KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Makes New Investment in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 41,524 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,744,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Brooklyn Investment Group grew its stake in Clorox by 163.8% during the 4th quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 153 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of Clorox by 300.0% during the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 184 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Clorox during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Asset Planning Inc bought a new stake in Clorox in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Clorox during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. 78.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Clorox Trading Down 1.5 %

NYSE:CLX opened at $141.80 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $152.23 and a 200 day simple moving average of $159.43. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $17.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.45. The Clorox Company has a 1-year low of $127.60 and a 1-year high of $171.37.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last released 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 net margin of 6.38% and a return on equity of 316.87%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.16 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Clorox Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be paid a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 23rd. Clorox’s dividend payout ratio is currently 133.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Clorox from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of Clorox in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Clorox from $145.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Clorox from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Clorox from $157.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $159.62.

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.