Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Hits New 52-Week Low – Here’s What Happened

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $40.38 and last traded at $41.3040, with a volume of 3295449 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.08.

Key Stories Impacting Whirlpool

Here are the key news stories impacting Whirlpool this week:

• Negative Sentiment: Whirlpool’s latest quarter missed estimates, and management slashed its outlook, fueling concern that the company is facing a recession-like drop in appliance demand. Whirlpool (WHR) Stock Plunges to Lowest Point Since 2009 Following Disastrous Quarter
• Negative Sentiment: The company suspended its dividend and is prioritizing debt reduction, which removes a shareholder-friendly catalyst and signals continued margin stress. Whirlpool: Downgrading Because Of Dividend Suspension, Margin Compression And Dilution
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan cut Whirlpool’s price target to $52 from $59 and kept a neutral rating, reflecting reduced optimism about the near-term recovery. Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) Price Target Cut to $52.00 by Analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Negative Sentiment: Reports of unusually large put buying suggest traders are positioning for further downside in WHR shares. J.P. Morgan Remains a Hold on Whirlpool (WHR)
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP said it is investigating claims on behalf of Whirlpool investors, adding legal overhang to an already weak sentiment backdrop. INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Whirlpool Corporation – WHR

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on WHR. Stifel Nicolaus set a $55.00 price target on Whirlpool in a report on Monday, May 4th. Zacks Research downgraded Whirlpool from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. Mizuho initiated coverage on Whirlpool in a report on Monday, April 20th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $55.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on Whirlpool from $37.00 to $32.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Whirlpool from $59.00 to $52.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $68.89.

Whirlpool Stock Up 0.5%

The firm has a market cap of $2.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $55.03 and a 200-day moving average of $69.78.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported ($0.56) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.99). Whirlpool had a net margin of 1.08% and a return on equity of 7.68%. The company had revenue of $3.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.70 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Whirlpool has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.000-3.500 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Whirlpool Corporation will post 2.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 26th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were given a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.7%. Whirlpool’s payout ratio is currently 122.45%.

Institutional Trading of Whirlpool

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. KBC Group NV raised its stake in Whirlpool by 42.0% during the 1st quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,602 shares of the company’s stock valued at $140,000 after acquiring an additional 769 shares in the last quarter. Swiss National Bank raised its stake in Whirlpool by 13.2% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 124,700 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,724,000 after acquiring an additional 14,500 shares in the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Whirlpool during the 1st quarter valued at $46,000. California Public Employees Retirement System raised its stake in Whirlpool by 9.5% during the 1st quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 78,874 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,253,000 after acquiring an additional 6,839 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Angeles Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Whirlpool by 196.9% during the 1st quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 38,697 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,087,000 after acquiring an additional 25,663 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

About Whirlpool

Whirlpool Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, with a product portfolio that spans major categories such as laundry, refrigeration, cooking, dishwashing and small electrics. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the company designs, produces and distributes its appliances through a network of wholly owned manufacturing facilities, joint ventures and third-party partners. Whirlpool serves both retail and professional markets, offering products under its flagship Whirlpool brand as well as several well-known names including Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana, Brastemp and Consul.

In its laundry segment, Whirlpool provides top- and front-load washing machines, dryers and combination units designed to balance energy efficiency, capacity and convenience.