Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Takes $318,000 Position in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund acquired a new stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 2,780 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $318,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the 4th quarter valued at $482,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 8,306 shares of the company’s stock valued at $900,000 after acquiring an additional 331 shares in the last quarter. Americana Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 9,482 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,085,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 17.3% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 664 shares of the company’s stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantum Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Quantum Private Wealth LLC now owns 8,955 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,025,000 after acquiring an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

Whirlpool Price Performance

WHR opened at $106.02 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The company has a market capitalization of $5.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.09 and a beta of 1.43. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $115.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $108.32. Whirlpool Co. has a 1 year low of $84.18 and a 1 year high of $135.49.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 in the prior year, the business posted $3.85 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.60%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Whirlpool’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -119.45%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WHR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $103.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. StockNews.com raised shares of Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $76.00 to $74.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $112.80.

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.