Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) has been given an average rating of “Hold” by the five research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $112.80.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $103.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. 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 lifted their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Bank of America increased their price objective on Whirlpool from $101.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Whirlpool from $76.00 to $74.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th.

Whirlpool Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE WHR opened at $106.02 on Thursday. Whirlpool has a 12 month low of $84.18 and a 12 month high of $135.49. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $115.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $108.32. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Whirlpool will post 9.52 EPS for the current year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.75 per share. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.60%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Whirlpool’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -119.45%.

Institutional Trading of Whirlpool

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WHR. North Star Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Whirlpool by 10.4% in the 4th quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,582 shares of the company’s stock worth $296,000 after acquiring an additional 243 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 20,314 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,326,000 after purchasing an additional 1,099 shares during the period. Harmony Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Harmony Asset Management LLC now owns 6,259 shares of the company’s stock worth $717,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 13.5% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 186,923 shares of the company’s stock worth $21,399,000 after purchasing an additional 22,171 shares during the period. Finally, Tabor Asset Management LP grew its position in Whirlpool by 47.8% during the fourth quarter. Tabor Asset Management LP now owns 70,473 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,068,000 after purchasing an additional 22,782 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

About Whirlpool

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.