The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) Shares Bought by Legato Capital Management LLC

Legato Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX - Free Report) by 105.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,100 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 8,791 shares during the period. Legato Capital Management LLC's holdings in Clorox were worth $2,518,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Clorox during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Clorox during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in Clorox during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. 78.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Clorox Stock Up 2.6%

NYSE:CLX opened at $129.82 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $16.00 billion, a PE ratio of 23.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.07, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The company has a 50-day moving average of $127.36 and a 200 day moving average of $141.06. The Clorox Company has a 1-year low of $117.35 and a 1-year high of $171.37.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.57 by ($0.12). The company had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.74 billion. Clorox had a return on equity of 324.23% and a net margin of 9.89%. The firm's revenue was down 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.71 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Pierre R. Breber bought 4,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $136.57 per share, with a total value of $546,280.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 4,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $546,280. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on CLX shares. Citigroup reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $135.00 price target (down previously from $140.00) on shares of Clorox in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Barclays set a $119.00 target price on shares of Clorox and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Clorox from $151.00 to $144.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Clorox from $165.00 to $150.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Clorox from $150.00 to $134.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Three research 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, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $145.17.

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.

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