Exploring Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

Have you ever wondered who really owns shares of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) and what drives their investment decisions? As of April 2025, it's a mix of institutional, retail, and individual investors, with approximately 54.94% held by institutional investors, 1.60% by insiders, and 21.95% by public companies and individual investors. Dive into this analysis to understand the key players, their recent moves, and how the ownership structure could impact the company's future, especially considering the recent fiscal 2024 results showing a sales decrease of 8.3% to $1,330.1 million and a net loss of $23.4 million.

Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Who Invests in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) and Why?

Understanding the investor profile of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) provides valuable insights into the market's perception of the company. A diverse investor base can indicate broad confidence in the company's stability and growth potential, while a concentrated base may highlight specific expectations or concerns.

Key investor types in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) typically include:

• Retail Investors: Individual investors who buy and sell shares for their own accounts.
• Institutional Investors: Entities such as mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance companies that invest on behalf of others.
• Hedge Funds: Investment partnerships that use pooled funds and employ various strategies to earn active return, or alpha, for their investors.

Several factors attract these diverse investor groups to Leslie's, Inc. (LESL):

• Growth Prospects: The potential for Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) to expand its market share and increase revenue in the pool and spa care industry.
• Market Position: Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) established presence and brand recognition in the industry.

Investors in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) may adopt various strategies, including:

• Long-Term Holding: Investors who believe in the company's long-term growth potential and hold shares for an extended period.
• Short-Term Trading: Investors who aim to profit from short-term price fluctuations.
• Value Investing: Identifying whether Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) stock is undervalued by the market.

To illustrate the potential composition of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) investor base, consider the following hypothetical breakdown:

To gain more insights into Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) financial standing, explore Breaking Down Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL)

Understanding the ownership structure of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) is crucial for investors looking to gauge the company's stability and future prospects. Institutional investors, with their significant holdings and sophisticated analysis, can heavily influence a company's stock price and strategic direction.

As of December 31, 2024, the top institutional holders of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) include:

• BlackRock Fund Advisors: Holding 2,776,898 shares, representing 1.60% of the company.
• Vanguard Index Funds: Holding 4,722,699 shares, representing 2.72% of the company.
• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: Holding 2,226,483 shares, representing 1.28% of the company.

These major institutional investors play a significant role in shaping market perception and influencing the trading activity of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). Their investment decisions are often based on in-depth research and analysis, making their holdings a noteworthy indicator for other investors.

Examining the recent changes in ownership can provide insights into the evolving sentiment surrounding Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). Recent data indicates the following:

• Some institutional investors have slightly decreased their positions, potentially due to profit-taking or portfolio rebalancing.
• Conversely, other institutions have increased their stakes, signaling confidence in the company's long-term growth potential.

The collective actions of these large investors can impact Leslie's, Inc. (LESL)'s stock price and strategic initiatives. For instance, a significant increase in institutional ownership may drive up the stock price, while a mass exodus could lead to a decline.

Here's a detailed breakdown of significant shareholders and their holdings in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL):

Institutional investors' decisions are often influenced by factors such as the company's financial performance, market trends, and overall economic outlook. Keeping an eye on these ownership trends can provide valuable context for investors in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). To gain further insights into the financial health of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL), consider exploring: Breaking Down Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors

Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Key Investors and Their Impact on [Company Name]

Understanding the investor profile of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) provides valuable insights into the company’s stability, growth potential, and strategic direction. By examining the key investors, their recent activities, and their influence, stakeholders can gain a clearer picture of the market's perception of LESL.

While specific, real-time data on all individual investors and their direct impact on Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) is dynamic and often proprietary, we can discuss the general types of investors and their potential influence based on publicly available information and standard market dynamics.

Institutional investors, mutual funds, hedge funds, and private equity firms are likely to hold significant stakes in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). These investors often have a substantial impact on company decisions and stock movements due to the size of their holdings and their ability to influence corporate governance.

Here's how different types of investors can impact Leslie's, Inc. (LESL):

• Institutional Investors: Large entities like mutual funds (e.g., Vanguard, BlackRock) and pension funds hold significant shares. Their investment decisions can drive stock prices up or down.
• Hedge Funds: These funds may take more aggressive positions, influencing company strategy through activist campaigns.
• Private Equity Firms: Firms that previously owned or have a stake in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) can influence its direction, especially concerning restructuring or strategic shifts.

To stay informed about investor activity, here are some steps you can take:

• Monitor SEC Filings: Track Form 4 filings for insider transactions and 13F filings for quarterly holdings updates from institutional investors.
• Review Financial News: Stay updated on major investor announcements and analyses from reputable financial news outlets.
• Analyze Shareholder Communications: Review annual reports and investor presentations for insights into major shareholders and their perspectives.

Keeping an eye on these areas will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the investor landscape surrounding Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) and its potential implications.

Recent moves by key investors, such as buying or selling large stakes, can significantly impact stock prices and investor confidence. Activist investors may also initiate campaigns to influence company policy or strategy.

Understanding the history, ownership structure, and mission of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) can provide additional context for evaluating investor behavior and company performance. For more details, you can explore: Leslie's, Inc. (LESL): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

For example, if a well-known fund announces a significant increase in its stake in Leslie's, Inc. (LESL), it could signal confidence in the company's future prospects, potentially driving up the stock price. Conversely, a large sell-off by a major investor could indicate concerns about the company's performance or strategic direction.

Here's a hypothetical example of how investor activity could be monitored and interpreted:

Note: This is a hypothetical table for illustrative purposes; real-time data should be sourced from official financial news and SEC filings.

By monitoring these moves and understanding the motivations behind them, stakeholders can make more informed decisions about Leslie's, Inc. (LESL).

Leslie's, Inc. (LESL) Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

Understanding investor sentiment and market reactions is crucial for assessing the future prospects of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). This analysis delves into recent market behavior, major shareholder activities, and analyst perspectives to provide a comprehensive view of the company's current standing.

The current price of LESL is $0.5737, which has decreased by -0.55% in the past 24 hours. LESL stock has fallen by -6.37% compared to the previous week, with a month change of -26.53%. Over the last year, Leslie's, Inc. has shown a -86.87% decrease. The stock's all-time high was $32.84 on January 26, 2021, and its all-time low was $0.5113 on April 14, 2025.

Leslie's, Inc. has a market capitalization of $106.86 million, which has decreased by -13.47% over the last week. The next earnings report is scheduled for April 30, 2025. For the last quarter, LESL earnings were -$0.22 per share, compared to an estimation of -$0.21, resulting in a -4.81% surprise.

Investor Sentiment:

Institutional investors hold a significant stake in Leslie's, Inc. with 417 institutional owners and shareholders holding a total of 274,456,965 shares. Major shareholders include:

• Ariel Investments, Llc
• ARGFX - Ariel Fund Investor Class
• BlackRock, Inc.
• Clarkston Capital Partners, LLC
• IJR - iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
• Vanguard Group Inc
• Lind Value II ApS
• CFSMX - Clarkston Partners Fund Founders Class
• State Street Corp
• Goldman Sachs Group Inc

However, recent filings indicate shifting sentiment among institutional investors:

• Vanguard Group has trimmed its stake in Leslie's by over 30%.
• New positions have been initiated by other funds, reflecting mixed sentiment.

Approximately 54.94% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 1.60% is owned by Insiders, and 21.95% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.

Recent Market Reactions:

Leslie's, Inc. has faced several challenges, leading to a decline in its stock price. Recent news highlights include:

• The stock has tumbled to a 52-week low of $0.55 amid market challenges.
• Shares experienced a decline of -7.25% due to operational challenges and market pressures.
• The company was removed from the S&P SmallCap 600 index, leading to a stock price dip of 5% to $1.46.

These events have collectively contributed to increased market volatility and negative investor sentiment.

Analyst Perspectives:

Analysts' opinions on Leslie's, Inc. are mixed, with a general consensus of caution:

• Analyst consensus maintains a “reduce” rating with an average 12-month price target of $2.65, significantly above its current sub-$1 price.
• Moody's Ratings downgraded Leslie's Poolmart's corporate family rating to Caa1, citing expectations of continued below-average operating performance.
• S&P Global downgraded Leslie's credit rating from 'B+' to 'B', attributing it to increased leverage and compressed profitability.

Based on 7 analysts, the consensus is to sell LESL stock:

• 0% recommend a Strong Buy.
• 0% recommend a Buy.
• 71.43% recommend a Hold.
• 14.29% recommend a Sell.
• 14.29% recommend a Strong Sell.

The average LESL price target is $2.42, with a high forecast of $3.50 and a low forecast of $1.40.

Financial Performance:

Key financial highlights for Leslie's, Inc. include:

• Revenue of $1.33 billion.
• Net Income Avi to Common (ttm) of -$28.39 million.
• Diluted EPS (ttm) of -$0.1600.
• A price-to-sales ratio of 0.08.

The company's revenue in 2025 is $1,331,389,000. Analysts forecast LESL's revenue for 2025 to be $249,148,571,611, with a low of $245,055,788,019 and a high of $252,094,427,433.

Given these factors, investor sentiment appears cautious, with analysts recommending a hold or sell position. The stock market's reaction to ownership changes and overall performance has been negative, reflecting concerns about profitability and consumer demand. Despite these challenges, management forecasts improvement in the latter half of the year, highlighting better customer traffic and an expected earnings recovery.

Explore more about Leslie's, Inc.'s core values and mission at: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Leslie's, Inc. (LESL).