Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Given New $63.00 Price Target at Royal Bank Of Canada

Key Points

• Royal Bank of Canada has reduced its price target for Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) from $65.00 to $63.00, maintaining an "underperform" rating, which suggests a potential downside of 24.68% from its current price.
• Multiple analysts have provided conflicting ratings for Whirlpool, with three analysts rating it as a "sell," while two others have assigned a "buy" rating, indicating a lack of consensus on the stock's direction.
• In its latest financial report, Whirlpool posted quarterly earnings of $1.34 EPS, missing estimates by $0.20, and reported a 5.4% decline in year-over-year revenue.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR - Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by investment analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada from $65.00 to $63.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "underperform" rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada's price objective points to a potential downside of 22.63% from the company's current price.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Whirlpool from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Whirlpool from $109.00 to $89.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Bank of America reissued an "underperform" rating and set a $70.00 price objective (down previously from $100.00) on shares of Whirlpool in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Longbow Research upgraded shares of Whirlpool from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $145.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, June 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Whirlpool currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $101.00.

Whirlpool Trading Down 1.9%

NYSE:WHR traded down $1.61 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $81.43. The company had a trading volume of 640,196 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,347,040. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.40. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $93.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $94.23. The company has a market capitalization of $4.55 billion, a PE ratio of -30.76 and a beta of 1.25. Whirlpool has a 52 week low of $73.72 and a 52 week high of $135.49.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.54 by ($0.20). Whirlpool had a negative net margin of 0.95% and a positive return on equity of 20.81%. The company had revenue of $3.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.88 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.39 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Whirlpool will post 9.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Whirlpool

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WHR. Nemes Rush Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 79.1% in the fourth quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 274 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. Cheviot Value Management LLC bought a new stake in Whirlpool during the first quarter valued at about $36,000. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its holdings in Whirlpool by 120.7% in the 4th quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 320 shares of the company's stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Ransom Advisory Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Whirlpool in the first quarter worth $38,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 40.4% in the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 448 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. 90.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Whirlpool

Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances and related products and services in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The company's principal products include refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, and refrigerator water filters; laundry appliances, and commercial laundry products and related laundry accessories; cooking and other small domestic appliances; and dishwasher appliances and related accessories, as well as mixers.