Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Reaches New 52-Week Low – Should You Sell?

Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $83.30 and last traded at $83.03, with a volume of 20018 shares. The stock had previously closed at $86.12.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Whirlpool Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $4.58 billion, a PE ratio of -14.11 and a beta of 1.44. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $100.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is $107.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.72.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 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 prior year, the company earned $3.85 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 EPS for the current year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.47%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Whirlpool’s payout ratio is -119.45%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Whirlpool

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Whirlpool in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC boosted its position 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 purchasing an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Whirlpool by 323.1% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. 90.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.