Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Shares Gap Down – Here’s What Happened

Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) shares gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $129.78, but opened at $111.00. Whirlpool shares last traded at $108.51, with a volume of 709,756 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WHR. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Whirlpool from $76.00 to $74.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com upgraded Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Bank of America boosted their price target on Whirlpool from $101.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $103.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $112.80.

Whirlpool Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $6.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.77 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $119.24 and a 200 day moving average price of $108.40.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.26 by $0.31. Whirlpool had a return on equity of 21.41% and a net margin of 3.19%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.85 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Whirlpool Co. will post 12.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Whirlpool

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WHR. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. bought a new stake in Whirlpool during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 323.1% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 113.6% in the 4th quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 282 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Finally, HHM Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 216.0% during the fourth quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 316 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

Whirlpool Company Profile

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.