EVI vs POOL

For growth investors, EVI Industries, Inc.

(EVI) is the stronger pick with 10. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 4% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Pool Corporation (POOL) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI) a "Buy" — based on 1 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.

6x versus EVI Industries, Inc. at 41. 0x. On forward P/E, Pool Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: EVI Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 59x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, EVI Industries, Inc.

(EVI) delivered a total return of -21. 2%, compared to -52. 3% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EVI returned +455. 1% versus POOL's +145. 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 EVI Industries, Inc. 's 1. 50β — meaning EVI is approximately 50% 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 45% for EVI Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), EVI Industries, Inc.

(EVI) is pulling ahead at 10. 3% versus -0. 4% for Pool Corporation (POOL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: EVI Industries, Inc. grew EPS 32. 4% year-over-year, compared to -4. 0% for Pool Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, EVI leads at 13. 4% 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 1. 9% for EVI Industries, 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 3. 5% for EVI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EVI leads at 30. 4%, 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, EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 59x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 44x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Pool Corporation (POOL) trades at 17. 2x forward P/E versus 31. 4x for EVI Industries, Inc. — 14. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EVI: 64. 2% to $33. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Pool Corporation (POOL) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 1. 7% for EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI).

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. 6% yield, +145. 0% 10Y return). EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI) carries a higher beta of 1. 50 — 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: +145. 0%, EVI: +455. 1%), 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: EVI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; POOL is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.