KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Takes Position in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 11,300 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,294,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter valued at $34,719,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Whirlpool by 54.0% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 636,937 shares of the company's stock worth $72,917,000 after purchasing an additional 223,232 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Whirlpool by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,118,013 shares of the company's stock valued at $242,470,000 after buying an additional 98,444 shares in the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC raised its position in shares of Whirlpool by 648.2% during the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 112,141 shares of the company's stock worth $11,999,000 after buying an additional 97,152 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ibex Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in Whirlpool during the fourth quarter worth approximately $7,275,000. Institutional investors own 90.78% of the company's stock.

Whirlpool Stock Down 4.2 %

NYSE:WHR traded down $3.81 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $86.97. 774,506 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,053,037. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $101.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.95. The firm has a market cap of $4.82 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.84 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.72. Whirlpool Co. has a twelve month low of $84.18 and a twelve month high of $135.49.

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Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 positive return on equity of 21.89% and a negative net margin of 1.95%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.85 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.75 per share. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Whirlpool's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -119.45%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com upgraded Whirlpool from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Whirlpool presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average 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.