectively narrow the trade imbalance, which could impact the government's economic policy direction.
See More
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- Market Weakness: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.28%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.54%, and the Nasdaq 100 index dropped by 0.41%, indicating market concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence, particularly affecting chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell to 206,000, a 5-week low, indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations, reflecting uncertainties in economic recovery.
- Shifts in Fed Policy Expectations: Hawkish comments from Fed officials suggest a potential need for interest rate hikes to combat persistent inflation, leading to a more hawkish outlook for future rate paths, which further dampens market sentiment.
- Earnings Season Nearing Conclusion: With over three-quarters of S&P 500 companies reporting, 74% exceeded expectations, and Q4 earnings are projected to grow by 8.4%, demonstrating corporate resilience, yet the market remains cautious about future growth prospects.
See More
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- Market Weakness: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.26%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.28%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.34%, reflecting market concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence, particularly with poor performances from chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 23,000 to 206,000, marking a 5-week low and indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations and suggesting challenges in economic recovery.
- Earnings Season Nearing End: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 75% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, demonstrating resilience in corporate earnings.
- Geopolitical Risks Intensify: WTI crude oil prices rose over 2% to a three-week high due to military buildup in the Middle East, potentially increasing inflationary pressures, which could affect market sentiment and investor confidence.
See More
