POOLCORP has reported net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, are up 2 percent to $370.4 million, compared to $362.0 million in the first quarter of 2012.
The very modest increase was in part due to the fact that sales in the first quarter of last year benefited from record warm temperatures across the Northeast and Midwest, which prompted an earlier than normal start to the 2012 season. This shift contributed to sales growth of 16% in the first quarter of 2012 over the first quarter of 2011.
POOLCORP said that the impact of weather on first quarter results is evidenced by growth of approximately 10 percent in the company’s largest year-round markets while its more seasonal markets experienced declines of close to 10 percent.
Gross profit for the first quarter of 2013 was essentially flat at $104.8 million.
"As anticipated, 2013 started with a more normalized onset to the season versus 2012, which impacted both sales and margins. We realized sales growth despite one less selling day and the tough comparison, given last year's unusually mild winter. We were also able to maintain good pricing discipline and expense management," said Manuel Perez de la Mesa, President and CEO.
POOLCORP is the largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products. Currently, POOLCORP operates 318 sales centers in North America and Europe, through which it distributes more than 160,000 national brand and private label products to roughly 80,000 wholesale customers.
