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EarningsQ3 2026 Earnings Report
POOL Q3 2026 EPS Results
Actual EPS$3.40
Consensus EPS$3.35
Beat/MissBeat by +$0.04
One Year Ago EPS$3.39
POOL Q3 2026 Revenue Results
Actual Revenue$1.50B
Expected Revenue$1.48B
Beat/MissBeat by +$29.83M
YoY Revenue Growth+3.71%
Earnings Announcement Details
QuarterQ3 2026
Date10/22/2026
TimeBefore Open
Conference CallThursday, October 22, 2026
POOL Upcoming Earnings
Pool's next earnings date is estimated for February 25, 2027, based on past reporting schedules.
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Audio
POOL Q3 2026 Earnings Call
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Q3 2026 Earnings Slide Deck
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call was broadly constructive: third-quarter sales accelerated to 4%, several product categories and geographies grew, operating cash flow increased 47%, balance-sheet leverage remained within target, and full-year guidance was reaffirmed. Management also highlighted progress in sales excellence, pricing, technology, network optimization, and M&A. However, gross margin and operating income declined, freight and customer mix remained pressures, housing and discretionary demand were cautious, and fourth-quarter comparisons and the 2027 macro outlook remain challenging. Highlights significantly outweighed the explicitly stated challenges.Company Guidance
Third-Quarter Sales Growth Accelerated
Net sales were $1.5 billion, up 4% year over year, accelerating from the 2% increase in the second quarter and bringing year-to-date sales growth to 4%. Pricing contributed 3% of the increase and volume contributed 1%, supported by maintenance growth, stable renovation activity, and new construction outperforming permit trends.
Building Materials Delivered a Fifth Consecutive Quarter of Growth
Building materials delivered its fifth consecutive quarter of growth despite a muted discretionary environment, driven by differentiated national full-truck resources and new product introductions. Management also stated that building materials had five quarters of increases overall.
Chemicals and Equipment Growth
Chemicals grew 4%, primarily on volume, while equipment grew 5%, reflecting price and healthy replacement volumes in products including pumps and filters. Management described chemicals as a bright spot and said investments in the category had paid off during 2026 and should continue in 2027 and 2028.
Digital Adoption Continued to Increase
POOL360 accounted for just over 17% of sales, up from the same quarter last year. Management continues to invest in POOL360 water testing, ecommerce, and customer integrations.
Geographic and Retail Performance Improved
Florida, Arizona, and Texas were each up low to mid single digits. Europe continued its positive trend with 8% sales growth in local currency. Sales to retail customers improved from a 1% decline in the prior quarter to 3% growth, while Pinch A Penny franchise sales to end users improved from flat to 3% growth.
Commercial and Customer-Segment Growth
Sales to commercial customers grew 7%, reflecting the customer-centered focus and resources directed toward the commercial opportunity. Management also reported good growth in medium and small accounts, while large customers remained about mid-single digits of the business and were growing.
Pricing Actions Began Recovering Freight Costs
The August price increase on building materials, which represented about 11% of third-quarter sales, began recovering some higher inbound freight costs. Management said the increases were holding and expected further recovery as they worked through the channel and additional vendor-cost pricing actions took effect at the beginning of next year.
Inventory and Operating Cash Flow Improved
Inventory was $1.2 billion, down $39 million or 3% year over year compared with 4% sales growth, and down $194 million sequentially after peak-season stocking levels and early-buy purchases were sold through. Year-to-date net cash from operations was $420 million, up 47% from $286 million and equal to 115% of net income.
Strong Balance Sheet and Capital Flexibility
Total debt was $1.2 billion, down from the second quarter, with an average interest rate of 4.2%. The company finished the quarter at a 1.8 leverage ratio, within its 1.5 to 2x target range, had $468 million remaining under its share authorization, and had significant capacity under its current debt agreement.
Share Repurchases Supported Adjusted EPS
Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.40 versus $3.39 in the third quarter of last year. Share repurchases reduced diluted share count and lifted adjusted diluted EPS by about 3.5% year over year, offsetting lower operating income.
Full-Year Guidance Reaffirmed
Management reaffirmed adjusted earnings guidance of $10.87 to $11.17, with the midpoint implying growth of almost 3% over the prior year. Full-year top-line growth expectations were slightly improved to between 3% and 4%, including a 3% contribution from pricing.
Network Optimization
During the quarter, the company opened one location in Florida and consolidated two locations into existing sales centers, using network density to continue serving local demand at a lower cost to serve. Management said it would continue investing where additional presence strengthens the position and use the existing footprint more efficiently where possible.
Sales Excellence and National Accounts Initiatives
The company is implementing centers of excellence, new processes, training, tools, and better targeting and reporting to put more scale behind local sales centers. It also moved business-development initiatives under field leadership and hired a new leader for national accounts and commercial, with management reporting early signs of progress in sales trends versus permit data, larger-customer sales growth, and new customer accounts.
Operational and Technology Investments
Management is increasing service standards, improving recently opened greenfield sites, and working to remove customer friction. It is also evaluating internal and customer-facing technology, pursuing third-party integrations, and expecting those efforts to support efficiency, top-line growth, and POOL360 adoption.
Programmatic M&A and Capital Allocation Capacity
Management remains selective on M&A, focusing on operational and financial fit, culture and talent, market strengthening, and capabilities that extend the value proposition. It stated that the company has a healthier M&A pipeline, the balance sheet and operating experience to be the acquirer of choice, and unchanged priorities to invest in the business, pursue targeted M&A, support the dividend, and use excess cash for repurchases.
POOL Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed