At precisely 9:30 a.m. this morning, the sound of the Nasdaq opening bell echoed through Times Square as Pool Corporation (Nasdaq: POOL) marked 30 years as a publicly traded company. CEO Peter D’Arcy and members of the leadership team stood shoulder to shoulder on the balcony of the Nasdaq MarketSite — the same stage they last occupied five years ago for POOLCORP’s 25th anniversary.
It was a fitting backdrop for a company that started as a small regional distributor in Louisiana and grew into a global powerhouse with 450 sales centers, 6,000 employees, and $5 billion in annual revenue. From its humble IPO debut in 1995 at $0.92 per share (split-adjusted) to a market cap nearing $11 billion today, POOLCORP’s journey reads like a case study in disciplined expansion.
For long-time industry observers, the milestone was more than symbolic — it was a reminder of how profoundly POOLCORP has reshaped the pool and outdoor-living economy.
From SCP to S&P: A Thirty-Year Ascent
The Early Days
The story begins in the 1980s, when South Central Pool Supply — the company that would become POOLCORP — was distributing chlorine, filters, and fittings from a handful of warehouses across the South. When it went public on October 12, 1995 under the name SCP Pool Corporation, annual sales stood at $161 million.
The IPO gave the company breathing room to expand, pay down debt, and begin a string of acquisitions that would transform it from a patchwork of regional distributors into a single, cohesive network. Within a decade, SCP Pool Corporation rebranded simply as Pool Corporation, reflecting its broader reach and ambition.
Quiet Consolidation, Steady Expansion
What followed wasn’t a meteoric rise — it was something rarer: slow, predictable, dependable growth. POOLCORP spent the late 1990s and early 2000s expanding market by market, warehouse by warehouse, earning a reputation for operational consistency and logistical precision.
The company’s playbook was simple: integrate small local distributors, modernize their systems, and deliver a uniform level of service to pool builders, retailers, and service professionals nationwide. Over time, that discipline made POOLCORP the backbone of the pool-supply chain — the unseen infrastructure keeping backyard construction projects on schedule and stores stocked all summer.
A Broader Vision
As the American backyard evolved, so did POOLCORP. Recognizing that homeowners were investing in complete outdoor spaces — not just pools — the company diversified its catalog to include lighting, pavers, outdoor kitchens, and irrigation.
That expansion into outdoor living positioned POOLCORP to thrive even during housing slumps and off-seasons. And when the pandemic unleashed a surge in home improvement spending, POOLCORP’s distribution network became essential. By 2020, it joined the S&P 500 Index, a rare achievement for a company once considered niche.
The Industry’s Steady Hand
More Than Numbers
Behind the data — a $10,000 investment in the initial IPO would be worth in the range of $4.23 million today — is a company that’s built its success on relationships. Pool builders and service pros often describe POOLCORP less as a supplier and more as a partner that keeps their operations running smoothly.
That reliability has made POOLCORP one of the few constants in a cyclical industry. Its digital platform, POOL360, now serves as the go-to tool for tens of thousands of professionals managing orders, stock, and logistics in real time.
Thirty Years Later
“I am incredibly proud to celebrate Pool Corporation’s 30th anniversary by having my leadership team join me to ring Nasdaq’s opening bell,” stated Peter D. Arvan, president and CEO. “Pool Corporation’s growth and success over the past 30 years has been built by our people. Our outstanding field leadership and support teams work together to form the most talented team in the pool and outdoor living industry, centered around providing the best customer experience. Their tireless dedication has driven, and continues to drive, our success.”
POOLCORP’s rise from a handful of regional warehouses to a global enterprise mirrors the evolution of the modern pool industry itself. What was once a seasonal business has become an integrated, technology-driven sector — and POOLCORP has quietly led the way.
The Nasdaq bell may have rung for only a few seconds, but the sound carried three decades of growth, grit, and determination. For a company built on movement — trucks, warehouses, and water — standing still to mark the occasion felt well deserved.
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