WD-40 (NASDAQ:WDFC) Sets New 12-Month Low on Disappointing Earnings

WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Friday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as low as $175.38 and last traded at $186.74, with a volume of 204136 shares. The stock had previously closed at $203.50.

The specialty chemicals company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.45 by ($0.17). The firm had revenue of $154.42 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $155.10 million. WD-40 had a return on equity of 30.35% and a net margin of 14.42%.The firm’s revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.39 EPS. WD-40 has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.750-6.150 EPS.

WD-40 Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th will be issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. This is a boost from WD-40’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 16th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. WD-40’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.29%.

Key Stories Impacting WD-40

Here are the key news stories impacting WD-40 this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company increased its dividend versus last year, supporting income investors and underpinning total-return appeal. WD-40’s Shareholders Will Receive A Bigger Dividend Than Last Year
• Positive Sentiment: Insider buying activity (including CEO and CFO purchases) was highlighted in coverage, which can signal management confidence. QuiverQuant Q1 summary with insider activity
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts/investor reports frame the sell-off as a buying opportunity, citing intact long-term growth, gross-margin expansion and continued buybacks that could support recovery. MarketBeat: 5 Reasons Bulls Aren’t Worried
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will present at the ICR Conference on Jan. 13 (webcast available) — a source for more color on growth initiatives and margin recovery expectations. WD-40 to Participate in the 2026 ICR Conference
• Negative Sentiment: Q1 results missed expectations: EPS of $1.28 (below consensus), revenue ~$154.4M (roughly flat year-over-year and slightly below estimates), operating profit and operating cash flow declined — the direct cause of the downward price move. The company reaffirmed FY2026 guidance (EPS 5.75–6.15) but the midpoint is a touch below some analyst estimates. WD-40 Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Negative Sentiment: Shares hit a 52-week low and traded at elevated volume after the earnings release, signaling selling pressure and short-term sentiment deterioration. MSN: WD-40 shares hit 52-week low
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst commentary flagged profitability headwinds (higher SG&A tied to growth initiatives, softer segments in HCCP and Asia Pacific) and suggested recent weakness isn’t yet a buy signal for all investors. Seeking Alpha: Drop Doesn’t Justify An Upgrade

Analyst Ratings Changes

WDFC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. DA Davidson set a $300.00 price target on shares of WD-40 in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of WD-40 in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, WD-40 presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $300.00.

Insider Activity at WD-40

In other WD-40 news, Director Daniel T. Carter purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 27th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $199.37 per share, with a total value of $199,370.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 7,205 shares in the company, valued at $1,436,460.85. This trade represents a 16.12% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Steven A. Brass acquired 362 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 28th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $200.46 per share, for a total transaction of $72,566.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 33,761 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,767,730.06. The trade was a 1.08% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have purchased 2,640 shares of company stock valued at $522,765 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.78% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WD-40

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WDFC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of WD-40 by 3.1% in the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,865 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $362,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in WD-40 by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 953 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $186,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in WD-40 by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,317 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its holdings in shares of WD-40 by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 3,925 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $776,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of WD-40 by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,672 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $609,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.52% of the company’s stock.

WD-40 Stock Down 6.6%

The company has a fifty day moving average of $197.93 and a 200 day moving average of $207.53. The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market cap of $2.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.92 and a beta of 0.15.

WD-40 Company Profile

WD-40 Company, headquartered in San Diego, California, is best known for its flagship WD-40® Multi-Use Product, a water-displacing spray used for lubrication, rust prevention and cleaning. Since its introduction in 1953 by the Rocket Chemical Company, the WD-40 brand has become a household and industrial staple. Over time, the company has broadened its portfolio to include complementary maintenance and cleaning brands such as 3-IN-ONE® oils, Lava® hand cleaners, Solvol® solvents, Spot Shot® stain removers and X-14® cleaning products.

WD-40 Company distributes its products in more than 176 countries through retail, industrial and automotive channels.