Allianz Asset Management GmbH Has $3.39 Million Holdings in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX)

Key Points

• Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its stake in The Clorox Company by 33.3% in the first quarter, bringing its total to 23,007 shares worth approximately $3.39 million.
• Clorox reported $1.45 earnings per share for the recent quarter, missing estimates, with revenue down 8.0% year-over-year at $1.67 billion.
• Most analysts have a consensus rating of "Hold" on Clorox stock, with target prices ranging from $119 to $144.83.

Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its position in shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) by 33.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 23,007 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,748 shares during the quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH's holdings in Clorox were worth $3,388,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CLX. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Clorox during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Clorox in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in Clorox during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Clorox during the fourth quarter worth about $63,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.53% of the company's stock.

Clorox Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:CLX traded down $2.50 on Friday, hitting $123.06. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,928,421 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,666,065. The Clorox Company has a 12 month low of $117.35 and a 12 month high of $171.37. The company has a market capitalization of $15.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.49. The stock's 50-day moving average is $126.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $139.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.07, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.74.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $2.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.24 by $0.63. Clorox had a return on equity of 538.72% and a net margin of 11.40%. The business had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.82 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 EPS for the current year.

Clorox Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 13th will be paid a $1.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 13th. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.0%. This is an increase from Clorox's previous quarterly dividend of $1.22. Clorox's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 87.61%.

Insider Transactions at Clorox

In other news, Director Pierre R. Breber purchased 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $136.57 per share, with a total value of $546,280.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 4,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $546,280. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CLX. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Clorox from $135.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Clorox from $129.00 to $119.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Clorox from $150.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Clorox from $144.00 to $140.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $135.00 price target (down from $140.00) on shares of Clorox in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Clorox presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $144.00.

Clorox Profile

The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International. The Health and Wellness segment offers cleaning products, such as laundry additives and home care products primarily under the Clorox, Clorox2, Scentiva, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Tilex, and Formula 409 brands; professional cleaning and disinfecting products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands; professional food service products under the Hidden Valley brand; and vitamins, minerals and supplement products under the RenewLife, Natural Vitality, NeoCell, and Rainbow Light brands in the United States.