Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) Stock Position Lowered by Meeder Asset Management Inc.

Meeder Asset Management Inc. decreased its position in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) by 84.2% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 7,541 shares of the company’s stock after selling 40,235 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Whirlpool were worth $863,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Whirlpool in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Whirlpool in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted 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 buying an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 113.6% during the 4th 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 period. Finally, Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Whirlpool during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. 90.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Whirlpool Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:WHR opened at $90.31 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.00 billion, a PE ratio of -15.41 and a beta of 1.44. Whirlpool Co. has a 1 year low of $84.18 and a 1 year high of $135.49. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $102.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $108.13.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.31. Whirlpool had a positive return on equity of 21.89% and a negative net margin of 1.95%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.85 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Whirlpool’s payout ratio is -119.45%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on WHR shares. StockNews.com upgraded Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $106.00.

Whirlpool Profile

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.