Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $75.04 and last traded at $85.52, with a volume of 2131384 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $77.44.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Whirlpool from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Whirlpool presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $106.00.

Whirlpool Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market cap of $4.43 billion, a PE ratio of -13.64 and a beta of 1.31. The stock's fifty day moving average is $94.15 and its 200-day moving average is $106.49.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 EPS for the current year.

Remove Ads

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 16th will be issued a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.76%. Whirlpool's dividend payout ratio is presently -119.45%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WHR. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in Whirlpool by 99.0% in the 4th quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 10,709 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,226,000 after buying an additional 5,328 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted 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 valued at $72,917,000 after purchasing an additional 223,232 shares during the period. Delta Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth $343,000. First Dallas Securities Inc. increased its holdings in Whirlpool by 99.4% during the 4th quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc. now owns 8,125 shares of the company's stock worth $930,000 after purchasing an additional 4,050 shares during the period. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in Whirlpool by 1,188.2% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 4,805 shares of the company's stock valued at $550,000 after purchasing an additional 4,432 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.78% of the company's stock.

Whirlpool Company Profile

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.