Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. Increases Stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. lifted its stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) by 5.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 56,195 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,685 shares during the quarter. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. owned about 0.10% of Whirlpool worth $6,433,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. purchased a new position in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in Whirlpool by 323.1% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC raised its position in Whirlpool by 113.6% during the 4th quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. 90.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WHR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised 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. StockNews.com raised shares of Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Whirlpool has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $106.00.

Whirlpool Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WHR opened at $91.05 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.54 and a beta of 1.44. Whirlpool Co. has a 12 month low of $84.18 and a 12 month high of $135.49. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $109.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $108.40. 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 released 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 negative net margin of 1.95% and a positive return on equity of 21.89%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.85 EPS. Analysts expect that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 EPS for the current year.

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.69%. Whirlpool’s dividend payout ratio is currently -119.45%.

Whirlpool 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.