Pool Corporation (NASDAQ:POOL) saw a double-digit share price rise of over 10% in the past couple of months on the NASDAQGS. While good news for shareholders, the company has traded much higher in the past year. As a large-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the company's outlook is already priced into the stock. However, could the stock still be trading at a relatively cheap price? Today we will analyse the most recent data on Pool's outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.
Is Pool Still Cheap?
Pool appears to be overvalued by 34% at the moment, based on our discounted cash flow valuation. The stock is currently priced at US$352 on the market compared to our intrinsic value of $262.53. This means that the buying opportunity has probably disappeared for now. Furthermore, Pool's share price also seems relatively stable compared to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. If you believe the share price should eventually reach its true value, a low beta could suggest it is unlikely to rapidly do so anytime soon, and once it's there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range.
Can we expect growth from Pool?
Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let's also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of Pool, it is expected to deliver a relatively unexciting earnings growth of 2.5%, which doesn't help build up its investment thesis. Growth doesn't appear to be a main reason for a buy decision for the company, at least in the near term.
What This Means For You
Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has well and truly priced in POOL's future outlook, with shares trading above its fair value. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question – should I sell? If you believe POOL should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.
Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping tabs on POOL for some time, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its true value, which means there's no upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook means it's worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.
With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Pool.
If you are no longer interested in Pool, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.