COMPARE · Reviewed August 3, 2026
POOL vs WSO
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. POOL scored 63.5, WSO scored 58.6 — POOL leads.
Compare another set
POOL
Pool Corporation
63.5
$200.81 · $7.3B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
4.9
POOL leads
WSO
Watsco, Inc.
58.6
$333.36 · $13.7B
fundamentals as of
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
POOL
stronger →← stronger
WSO
78
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
85
47
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
50
69
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
47
WSO is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
POOL
WSO
$313mC
FCF
$694mC+
+1.8%C
Rev
-4.5%D+
1.35C
D/E
0.15A-
18.4xA-
P/E
29.7xB
1.60C+
PEG
1.35B
Winner per row is the stronger grade in our model; a tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
POOL
WSO
50% above
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
18% above
~16%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~11%/yr
-37%
1-yr DCF upside
-23%
-33%
5-yr DCF upside
-15%
-28%
10-yr DCF upside
-3%
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
POOL
Why this score
- Buying back stock
- Durable high returns
WSO
Why this score
- Raising its dividend
- Durable high returns
- Revenue shrinking
The companies
POOLPool Corporation
Why now
Industrial Distribution · market cap $7.3b. Down 40% from 52-week high of $336.15 — deep drawdown territory. 11 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $220.36 (implying +10% upside).
Moat
ROE 36% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which.
Risk
Down 40% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up.
WSOWatsco, Inc.
Why now
Industrial Distribution · market cap $13.7b. Down 27% from 52-week high of $459.00 — deep drawdown territory. 10 sell-side analysts rate this a Hold with a mean 1-yr target of $382.20 (implying +15% upside).
Moat
ROE 21% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 118% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Dividend payout 110% of earnings on a 4.3% yield — distribution coverage is thin; one earnings stumble could force a dividend cut.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.