The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) Given Average Recommendation of “Reduce” by Analysts

The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) has earned an average rating of “Reduce” from the fourteen research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, ten have given a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $159.62.

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Clorox from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Clorox from $145.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $150.00 price objective on shares of Clorox in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. DA Davidson cut their target price on Clorox from $171.00 to $169.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Clorox from $157.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CLX. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Clorox by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 49,141 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,981,000 after purchasing an additional 3,364 shares in the last quarter. Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC raised its position in Clorox by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC now owns 6,213 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,009,000 after buying an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Clorox in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV lifted its stake in Clorox by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV now owns 4,375 shares of the company’s stock valued at $711,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH boosted its holdings in shares of Clorox by 584.8% during the 4th quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 8,895 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,445,000 after acquiring an additional 7,596 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.53% of the company’s stock.

Clorox Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CLX opened at $148.54 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $154.01 and its 200 day moving average is $160.17. The stock has a market cap of $18.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.45. Clorox has a 1-year low of $127.60 and a 1-year high of $171.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.52.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.16. Clorox had a net margin of 6.38% and a return on equity of 316.87%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.16 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Clorox will post 7.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be given a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 23rd. Clorox’s dividend payout ratio is presently 133.33%.

About Clorox

The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International. The Health and Wellness segment offers cleaning products, such as laundry additives and home care products primarily under the Clorox, Clorox2, Scentiva, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Tilex, and Formula 409 brands; professional cleaning and disinfecting products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands; professional food service products under the Hidden Valley brand; and vitamins, minerals and supplement products under the RenewLife, Natural Vitality, NeoCell, and Rainbow Light brands in the United States.