Pool Corporation distributes swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure, irrigation, and landscape maintenance products in the United States and internationally. Its offerings include maintenance products such as chemicals and pool accessories; repair and replacement parts for pool equipment including cleaners, filters, heaters, pumps, and lights; and building materials such as concrete, plumbing and electrical components, pool surfaces, decking, tiles, hardscapes, and natural stones. The company also provides equipment for new pool construction and remodeling, irrigation and turf care products, commercial pool products, fiberglass pools, hot tubs, packaged pool kits, and outdoor living products such as grills. It serves pool remodelers and builders, specialty retailers, repair and service businesses, irrigation and landscape contractors, and commercial pool operators. Pool Corporation was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Covington, Louisiana.
Pool Corporation Appoints Jean-Marc Germain to Board of Directors
Pool Corporation announced that its Board of Directors appointed Jean-Marc Germain as a director, effective September 30, 2026, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Germain will serve until the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, at which time he will stand for election by shareholders, and following his appointment the Board will consist of nine directors. Germain is the former Chief Executive Officer of Constellium SE, serving in that role from 2016 to 2025, and currently serves as Special Advisor to the company's board of directors. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Algeco Scotsman Global from 2012 to 2016 and has held leadership roles at Novelis, Inc., Alcan, Inc., Pechiney, GE Capital and Bain & Co., and since 2021 has been an independent director of GrafTech International Ltd. Executive Chair John E. Stokely said Germain brings extensive leadership, operational and governance experience from leading global industrial businesses, calling him a valuable addition to the Board.
POOL · Regulation · Neutral Pool Corporation appointed Jean-Marc Germain to its board of directors, a governance change with no clear financial impact.
Greg Abel Sold 15 Buffett Stock Positions in His First Quarter as Berkshire CEO
In his first quarter as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Greg Abel sold 15 stock positions that were originally initiated by Warren Buffett, signaling a willingness to chart his own course. The divested holdings included long-time winners like Visa, Mastercard, and Amazon, as well as recent underperformers such as Pool Corp., Diageo, and Domino's Pizza. Abel also made his biggest new buy in Alphabet, which pays only a 0.2% dividend, while exiting higher-yielding names like Lamar Advertising, Diageo, and Pool, suggesting less emphasis on dividend income. Berkshire's cash pile grew from $373.3 billion to $397.4 billion during the quarter, indicating a preference for building liquidity over chasing yield. The moves suggest Abel is not hesitant to sell either winners or losers if he does not foresee market-beating returns, though it remains to be seen whether this pace of change continues.
BRK-B · Capital · Neutral CEO Greg Abel sold 15 positions and increased cash, signaling a strategic shift but with unclear impact on Berkshire's value.
DGE.LSE · Capital · Negative Berkshire sold its Diageo stake, a recent underperformer.
MA · Capital · Negative Berkshire sold its entire Mastercard position, indicating reduced confidence.
POOL · Capital · Negative Berkshire sold its Pool Corp. stake, citing underperformance.
V · Capital · Negative Berkshire sold its Visa position, a long-time winner.
GOOG · Capital · Positive Berkshire made its biggest new buy in Alphabet, showing confidence in the stock's prospects.
Pentair Q2 earnings beat estimates but revenue misses on pool weakness
Pentair reported adjusted earnings of $1.14 per share for the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 by 1.8% but falling 18% from $1.39 a year ago. Revenue declined 17% year over year to $932.6 million, missing the consensus estimate of $1.012 billion, as pool sales plunged 42% to $246.6 million due to a sharper-than-anticipated inventory correction by major channel partners and softer end-market demand. Flow sales rose 5% to $263.7 million and Water Solutions sales slipped 5% to $422 million, with both segments posting improved return on sales. Pentair also announced an agreement to acquire Taco Group Holdings for approximately $1.4 billion, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 and add 10 to 15 cents to 2027 earnings per share. The company initiated third-quarter adjusted earnings guidance of $1.05 to $1.08 per share and reaffirmed full-year 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.60 to $4.80 per share, with sales projected to decline 4% to 7%.
Pool Corporation Stock Drops 5.2% After Russell Growth Index Removal
Pool Corporation shares fell 5.2% following its removal from multiple Russell growth indices, including the Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 3000 Growth, Russell 2500 Growth, and Russell Midcap Growth, as part of FTSE Russell's annual index reconstitution in late June 2026. The broad exclusion may affect how index-tracking funds and institutional investors hold the stock, potentially reshaping liquidity and ownership patterns. The company's upcoming second-quarter 2026 earnings release on July 23 is now seen as a key catalyst, with management's outlook compared to its current 2026 earnings per share guidance range of US$10.87 to US$11.17 under scrutiny. Analysts project revenues of about US$5.9 billion and earnings near US$466.4 million by 2029, though more optimistic estimates reach US$6.1 billion in revenue and US$492 million in earnings, contingent on housing-related demand and discretionary spending trends.
Bell Global Equities Fund Exits Costco Stake After 12 Years, Citing Stretched Valuation
Bell Global Equities Fund sold its entire position in Costco Wholesale Corporation during May 2026, ending a holding period of more than 12 years. The fund said Costco’s forward earnings multiple of approximately 45 times meant the risk-reward profile was no longer compelling, especially as many other high-quality companies have seen their valuations de-rate materially lower. The position delivered a total shareholder return of roughly 1,000 percent, or about 21 percent compound annual return, over the life of the investment. The fund also exited Pool Corporation following the unexplained departure of its CEO and Copart due to signs that a growth turnaround had not yet materialized. Bell Global Equities Fund will continue to monitor Costco for a potential reinvestment opportunity.
Campbell's and Pool Corp. removed from S&P 500, offering potential value for dividend investors
S&P Dow Jones Indices removed The Campbell's Company and Pool Corporation from the S&P 500 on June 22, replacing them with semiconductor and electronics names. Both stocks now reside in the S&P SmallCap 600, triggering mechanical selling by index funds that has pressured their share prices. Campbell's offers a dividend yield above 7%, supported by a 51-year payout streak and the Rao's brand, which surpassed $1 billion in trailing-12-month net sales, though its dividend growth has been minimal. Pool Corp. yields around 2.4% but has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, with a decade-long annual growth rate of roughly 17%, driven by a business model where about 60% of revenue comes from maintenance and repair. The removals reflect index rebalancing rather than business deterioration, potentially creating opportunities for patient dividend investors.
Q1 Earnings: Service International and Specialized Consumer Services Stocks Report Mixed Results
The consumer discretionary specialized consumer services industry reported mixed first-quarter results, with revenues beating analyst consensus estimates by 1.5% and next-quarter revenue guidance coming in 0.5% above expectations. Service International posted revenues of $1.10 billion, up 2.1% year on year, but missed EPS estimates significantly, sending its stock down 12.1%. Matthews International was the best performer, with revenues of $258.6 million beating expectations by 2% and strong EPS and operating income beats, though its stock fell 5.7%. WeightWatchers had the weakest quarter, missing EBITDA and EPS estimates despite a 6.1% revenue beat, yet its stock surged 31.7%. LKQ and Pool also topped revenue estimates, with Pool delivering the fastest revenue growth among peers at 6.2%.
We are highlighting three consumer discretionary stocks that we consider risky: Peloton, Pool, and Planet Fitness. Peloton has seen its earnings per share decline by 22.3% annually over the past five years, and its free cash flow margin is expected to drop by 3.6 percentage points in the coming year. Pool's revenue growth of 4.4% annually over the last five years lagged peers, and its free cash flow margin of 7.5% limits investment capacity. Planet Fitness faces shrinking same-store sales and a forecasted 6.6 percentage point decline in free cash flow margin, indicating rising capital needs.
PLNT · Capital · Negative Article highlights shrinking same-store sales and declining free cash flow margin, indicating weak financial performance.
POOL · Capital · Negative Article notes Pool's revenue growth lagged peers and its free cash flow margin limits investment capacity.
PTON · Capital · Negative Article reports Peloton's earnings per share declined 22.3% annually over five years and free cash flow margin expected to drop.
Pool Is a Better Long-Term Buy Than American Eagle Outfitters for 2026
The Motley Fool compared American Eagle Outfitters and Pool as consumer stock picks for 2026, concluding that Pool offers better long-term growth prospects. American Eagle Outfitters generated over $5.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025 with net income of $185 million, while Pool reported nearly $5.3 billion in revenue and $406 million in net income. Pool's higher net margin of about 7.7% and stronger free cash flow of $309 million, along with a durable competitive moat from its scale and distribution network, position it to rebound sharply when the housing market recovers. American Eagle faces intense apparel competition and macroeconomic risks, though it has posted three consecutive years of sales growth. Pool trades at a forward P/E of 18.0x, below its sector benchmark, and its stock sits 66% below previous highs.
POOL · Demand · Positive Pool's higher net margin, strong free cash flow, and durable competitive moat position it to rebound when housing market recovers.
AEO · · Neutral Mentioned as a comparison stock; faces intense competition and macroeconomic risks, but has posted sales growth.
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