The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) Shares Sold by Bank of Montreal Can

Bank of Montreal Can cut its holdings in shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) by 15.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 177,761 shares of the company's stock after selling 32,602 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned 0.14% of Clorox worth $28,870,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. California Public Employees Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Clorox by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 565,810 shares of the company's stock worth $91,893,000 after purchasing an additional 6,987 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in Clorox by 26.3% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 59,766 shares of the company's stock worth $9,736,000 after purchasing an additional 12,428 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter valued at about $204,000. Apollon Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Clorox by 119.6% in the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,364 shares of the company's stock valued at $546,000 after buying an additional 1,832 shares during the period. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Clorox in the fourth quarter worth about $1,566,000. 78.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Clorox Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CLX traded down $0.17 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $139.29. The company's stock had a trading volume of 154,859 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,451,858. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.61. The Clorox Company has a 1-year low of $127.60 and a 1-year high of $171.37. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $147.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $156.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.52, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.94.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 business posted $2.16 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be issued a dividend of $1.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 23rd. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.50%. Clorox's dividend payout ratio is presently 133.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on CLX shares. DA Davidson lowered their price objective on Clorox from $171.00 to $169.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Clorox from $139.00 to $134.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Clorox from $165.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday. StockNews.com cut Clorox from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, January 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Clorox from $155.00 to $145.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Three research 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's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Clorox presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $154.25.

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.