Grizzly Bulls
Financial research concept

Pool Distribution Gross Margin

measures gross profit as a percentage of net sales after product cost and direct distribution costs.

By Lee BaileyPublished Sep 30, 2026
Research context

See what supports this page, how current it is, and where comparable or historical context is available.

Research date
Sep 30, 2026Use the dated article and cited sources for the definition, examples, and stated limitations.
Operating-model context
10 connected conceptsPart of the reviewed Pool Distribution Economics; issuer definitions remain distinct where disclosed.
Company examples
1 reviewed companyRelationships reflect supported examples, not a normalized cross-company KPI ranking.
  1. Freight and mix can move margin independently of sales
  2. Gross margin stops before operating overhead
  3. Part of the Pool Distribution Economics
  4. See It in Company Research
  5. Continue Research

Pool distribution gross margin measures gross profit as a percentage of net sales after product cost and direct distribution costs.

POOLCORP reported 29.7% gross margin in the second quarter of 2026, down 30 basis points from the prior-year quarter.

Freight and mix can move margin independently of sales

POOLCORP attributed the decline primarily to higher inbound freight costs and an unfavorable customer mix, partially offset by supply-chain initiatives.

That means revenue growth does not automatically translate into wider gross spread, especially when product cost inflation contribution is lifting nominal sales.

Gross margin stops before operating overhead

Sales-center labor, corporate expense, and other SG&A costs sit below gross profit.

Read gross margin with operating expense rate to understand operating conversion.

Primary sources: POOLCORP Q2 2026 Form 10-Q and Q2 2026 earnings release.

Part of the Pool Distribution Economics

Connects recurring maintenance demand, discretionary pool categories, inflation-driven sales, sales-center and assortment scale, inventory intensity, and profit conversion in wholesale pool distribution.

Browse the full operating model in Company Analysis →
Where this concept fits
  • Price inflation and operating conversionCurrent relationship
    Product-cost inflation can lift nominal sales without unit growth, gross margin shows product and freight spread economics, and operating expense rate carries the analysis through network overhead.
    Gross MarginCurrent conceptOperating Expense RateProduct Cost Inflation Contribution
  • Maintenance, equipment, and construction demand mix
    Maintenance chemicals provide recurring installed-base demand, equipment spans replacement through new construction, and building materials carry greater discretionary construction exposure.
    Building Materials Sales MixEquipment Sales MixMaintenance Chemical Sales Mix
  • Network scale, customer breadth, and inventory intensity
    Sales centers and SKU breadth support local product availability for a diversified customer base, while inventory turns show the working-capital cost of carrying that assortment through a seasonal cycle.
    Customer CountInventory TurnsSales Center CountSKU Count

See It in Company Research

These companies are examples of how the concept is reported or discussed in public filings. Definitions can differ by issuer; these links open company research rather than a normalized metric comparison.

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Compare pool-distribution gross margins

Compare gross margin with freight, customer mix, supply-chain initiatives, and product mix in context.

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