Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) is slated to release first-quarter 2025 results on April 23, after the closing bell. The household appliance company’s bottom line is expected to have declined year over year.For first-quarter revenues, the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $3.68 billion, indicating an 18.1% decrease from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure. The consensus estimate for quarterly earnings has remained stable in the past seven days at $1.73 per share. The consensus mark for earnings indicat ...

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) will release its first-quarter financial results and presentation materials at 4:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Whirlpool Corporation will hold a conference call to discuss its performance with the investment community at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 24, 2025.To participate in the conference call, dial 1 (888) 440-4038 and Conference ID 2610251. International participants should dial 1 (646) 960-0861 and Confere ...

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool Corporation's shares have declined by 24.3% over the past six months, underperforming the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500, which fell by 4% and 6.6% respectively, while slightly outperforming the industry's 23.3% decline [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock closed at $79.43, near its 52-week low of $75.04 reached on April 9, leading to investor debates on whether Whirlpool is set for a rebound or a prolonged slump [4] - The company's stock performance is closely linked to consumer discretionary spending and the housing market, both of which have been negatively affected by persistent inflation, high interest rates, and increased mortgage costs [3] Group 2: Sales and Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, Whirlpool experienced a 1.4% decline in North America sales, primarily due to a significant reduction in trade inventory levels, while Latin America sales fell by 4% year-over-year, contributing to an 18.7% year-over-year decline in net sales for the quarter [5][6] - Management provided a cautious forecast for 2025, expecting net sales of $15.8 billion, down from $16.6 billion in the previous year, and ongoing EPS of $10.00, down from $12.21 [7] Group 3: Margin and Cost Challenges - Despite forecasting an EBIT margin of 6.8% for 2025, up from 5.3% in 2024, Whirlpool anticipates that increased marketing and technology investments will negatively impact margins by 50 basis points, along with currency fluctuations affecting margins by another 50 basis points [8] - The company's premium valuation is becoming a concern, with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 8.04X, significantly higher than the industry average of 6.89X, raising questions about the sustainability of this valuation amid slowing growth and rising costs [9] Group 4: Strategic Initiatives - Whirlpool is implementing cost-reduction efforts, including organizational simplification and supply chain alignment, to protect margins and boost productivity [11] - The company is positioned for organic growth of 3% in 2025, driven by a significant product refresh, with 30% of the product lineup in MDA North America being updated [12]

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) is considered a buy due to its consistent dividend payments for over 70 years and its current trading at decade lows, with potential for a 15% return if the company manages its debt effectively [1]. Company Analysis - The company has a long history of dividend payments, which is a positive indicator for investors looking for stable income [1]. - Current trading levels are at decade lows, suggesting a potential undervaluation in the market [1]. - Effective debt management is crucial for the company to achieve the projected 15% return [1].

Core Insights - Whirlpool and Altria both offer high-yield dividends exceeding 7%, despite their differing industries [1][2] - Current stock performance for both companies is underwhelming, prompting a comparison to identify potential bargains [2] Company Analysis Whirlpool - Whirlpool is facing market concerns related to a potential trade war and disappointing fourth-quarter earnings, which have led to a significant decline in share price [3][4] - The price-to-sales ratio for Whirlpool is notably low at 0.31, indicating it may be undervalued compared to Altria [3][4] - The challenges faced by Whirlpool are considered more temporary, as it operates in a stable home appliance industry [5][6] Altria - Altria is struggling with a long-term decline in cigarette popularity, which poses a significant challenge for the company [5][6] - Despite attempts to offset declining sales through price increases and a push into alternative products like vaping, growth has been limited [6] - Altria's price-to-sales ratio is over 4.8, which is viewed as unjustified given the stagnation in sales growth [3][6]

Core Insights - Whirlpool Corporation achieved significant recognition at the 2025 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, winning seven awards across four of its brands: JennAir, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, and Maytag, highlighting its commitment to innovation in home appliances [1][2][4] Awards and Recognition - The company secured four spots in the Reviewed Awards, which honor standout products from KBIS, showcasing groundbreaking innovations within its brand portfolio [2] - Two new products received "Best in Show" seals from Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, further emphasizing the brand's impact in home design and cooking [3] Product Innovations - The JennAir® Induction Downdraft Cooktop was awarded "Best of KBIS" from Reviewed, noted for its powerful extraction capabilities that maintain a pleasant kitchen environment [9] - KitchenAid's new Juniper appliance finishes, a vibrant dark green hue, received the "Best of KBIS" award from Apartment Therapy, set to enhance creative expression in kitchens [16] - The Maytag® Pet Pro Front Load Laundry System, designed to tackle pet hair, was recognized as "Best of KBIS" from Reviewed, showcasing the brand's focus on practical solutions for consumers [13] Collaborative Efforts - Whirlpool collaborated with interior designer Noz Nozawa to unveil a reimagined design language with new color and personalization options, reflecting consumer and designer preferences [5] - The JennAir space at KBIS featured a design by Kerrie Kelly, incorporating elements from leading kitchen brands to resonate with the interior design community [6] Event Highlights - The KBIS event is recognized as North America's largest trade show dedicated to kitchen and bath design, bringing together top manufacturers, designers, and industry professionals to celebrate innovations and trends [13]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights three high-yield dividend stocks: Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Whirlpool, emphasizing their potential to provide passive income through dividends, especially during market downturns [1][2]. Group 1: Chevron - Chevron offers a forward dividend yield of 4.5% and has increased its dividend for 38 consecutive years, indicating strong management commitment to shareholders [3][4]. - The company maintains a conservative net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 0.4, showcasing its financial stability despite oil price volatility [5]. - Future free cash flow growth is anticipated due to asset development and acquisitions, positioning Chevron well for continued dividend increases [6]. Group 2: ExxonMobil - ExxonMobil has a dividend yield of 3.8% and has raised its dividend for 42 consecutive years, making it a solid choice for dividend investors [12]. - The company plans to grow annual cash flows by $30 billion based on a $65 per barrel Brent crude oil price, indicating a focus on sustainable financial planning [11]. - Despite lower oil prices affecting margins, ExxonMobil's diversified operations and long-term investment strategy support its dividend sustainability [10][12]. Group 3: Whirlpool - Whirlpool presents a speculative investment opportunity with a high dividend yield of 7.7%, but faces challenges due to a weak housing market and consumer spending [14][15]. - The company has $1.85 billion of its $6.6 billion net debt maturing this year, raising concerns about the sustainability of its dividend [16]. - Management expects to generate $500 million to $600 million in free cash flow in 2025 and plans to sell a stake in Whirlpool India to improve its financial position [17].

Group 1: Impact of Tariffs on Companies - Tariffs can have varied impacts on companies, with some benefiting from rising commodity prices while others face increased costs for raw materials and imports [1] - Whirlpool is expected to be negatively impacted by steel tariffs, which will raise input costs, and it may also incur higher expenses from tariffs on imported parts and goods [2] - Concerns over rising costs led to a significant decline in Whirlpool's stock, which fell by approximately 9% [3] Group 2: Economic Context and Consumer Behavior - Tariffs are likely to increase the prices of affected goods, as evidenced by research from the 2018-2019 trade war showing that prices of U.S. imported goods rose nearly in line with the tariffs imposed [4] - Companies like Whirlpool may struggle to pass on increased costs to consumers, especially given current challenges in the housing market, including interest rates and consumer confidence [4] - There are fears that trade wars and tariff-induced price increases could lead to stagflation, creating a challenging environment for Whirlpool with lagging demand and rising costs [5] Group 3: Whirlpool's Production and Market Position - Whirlpool is somewhat insulated from tariff impacts as approximately 80% of its products sold in the U.S. are manufactured domestically, but it still relies on production in China and Mexico for the remaining products [6] - The reliance on international production places Whirlpool in a difficult position amid evolving tariff landscapes, prompting investors to act quickly rather than wait for clarity [6]

Company Performance - Whirlpool's stock closed at $91.58, showing a +0.96% change from the previous day's closing price, but underperformed compared to the S&P 500's gain of 1.12% [1] - Over the past month, Whirlpool's shares have decreased by 9.64%, which is significantly worse than the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 2.8% and the S&P 500's loss of 4.13% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Analysts predict Whirlpool will report an EPS of $1.73, reflecting a 2.81% decline from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is expected to be $3.66 billion, indicating an 18.46% decrease compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year [2] Annual Forecast - For the entire year, earnings are forecasted at $9.52 per share and revenue at $15.44 billion, representing declines of -22.03% and -7.04% respectively compared to the previous year [3] Analyst Revisions - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Whirlpool are important as they reflect short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analyst optimism about the company's performance [4] Valuation Metrics - Whirlpool's Forward P/E ratio is 9.53, which is in line with the industry average of 9.53, indicating no significant deviation from its peers [7] - The Household Appliances industry, which includes Whirlpool, is currently ranked 228 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the bottom 10% of over 250 industries [7]

Company Participation - Whirlpool Corporation will participate in the Raymond James 46th Annual Institutional Investors Conference on March 3rd at 8:40 a.m. ET [1] - Roxanne Warner, Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Investor Relations, will present for the company [1] Webcast Availability - Investors and the general public can view the webcast of the presentation on the company's Investor Relations website [2] - An archived recording of the event will be available for at least 30 days [2] Company Overview - Whirlpool Corporation is a leading home appliance company with approximately $17 billion in annual sales in 2024, with nearly 90% of sales in the Americas [3] - The company employs 44,000 people and operates 40 manufacturing and technology research centers [3] - Whirlpool's brand portfolio includes Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator [3]