POOL vs. WCN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at POOL and WCN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | POOL | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Pool Corporation | Waste Connections, Inc. |
| Country | United States | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Distributors | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 11.47 billion USD | 44.78 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 13, 1995 | May 22, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of POOL and WCN by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | POOL | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.90% | 0.31% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 3.75% | -0.42% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -3.41% | -13.26% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -17.27% | 0.76% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -0.90% | -0.56% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -9.87% | -1.34% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.43M | 0.29M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.58M | 0.31M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 32.18% | 14.75% |
| Beta | 1.25 | 0.42 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
POOL
31.34%
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 27.95%
- Median
- 14.57%
- Q1
- 11.23%
- Min
- 11.19%
In the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, POOL’s Return on Equity of 31.34% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
WCN
7.93%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.93%
- Q3
- 16.86%
- Median
- 10.28%
- Q1
- 6.63%
- Min
- 0.71%
WCN’s Return on Equity of 7.93% is on par with the norm for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
POOL
7.79%
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 5.68%
- Q3
- 5.68%
- Median
- 5.36%
- Q1
- 4.87%
- Min
- 4.81%
POOL’s Net Profit Margin of 7.79% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Distributors industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
WCN
6.97%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 16.98%
- Q3
- 9.05%
- Median
- 5.35%
- Q1
- 3.42%
- Min
- -2.31%
WCN’s Net Profit Margin of 6.97% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
POOL
11.13%
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 11.13%
- Q3
- 7.77%
- Median
- 5.57%
- Q1
- 5.27%
- Min
- 4.95%
An Operating Profit Margin of 11.13% places POOL in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
WCN
12.19%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 23.33%
- Q3
- 12.51%
- Median
- 8.33%
- Q1
- 4.45%
- Min
- -2.90%
WCN’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.19% is around the midpoint for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | POOL | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 31.34% | 7.93% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 11.64% | 3.19% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 7.79% | 6.97% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 11.13% | 12.19% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 29.46% | 42.03% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
POOL
2.52
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.81
- Q3
- 1.66
- Median
- 1.21
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 1.09
POOL’s Current Ratio of 2.52 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Distributors industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
WCN
0.67
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 3.73
- Q3
- 2.13
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.59
WCN’s Current Ratio of 0.67 falls into the lower quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
POOL
0.95
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.19
- Q3
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.46
POOL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.95 is typical for the Distributors industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
WCN
1.00
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 2.24
- Q3
- 1.14
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
WCN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.00 is typical for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
POOL
12.28
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 13.15
- Q3
- 10.84
- Median
- 5.59
- Q1
- 4.01
- Min
- 3.80
POOL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 12.28 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
WCN
3.42
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.70
- Q3
- 13.44
- Median
- 9.06
- Q1
- 3.42
- Min
- -10.97
WCN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.42 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | POOL | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.52 | 0.67 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.82 | 0.57 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.95 | 1.00 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 12.28 | 3.42 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
POOL
1.59%
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 48.14%
- Q3
- 37.24%
- Median
- 4.28%
- Q1
- 3.20%
- Min
- 1.61%
POOL’s Dividend Yield of 1.59% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This indicates that shareholder returns are likely driven more by potential capital appreciation than by dividend income.
WCN
0.71%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 3.65%
- Q3
- 2.43%
- Median
- 1.58%
- Q1
- 0.74%
- Min
- 0.00%
WCN’s Dividend Yield of 0.71% is in the lower quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
POOL
44.67%
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 903.92%
- Q3
- 695.25%
- Median
- 56.97%
- Q1
- 44.33%
- Min
- 26.53%
POOL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 44.67% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
WCN
28.21%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 137.88%
- Q3
- 73.07%
- Median
- 44.79%
- Q1
- 27.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
WCN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 28.21% is within the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | POOL | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.59% | 0.71% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 44.67% | 28.21% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
POOL
28.13
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 27.78
- Q3
- 22.45
- Median
- 18.78
- Q1
- 12.95
- Min
- 5.82
At 28.13, POOL’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Distributors industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
WCN
69.70
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 57.87
- Q3
- 33.40
- Median
- 23.56
- Q1
- 15.28
- Min
- 6.56
At 69.70, WCN’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
POOL
2.19
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.07
- Q3
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.94
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.28
With a P/S Ratio of 2.19, POOL trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Distributors industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
WCN
4.86
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.84
- Q3
- 2.58
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.06
With a P/S Ratio of 4.86, WCN trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
POOL
8.44
Distributors Industry
- Max
- 3.58
- Q3
- 3.46
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 2.75
- Min
- 2.63
At 8.44, POOL’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Distributors industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
WCN
5.64
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 6.40
- Q3
- 3.97
- Median
- 2.44
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.40
WCN’s P/B Ratio of 5.64 is in the upper tier for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | POOL | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 28.13 | 69.70 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.19 | 4.86 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 8.44 | 5.64 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 23.81 | 39.35 |