Mizuho Securities USA LLC Grows Holdings in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX)

Mizuho Securities USA LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) by 46.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,732 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 3,700 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC's holdings in Clorox were worth $1,905,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of CLX. Brooklyn Investment Group lifted its position in Clorox by 163.8% in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 153 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Clorox by 300.0% during the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 184 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in Clorox during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Asset Planning Inc bought a new stake in Clorox in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.53% of the company's stock.

Clorox Stock Performance

Clorox stock traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $146.18. 1,306,118 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,279,063. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.52, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The Clorox Company has a 12 month low of $127.60 and a 12 month high of $171.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.45. The business has a 50 day moving average of $151.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $159.22.

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

Clorox Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be paid a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 23rd. Clorox's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 133.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Clorox from $157.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and issued a $150.00 price target on shares of Clorox in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Clorox from $145.00 to $155.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. DA Davidson cut their target price 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, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Clorox from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $159.50.

Clorox Profile

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.