Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC Acquires 7,174 Shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX)

Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its holdings in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) by 123.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,962 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,174 shares during the period. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC's holdings in Clorox were worth $2,105,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its position in Clorox by 163.8% in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 153 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Clorox during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its stake in Clorox by 300.0% during the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 184 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Clorox during the third quarter worth about $48,000. Finally, Friedenthal Financial bought a new stake in Clorox during the third quarter worth about $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.53% of the company's stock.

Clorox Trading Down 1.9 %

NYSE CLX traded down $2.86 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $147.91. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,318,065 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,380,263. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $159.17 and a 200 day moving average of $159.23. The Clorox Company has a twelve month low of $127.60 and a twelve month high of $171.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.41, a PEG ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.52.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.16. Clorox had a net margin of 6.38% and a return on equity of 316.87%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.16 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 29th were issued a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 29th. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.30%. Clorox's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 133.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Clorox from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Clorox from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Clorox in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. DA Davidson decreased their price objective on shares of Clorox from $171.00 to $169.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Clorox from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, January 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $158.21.

About Clorox

The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International. The Health and Wellness segment offers cleaning products, such as laundry additives and home care products primarily under the Clorox, Clorox2, Scentiva, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Tilex, and Formula 409 brands; professional cleaning and disinfecting products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands; professional food service products under the Hidden Valley brand; and vitamins, minerals and supplement products under the RenewLife, Natural Vitality, NeoCell, and Rainbow Light brands in the United States.