The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) Shares Sold by Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc.

Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. decreased its holdings in The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,229 shares of the company’s stock after selling 105 shares during the quarter. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Clorox were worth $2,798,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its stake in Clorox by 163.8% in the 4th quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 153 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Clorox in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its stake in Clorox by 300.0% in the 3rd 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. Asset Planning Inc purchased a new position in Clorox in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Clorox in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.53% of the company’s stock.

Clorox Price Performance

Shares of Clorox stock opened at $145.33 on Thursday. 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 Clorox Company has a twelve month low of $127.60 and a twelve month high of $171.37. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $153.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $159.97. The firm has a market cap of $17.90 billion, a PE ratio of 39.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.45.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 last year, the firm posted $2.16 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that The Clorox Company will post 7.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Clorox Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be issued a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 23rd. Clorox’s payout ratio is 133.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on CLX shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Clorox from $171.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of Clorox in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. StockNews.com lowered Clorox from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, January 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Clorox from $157.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, 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. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Clorox has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price 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.