Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Reaches New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)’s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $75.03 and last traded at $76.45, with a volume of 197453 shares. The stock had previously closed at $78.84.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WHR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com raised Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $106.00.

Whirlpool Trading Down 3.4 %

The stock has a market cap of $4.22 billion, a PE ratio of -12.99 and a beta of 1.31. The company’s fifty day moving average is $92.33 and its 200-day moving average is $105.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.44.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 period last year, the firm earned $3.85 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.19%. Whirlpool’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -119.45%.

Institutional Trading of Whirlpool

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WHR. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new stake in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Whirlpool during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC boosted its holdings in Whirlpool by 79.1% during the fourth quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 274 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 323.1% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Whirlpool by 113.6% in the fourth quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.