Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Given “Underperform” Rating at Bank of America

Bank of America restated their underperform rating on shares of Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) in a research report report published on Tuesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has a $70.00 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $100.00.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Whirlpool from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $109.00 to $89.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Longbow Research raised shares of Whirlpool from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $145.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, June 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $81.00 to $65.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $103.60.

Whirlpool Stock Down 13.8%

Shares of Whirlpool stock opened at $84.40 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.40. Whirlpool has a 1 year low of $73.72 and a 1 year high of $135.49. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $92.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.57. The stock has a market cap of $4.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -31.85 and a beta of 1.25.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last issued its earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.54 by ($0.20). The business had revenue of $3.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.88 billion. Whirlpool had a positive return on equity of 20.06% and a negative net margin of 0.95%. The firm’s revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.39 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Whirlpool will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Whirlpool

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Nemes Rush Group LLC increased its stake in shares of 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 during the period. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 120.7% during the fourth quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 320 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the period. Cheviot Value Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. Ransom Advisory Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the first quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in Whirlpool by 40.4% in the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 448 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. 90.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.