Jefferies Financial Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Clorox (NYSE:CLX) Stock Price

Key Points

• Jefferies cut its price target on Clorox from $139 to $125 but kept a "buy" rating, implying roughly a 46.9% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst consensus is cautious: the street shows 1 Buy, 12 Hold and 4 Sell, with a MarketBeat consensus rating of "Reduce" and a consensus target price of $104.
• Recent results and valuation: Clorox beat Q1 EPS ($1.64 vs. $1.55), set FY2026 guidance of $5.45–$5.65, and trades near its 1‑year low (~$85) with a P/E of about 13.8 and a $10.3B market cap.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by investment analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $139.00 to $125.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group's price target would suggest a potential upside of 46.93% from the stock's previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Clorox from $98.00 to $111.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Clorox from $110.00 to $97.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $117.00 price objective on Clorox in a report on Friday, February 13th. Barclays decreased their target price on Clorox from $102.00 to $85.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Clorox from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Monday, April 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and a consensus target price of $104.00.

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Clorox Stock Performance

Clorox stock opened at $85.07 on Monday. Clorox has a 1-year low of $84.92 and a 1-year high of $138.94. The company's 50-day moving average is $108.21 and its 200 day moving average is $108.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.03, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.65.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $1.64 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.09. Clorox had a return on equity of 443.64% and a net margin of 11.18%.The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.67 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.45 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. Clorox has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.450-5.650 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Clorox will post 5.56 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Clorox

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Center for Financial Planning Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Clorox in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Clorox during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Clorox in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Clorox in the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Caitlin John LLC increased its stake in shares of Clorox by 1,807.1% in the fourth quarter. Caitlin John LLC now owns 267 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.53% of the company's stock.

Clorox Company Profile

The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products designed to help people care for their homes and live healthy, sustainable lives. Its portfolio spans cleaning and household products, food and beverages, water filtration systems and cat litter, serving both retail and institutional customers. The company's flagship bleach and disinfecting products are well known in the United States and many international markets, where they help prevent the spread of germs in homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.

Clorox's diverse brand lineup includes liquid bleach and surface cleaners, eco-friendly cleaning tools, food preservation and preparation items, charcoal grills and briquettes, specialty foods and beverages, pet care products and personal care lines.

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