Essex Financial Services Inc. Decreases Stock Position in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

Essex Financial Services Inc. lessened its holdings in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) by 6.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 7,283 shares of the company’s stock after selling 538 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Whirlpool were worth $834,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. purchased a new stake in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 323.1% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the period. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Whirlpool by 216.0% in the 4th quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 316 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in Whirlpool by 56.4% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 319 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Whirlpool Trading Down 1.2 %

Whirlpool stock opened at $98.34 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The firm has a market cap of $5.42 billion, a PE ratio of -16.78 and a beta of 1.43. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $117.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $108.24. Whirlpool Co. has a 12 month low of $84.18 and a 12 month high of $135.49.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.31. Whirlpool had a negative net margin of 1.95% and a positive return on equity of 21.89%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.85 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.51 earnings per share for the current year.

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.