Pool Corp. reported flat sales and lower profit for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2025, as higher operating costs outweighed steady demand for maintenance-related products.
For the year ending Dec. 31, the Covington, Louisiana-based distributor reported net sales of $5.29 billion, down 0.4% from $5.31 billion in 2024.
Net income declined 6.4% to $406.4 million, compared with $434.3 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share fell to $10.85, from $11.30 in 2024.
The company said sales of non-discretionary maintenance products were steady throughout the year, while demand for discretionary products improved during the second half. Operating income declined 6.0% to $580.2 million, from $617.2 million in 2024, as sales and administrative expenses rose 4% to $992.3 million. The increase in expenses reflected higher labor and facility costs, along with continued investment in technology and sales center expansion.
In the fourth quarter, Pool Corp. reported net sales of $982.2 million, down 0.5% from $987.5 million in the same period a year earlier.
Net income for the quarter fell 15.3% to $31.6 million, compared with $37.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Diluted earnings per share declined to $0.85, from $0.98 a year earlier.
Operating income dropped 14.2% to $52.0 million, from $60.7 million a year earlier. Selling and administrative expenses increased 6% to $243.7 million, driven primarily by higher employee-related costs, facility expenses tied to new locations and continued investment in customer-facing technology.
Inventory rose 13% year over year to $1.45 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting higher purchasing ahead of vendor price increases, inflation, and the addition of new and acquired sales centers. Total debt increased 32% to $1.19 billion, to fund share repurchases and supporting working capital needs.
Looking ahead, Pool Corp. said it expects diluted earnings per share in 2026 to range between $10.85 and $11.15, excluding potential tax benefits related to stock-based compensation. The company did not provide revenue guidance.
Pool Corp. operated 456 sales centers globally at the end of 2025, up from 448 a year earlier.
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