Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Has $1.67 Million Stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) by 22.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,576 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,686 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Whirlpool were worth $1,669,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WHR. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,719,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Whirlpool by 14.7% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,019,569 shares of the company’s stock worth $216,094,000 after purchasing an additional 258,871 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Whirlpool by 54.0% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 636,937 shares of the company’s stock worth $72,917,000 after purchasing an additional 223,232 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC lifted its holdings in Whirlpool by 648.2% during the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 112,141 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,999,000 after purchasing an additional 97,152 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ibex Wealth Advisors acquired a new stake in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,275,000. 90.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Whirlpool Price Performance

Whirlpool stock opened at $94.43 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $108.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $108.43. Whirlpool Co. has a one year low of $84.18 and a one year high of $135.49. 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 firm has a market cap of $5.23 billion, a PE ratio of -16.11 and a beta of 1.44.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last posted 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 positive return on equity of 21.89% and a negative net margin of 1.95%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.85 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Whirlpool Co. will post 9.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Whirlpool Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.41%. Whirlpool’s payout ratio is -119.45%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WHR has been the subject of several research reports. StockNews.com raised Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $106.00.

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.