Versor Investments LP Buys New Position in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX)

Versor Investments LP purchased a new stake in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 5,360 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $731,000.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Clorox by 308.5% in the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 192 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in Clorox in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Clorox in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, First United Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Clorox in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 78.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Clorox Trading Up 1.8 %

Shares of Clorox stock opened at $161.12 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $141.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $142.52. The company has a market cap of $20.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 83.48, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.39. The Clorox Company has a 12-month low of $114.68 and a 12-month high of $162.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.04.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.97 billion. Clorox had a net margin of 3.95% and a return on equity of 281.12%. On average, equities analysts expect that The Clorox Company will post 6.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 14th were issued a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 13th. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.03%. This is a boost from Clorox’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. Clorox’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 252.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on CLX shares. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Clorox in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $122.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Clorox from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Clorox from $150.00 to $148.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Clorox from $144.00 to $151.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, DA Davidson decreased their price target on shares of Clorox from $162.00 to $153.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $143.19.

Clorox Company Profile

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.