The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) Receives Average Recommendation of “Reduce” from Brokerages

The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) has received an average rating of “Reduce” from the sixteen brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and twelve have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $146.43.

Several research analysts have recently 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, May 1st. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Clorox from $136.00 to $132.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Citigroup reduced their target price on Clorox from $155.00 to $150.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Clorox from $155.00 to $151.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Clorox in a report on Friday, March 1st. They issued a “sell” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company.

Clorox Stock Performance

Shares of CLX stock opened at $128.88 on Wednesday. Clorox has a 12 month low of $114.68 and a 12 month high of $169.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.73. The company has a market cap of $16.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.78, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $142.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $144.94.

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CLX. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Clorox by 308.5% during the first 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 period. Northwest Financial Advisors purchased a new position in Clorox in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, First United Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Clorox during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.53% of the company’s stock.

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.