POOL vs BLDR

For growth investors, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the stronger pick with -0.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 4% for Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR). Pool Corporation (POOL) offers the better valuation at 17. 2x trailing P/E (16. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pool Corporation (POOL) a "Buy" — based on 21 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the cheapest at 17.

2x versus Builders FirstSource, Inc. at 19. 2x. On forward P/E, Builders FirstSource, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Builders FirstSource, Inc. wins at 1. 67x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 36x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Builders FirstSource, Inc.

(BLDR) delivered a total return of +52. 0%, compared to -52. 8% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLDR returned +560. 4% versus POOL's +149. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Pool Corporation (POOL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

00β versus Builders FirstSource, Inc. 's 1. 65β — meaning BLDR is approximately 65% more volatile than POOL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pool Corporation (POOL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 130% for Builders FirstSource, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Pool Corporation (POOL) is pulling ahead at -0.

4% versus -7. 4% for Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pool Corporation grew EPS -4. 0% year-over-year, compared to -57. 1% for Builders FirstSource, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POOL leads at -5. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Pool Corporation (POOL) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

7% net margin versus 2. 9% for Builders FirstSource, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: POOL leads at 11. 0% versus 5. 2% for BLDR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — POOL leads at 29. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 67x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 36x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR) trades at 13. 2x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for Pool Corporation — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for POOL: 49. 3% to $279. 29.

In this comparison, POOL (2.

7% yield) pays a dividend. BLDR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

00), 2. 7% yield, +149. 0% 10Y return). Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR) carries a higher beta of 1. 65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (POOL: +149. 0%, BLDR: +560. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: POOL is a small-cap deep-value stock; BLDR is a small-cap quality compounder stock. POOL pays a dividend while BLDR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.