Clorox (NYSE:CLX) Downgraded to “Sell” Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Clorox (NYSE:CLX) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Saturday morning.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on CLX. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $98.00 target price on Clorox in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Clorox from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “sell” rating and issued a $83.00 price objective on shares of Clorox in a report on Friday, May 1st. Barclays reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and issued a $84.00 target price on shares of Clorox in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Clorox from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Clorox currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $102.40.

Clorox Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE CLX opened at $105.85 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $98.08 and its 200 day moving average is $103.31. Clorox has a 52 week low of $84.70 and a 52 week high of $128.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.80. The company has a market cap of $12.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.96, a PEG ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.54.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The company reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.91 billion. Clorox had a net margin of 8.74% and a return on equity of 522.23%. The company’s revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.87 EPS. Clorox has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.700-6.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Clorox will post 5.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Clorox Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 12th will be paid a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 12th. This is an increase from Clorox’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.24. Clorox’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 103.73%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Clorox

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Caitlin John LLC grew its position in Clorox by 1,807.1% during the 4th quarter. Caitlin John LLC now owns 267 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Clorox in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Avalon Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Clorox in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Clorox in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Clorox by 83.8% during the first quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 318 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. 78.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Clorox

The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products designed to help people care for their homes and live healthy, sustainable lives. Its portfolio spans cleaning and household products, food and beverages, water filtration systems and cat litter, serving both retail and institutional customers. The company’s flagship bleach and disinfecting products are well known in the United States and many international markets, where they help prevent the spread of germs in homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.

Clorox’s diverse brand lineup includes liquid bleach and surface cleaners, eco-friendly cleaning tools, food preservation and preparation items, charcoal grills and briquettes, specialty foods and beverages, pet care products and personal care lines.