Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Shares Gap Down Following Weak Earnings

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) shares gapped down prior to trading on Thursday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $80.87, but opened at $76.25. Whirlpool shares last traded at $74.2150, with a volume of 1,689,260 shares changing hands.

The company reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.54 by ($0.44). Whirlpool had a net margin of 2.04% and a return on equity of 13.02%. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.27 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.57 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Whirlpool has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.000-7.000 EPS.

Key Headlines Impacting Whirlpool

Here are the key news stories impacting Whirlpool this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted $200M of structural cost savings and record new product launches in North America that it says should support share gains and margin recovery in the second half of FY2026. Whirlpool Corporation Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full Year Results; Provides 2026 Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Company guidance includes a plan to generate ~$400–$500M free cash flow and pay down roughly $400M of debt in 2026 — a concrete deleveraging commitment that could improve the balance sheet over time. Whirlpool Guidance / PR
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts and institutional investors view the pullback as a buying opportunity — MarketBeat highlights valuation upside and heavy institutional ownership as reasons long-term investors may consider adding exposure. Whirlpool: Near-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain—Is Now the Time?
• Neutral Sentiment: FY2026 guidance was reiterated/updated at EPS of 7.00 and revenue ~$15.3–15.6B — guidance gives a framework for recovery but comes in slightly below consensus, leaving room for volatility as the year unfolds. Zacks: Q4 metrics vs estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 results missed top- and bottom-line expectations: EPS of $1.10 vs. consensus ~$1.54 and revenue of $4.10B below estimates (~$4.27–4.30B) — the immediate catalyst for the decline in the stock. Zacks: WHR Lags Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Tariffs and promotional activity squeezed margins (management cited significant margin compression year‑over‑year), contributing to a ~270 bps hit to Q4 EBIT margins — a structural headwind until cost recovery and pricing actions take hold. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts flagged persistent cash‑flow and balance‑sheet issues: inventories up (~15%), cash balances down, and net debt well above the company’s 2x EBITDA target — prompting at least one downgrade and extra investor caution. Whirlpool: Cash Flow Disappointments Persist (Rating Downgrade)
• Negative Sentiment: Sales volumes in North America and Latin America fell, pressuring revenue and signaling that weak housing and consumer demand remain a near‑term risk. WSJ: Whirlpool Fourth-Quarter Revenue Falls

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Whirlpool in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $107.00 to $93.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, November 1st. Zacks Research raised shares of Whirlpool from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $80.00 to $69.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Whirlpool presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $86.43.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 129.2% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 369 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the period. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 80.6% during the second quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 511 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the period. Hara Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Whirlpool during the fourth quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd raised its position in Whirlpool by 1,444.4% in the 3rd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 556 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 520 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

Whirlpool Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $4.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.64 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $78.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $81.32. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33.

About Whirlpool

Whirlpool Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, with a product portfolio that spans major categories such as laundry, refrigeration, cooking, dishwashing and small electrics. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the company designs, produces and distributes its appliances through a network of wholly owned manufacturing facilities, joint ventures and third-party partners. Whirlpool serves both retail and professional markets, offering products under its flagship Whirlpool brand as well as several well-known names including Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana, Brastemp and Consul.

In its laundry segment, Whirlpool provides top- and front-load washing machines, dryers and combination units designed to balance energy efficiency, capacity and convenience.