Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) has earned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the five analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $112.80.

Several research firms recently issued reports on WHR. StockNews.com raised shares of Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Whirlpool from $76.00 to $74.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Whirlpool from $103.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Whirlpool from $101.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th.

Institutional Trading of Whirlpool

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Whirlpool in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Whirlpool by 323.1% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 79.1% during the 4th quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 274 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Whirlpool by 113.6% during the fourth quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

Whirlpool Price Performance

Shares of WHR stock opened at $106.02 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Whirlpool has a fifty-two week low of $84.18 and a fifty-two week high of $135.49. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $115.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $108.32.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.31. Whirlpool had a negative net margin of 1.95% and a positive return on equity of 21.89%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.85 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Whirlpool will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.60%. Whirlpool’s payout ratio is -119.45%.

About Whirlpool

Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances and related products and services in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The company's principal products include refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, and refrigerator water filters; laundry appliances, and commercial laundry products and related laundry accessories; cooking and other small domestic appliances; and dishwasher appliances and related accessories, as well as mixers.