Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. Buys Shares of 53,814 The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX)

Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 53,814 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,749,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of CLX. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its position in shares of Clorox by 163.8% during the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 153 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. 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 worth $30,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in Clorox during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Asset Planning Inc acquired a new position in shares of Clorox in the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.53% of the company's stock.

Clorox Stock Up 0.3 %

CLX traded up $0.45 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $141.35. 1,249,590 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,298,188. 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 company has a market cap of $17.41 billion, a PE ratio of 38.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.61. The Clorox Company has a one year low of $127.60 and a one year high of $171.37. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $147.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $157.21.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 posted $2.16 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be paid a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.45%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 23rd. Clorox's payout ratio is 133.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and issued a $150.00 price target on shares of Clorox in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Barclays lowered their price target on Clorox from $139.00 to $134.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on Clorox from $171.00 to $169.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Clorox from $161.00 to $155.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Clorox from $173.00 to $151.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $156.75.

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.