LHM Inc. Grows Stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

LHM Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) by 13.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 42,600 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,185 shares during the period. Whirlpool comprises about 1.6% of LHM Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. LHM Inc. owned approximately 0.08% of Whirlpool worth $4,877,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WHR. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Whirlpool during the fourth quarter valued at $34,719,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 14.7% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,019,569 shares of the company’s stock worth $216,094,000 after purchasing an additional 258,871 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 54.0% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 636,937 shares of the company’s stock worth $72,917,000 after purchasing an additional 223,232 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC grew its position in Whirlpool by 648.2% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 112,141 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,999,000 after acquiring an additional 97,152 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Easterly Investment Partners LLC grew its position in Whirlpool by 95.6% in the third quarter. Easterly Investment Partners LLC now owns 151,157 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,174,000 after acquiring an additional 73,865 shares in the last quarter. 90.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on WHR shares. StockNews.com upgraded Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective 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 analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $106.00.

Whirlpool Price Performance

NYSE WHR opened at $91.62 on Thursday. Whirlpool Co. has a 1 year low of $84.18 and a 1 year high of $135.49. 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 company has a market cap of $5.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.64 and a beta of 1.43. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $112.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $108.80.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.31. Whirlpool had a negative net margin of 1.95% and a positive return on equity of 21.89%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.85 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.64%. Whirlpool’s payout ratio is -119.45%.

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.