Advisors Capital Management LLC Raises Stock Position in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

Advisors Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR - Free Report) by 41.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 166,556 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 49,121 shares during the quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.30% of Whirlpool worth $19,067,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Savant Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 2,406 shares of the company's stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 17.3% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 664 shares of the company's stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Whirlpool by 4.5% in the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,345 shares of the company's stock valued at $251,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its holdings in Whirlpool by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 15,300 shares of the company's stock worth $1,752,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 13,100 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,500,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.78% of the company's stock.

Whirlpool Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WHR traded up $1.29 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $78.68. 1,097,862 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,067,357. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $92.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.91. Whirlpool Co. has a 1-year low of $75.04 and a 1-year high of $135.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The firm has a market cap of $4.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.43 and a beta of 1.31.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.85 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be given a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.90%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. Whirlpool's payout ratio is -119.45%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Whirlpool from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Whirlpool presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $106.00.

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.