Pentair Pool Sales Fall 18% And Segment Income Drops 38%, Dragging Third-Quarter Profit Lower
The water-products maker kept its full-year adjusted earnings midpoint at about $4.70 a share as Flow and Water Solutions income rose.
Pentair, which makes pumps, water treatment gear and pool equipment, said a steep slide in pool sales pulled down third-quarter earnings: sales fell 4% to $976 million, and adjusted earnings per share fell to $1.18 from $1.24. The company, in its Tuesday results release, reaffirmed the midpoint of its full-year adjusted earnings guidance.
Pool drags, two segments gain
Core sales, which strip out currency, acquisitions and divestitures, fell 5%. Earnings per share were $0.91, against $1.12 a year earlier, a 19% decrease. The results include about $8 million of refunds tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the company said.
Pool sales dropped 18%, and the segment's income fell 38% to $72 million. Pentair said the quarter reflected the finish of an inventory realignment with its major channel partners.
Flow sales rose 4%, and its segment income climbed 15% to $69 million. Water Solutions sales rose 1%, and its segment income rose 16% to $121 million.
Operating income was $196 million, down 15%. Adjusted operating income was $242 million, down 8%.
A pool maker with two other legs
Pentair sells water products to homes, businesses and industry through three segments. Flow makes pumps and filtration systems, Water Solutions makes treatment products such as softeners and commercial ice machines, and Pool makes pumps, filters, heaters and cleaners. According to its annual report, one Pool customer accounted for about 18% of consolidated net sales in 2025.
CEO John Stauch said teams responded "with focus and urgency following a challenging second quarter in our Pool segment."
Guidance and cash returns
Pentair reaffirmed full-year adjusted EPS of about $4.70 and now expects full-year GAAP EPS of about $3.76. It expects full-year sales down about 3% as reported. For the fourth quarter it guided to adjusted EPS of about $1.15 and sales up about 7% to 9%.
Guidance includes the right-sizing of channel inventory ahead of the 2027 pool season and the Taco Group Holdings acquisition, which the release's reconciliation footnote dates to October 1, 2026. Robert Hau is incoming chief financial officer, replacing interim CFO Robert Fishman.
Share repurchases totaled $350 million in the first nine months of 2026, against $175 million a year earlier. Pentair paid a $0.27 quarterly dividend and said this is the 50th consecutive year it has raised the payout.
Pentair's fourth-quarter guide of sales up about 7% to 9% will be the first test with Taco in the numbers.
Sources
- 8-K Filing — PENTAIR plc (PNR) — SEC EDGAR
- Exhibit q32026pressrelease.htm — PENTAIR plc 8-K exhibit — SEC EDGAR
