Barclays Increases Clorox (NYSE:CLX) Price Target to $137.00

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) had its target price boosted by Barclays from $130.00 to $137.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an underweight rating on the stock.

Several other research firms also recently issued reports on CLX. Citigroup upped their target price on Clorox from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, September 6th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Clorox from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Clorox from $144.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Clorox from $148.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Clorox to a strong sell rating in a research note on Friday, September 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $148.33.

Clorox Stock Up 1.4 %

NYSE:CLX traded up $2.25 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $160.30. 864,006 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,240,877. Clorox has a twelve month low of $114.68 and a twelve month high of $169.09. The company has a market capitalization of $19.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 71.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.04, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a fifty day moving average of $157.03 and a 200 day moving average of $144.74.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.97 billion. Clorox had a net margin of 3.95% and a return on equity of 281.12%. On average, analysts forecast that Clorox will post 6.64 EPS for the current year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 23rd will be issued a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.04%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 23rd. Clorox's payout ratio is currently 217.86%.

Insider Transactions at Clorox

In other news, EVP Angela C. Hilt sold 1,733 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.52, for a total value of $286,846.16. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13,471 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,229,719.92. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.51% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Clorox during the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. First Foundation Advisors purchased a new stake in Clorox during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Clorox by 139.8% during the second quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 223 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its holdings in shares of Clorox by 99.1% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 229 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. 78.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Clorox Company 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.