PoolCorp (POOL) Q3 2026 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Q3 net sales rose 4% to $1,505.0M, supported by 3% pricing, maintenance demand and building-materials growth; operating income and net income each declined 3%.

• Priorities include sales excellence, pricing and supply-chain discipline, operational execution and selective programmatic M&A.

Financial highlights

• Gross profit increased 2% to $436.3M; gross margin fell 60 bps to 29.0%.

• Operating income declined 3% to $172.2M from $178.0M; operating margin fell 90 bps to 11.4% from 12.3%.

• Net income was $123.0M versus $127.0M; diluted EPS was $3.40 in both periods, while adjusted diluted EPS was $3.40 versus $3.39.

• Nine-month sales rose 4% to $4.466B; net income declined 3% to $364.4M, and adjusted diluted EPS rose 4% to $10.21 from $9.86.

• Q3 adjusted EBITDA was $190.5M versus $194.7M; nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $586.7M versus $582.2M.

Outlook and guidance

• FY 2026 sales growth guidance is 3%–4%, including a 3% pricing contribution; maintenance is expected to show slight growth.

• Diluted EPS guidance is $10.66–$10.96; adjusted diluted EPS guidance is $10.87–$11.17, including $0.02 per share of YTD ASU 2016-09 tax benefits.

• FY gross margin is projected 30–50 bps below FY 2025; pricing, supply-chain management and private-label growth are expected to partly offset freight and mix headwinds.

• Adjusted operating expenses are expected to grow slightly slower than sales; full-year interest expense is expected near $50M and the adjusted tax rate near 25%.

• New construction is expected slightly down, with renovation and remodel flat to slightly up; capital expenditures are projected at 1.0%–1.5% of net sales.