Pool Corp (POOL) Earnings And Revenues Miss Estimates In Q1

Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) reported lower-than-expected first-quarter 2019 results, wherein both earnings and revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second straight quarter.

Adjusted earnings of 59 cents per share in the quarter missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 63 cents but increased 11.3% from the year-ago quarter number. Meanwhile, quarterly net sales totaled $597.5, which fell short of the consensus mark of $612 million but improved 2% year over year. Revenue growth can be primarily attributable to improved performance of the company’s base business.

However, cooler and wetter weather condition mostly in western U.S. had a negative impact on the company’s overall results.

Let’s delve deeper into the numbers.

Segmental Performance

Pool Corp reports operations under two segments: The Base Business segment (constituting majority of the business) and the Excluded segment (sale centers excluded from base business).

The Base business segment recorded 0.8% sales growth to nearly $587.3 million year over year. Operating income at the segment increased 14.9% to $39.2 million. Also, operating margin expanded 90 basis points (bps) from the year-ago quarter number.

The Excluded segment reported net sales of $10.1 million, up from about $3.1 million registered in the prior-year quarter. The segment incurred operating loss of $0.8 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s loss of $0.5 million.

Pool Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Operating Highlights & Expenses

Cost of sales in the first quarter increased 0.7% from the prior-year quarter. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, increased 90 bps to 29.2% from the year ago driven by robust base business.

Operating income increased 14.4% year over year to $38.4 million. Also, operating margin expanded 70 bps to 6.4% from the prior-year quarter. Selling and administrative expenses too increased 2.8% year over year. Net income totaled $32.6 million, up from $31.3 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $48.6 million in quarter from $43.4 million in first-quarter 2018.

Balance Sheet

As of Mar 31, 2019, cash and cash equivalents amounted to $28.6 million compared with $8.8 million on Mar 31, 2018. Total net receivables, including pledged receivables, remained flat and inventory levels grew 16% as of the same date compared with Dec 31, 2018. Its long-term debt summed $699 million, up 18.7% from the prior-year quarter. Goodwill decreased 1% year over year.

Cash provided by operations declined to $28.8 million in the quarter compared with $44.1 million used in the prior-year quarter. The upside can be attributed to payments for pre-price increase inventory purchases in 2018.

2019 Guidance

For 2019, the company expects EPS in the range of $6.09-$6.39, up from the prior guidance of $6.05-$6.35. The uptick is likely to be driven by additional tax benefits realized from ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the year is pegged at $6.19.

Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

Pool Corp has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably-ranked stocks that warrant a look in the same space include Clarus Corporation (NASDAQ:CLAR) , YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI) and Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) , each carrying the same rank as Pool Corp. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Clarus has long-term earnings growth rate of 10%.

YETI Holdings reported better-than-expected earnings in the trailing two quarters.

Planet Fitness reported better-than-expected earnings in the trailing four quarters, the average being 9.1%.

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