The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) Receives $159.62 Average Target Price from Analysts

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

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CLX. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and issued a $150.00 price target on shares of Clorox in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Clorox from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on Clorox from $171.00 to $169.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Clorox from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Clorox from $145.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th.

Clorox Stock Performance

Shares of CLX opened at $145.46 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $153.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $159.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.52. The company has a market capitalization of $17.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.45. Clorox has a 52-week low of $127.60 and a 52-week high of $171.37.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.16. Clorox had a return on equity of 316.87% and a net margin of 6.38%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.16 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Clorox will post 7.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be given a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 23rd. Clorox’s payout ratio is 133.33%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Clorox by 7.3% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 49,141 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,981,000 after acquiring an additional 3,364 shares in the last quarter. Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC raised its position in Clorox by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC now owns 6,213 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,009,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Clorox in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV raised its position in Clorox by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV now owns 4,375 shares of the company’s stock worth $711,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH grew its holdings in Clorox by 584.8% in the fourth quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 8,895 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,445,000 after purchasing an additional 7,596 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.