Clorox (NYSE:CLX) Given New $158.00 Price Target at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) had its price objective reduced by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $159.00 to $158.00 in a report released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI lowered their target price on shares of Clorox from $145.00 to $142.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Clorox from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of Clorox from $155.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. DA Davidson restated a neutral rating and issued a $162.00 target price on shares of Clorox in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Clorox in a report on Friday, March 1st. They issued a sell rating and a $140.00 target price for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $146.43.

Clorox Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:CLX opened at $138.23 on Wednesday. Clorox has a 52 week low of $114.68 and a 52 week high of $176.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 71.62, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $148.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $143.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.73.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.38. The business had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.87 billion. Clorox had a net margin of 3.33% and a return on equity of 302.49%. The business’s revenue was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.51 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Clorox will post 5.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 24th will be issued a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 23rd. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.47%. Clorox’s dividend payout ratio is currently 248.71%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Clorox

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Fortitude Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Clorox in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Clorox by 308.5% in the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 192 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, First United Bank & Trust purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 78.53% of the company’s stock.

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.