Costello Asset Management INC Sells 15,206 Shares of Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR)

Costello Asset Management INC decreased its stake in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR) by 47.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,523 shares of the company’s stock after selling 15,206 shares during the period. Whirlpool comprises about 1.3% of Costello Asset Management INC’s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Costello Asset Management INC’s holdings in Whirlpool were worth $1,892,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 323.1% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 275 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 56.4% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 319 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 545.5% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 355 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, Friedenthal Financial bought a new position in Whirlpool in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Institutional investors own 90.78% of the company’s stock.

Whirlpool Stock Performance

WHR stock opened at $104.95 on Friday. Whirlpool Co. has a 1-year low of $84.18 and a 1-year high of $135.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $119.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $108.40. The firm has a market cap of $5.79 billion, a PE ratio of -17.91 and a beta of 1.44.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The company reported $4.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.31. Whirlpool had a positive return on equity of 21.61% and a negative net margin of 1.95%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.85 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Whirlpool Co. will post 11.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on WHR shares. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Whirlpool from $101.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Whirlpool from $125.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Whirlpool from $76.00 to $74.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com raised Whirlpool from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Whirlpool from $103.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $112.80.

Whirlpool Company Profile

Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances and related products and services in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The company's principal products include refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, and refrigerator water filters; laundry appliances, and commercial laundry products and related laundry accessories; cooking and other small domestic appliances; and dishwasher appliances and related accessories, as well as mixers.