Core Viewpoint - Billionaire investor David Tepper is making a contrarian investment in Whirlpool, a household appliance company, after selling off shares of Intel, which has seen significant gains this year [1][2]. Company Overview - Whirlpool, based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, manufactures laundry and kitchen appliances under various brand names, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Maytag, with a market capitalization of $3.83 billion [3]. Stock Performance - Whirlpool's stock has declined by 40% this year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which has gained 12.51% [4]. - The stock is currently down 73% from its all-time high, raising questions about its investment potential [2]. Valuation Metrics - Whirlpool's forward price-earnings (P/E) ratio is 11x, which is less than half of the forward P/E of the S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector, indicating it may be undervalued [5]. - The price-sales (P/S) ratio stands at 0.25x, suggesting that the stock is priced attractively, as a P/S less than 1x is considered a bargain [5]. Dividend Information - Whirlpool pays a dividend of $3.60 per share, yielding 5.3%, although this represents a nearly 50% cut from the previous $7 per share due to weak performance and lower profit forecasts [6]. Earnings Performance - In Q3, Whirlpool reported revenue of $4.03 billion, a 1% increase from the previous year, and earnings of $73 million, down from $109 million a year ago [7]. - The earnings per share (EPS) of $2.09 was a 39% decline year-over-year but exceeded analysts' expectations of $1.41 per share [7].

Core Viewpoint - Financial Sense Advisors has significantly reduced its stake in Whirlpool, indicating a cautious approach towards the consumer durables sector amid mixed fundamentals and a depressed share price [2][3][9]. Company Overview - Whirlpool Corporation is a leading global manufacturer of home appliances, with a diverse brand portfolio including Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir [6]. - The company operates across North America, EMEA, Latin America, and Asia, leveraging an extensive distribution network [6]. Financial Performance - For the trailing twelve months (TTM), Whirlpool reported revenue of $15.6 billion and a net income of -$182 million [5]. - The company has a dividend yield of 5% and its share price as of Wednesday was $68.99, reflecting a 37% decline over the past year [4][5]. - In the third quarter, Whirlpool experienced a year-over-year revenue growth of 1%, but GAAP earnings per share fell by 36% to $1.29, with segment profitability weakening across all regions [10]. Recent Developments - Financial Sense Advisors sold 62,238 shares of Whirlpool in the third quarter, reducing its position from 96,453 shares to 34,215 shares, resulting in a decrease in value of approximately $7.1 million [2][3][7]. - Following the sale, Whirlpool now represents 0.5% of Financial Sense's $586.7 million in reportable assets [3]. Market Context - Whirlpool's stock is down more than 70% from its 2021 highs, suggesting ongoing challenges in the market [9]. - The company is navigating issues such as tariffs, foreign competition's inventory pre-loading, and volatile demand, which are critical for its recovery [10].

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to block the import and sale of microwaves produced by competitors such as Samsung and LG, claiming these products infringe on its patented technology [1] Group 1: Company Actions - Whirlpool is seeking to protect its market by alleging that its competitors have copied its patented technology related to low-profile microwave hood combination products (LP-MHC) [1] - The company asserts that it was the sole supplier of LP-MHC products in the U.S. before the alleged infringement began [1] Group 2: Competitors - The complaint specifically targets South Korean competitors Samsung and LG for infringing on five of Whirlpool's patents [1] - Whirlpool emphasizes its role in creating the LP-MHC product category, highlighting its innovation in this market segment [1]

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool has requested a U.S. trade agency to prohibit the import and sale of microwaves from South Korean and Chinese manufacturers, claiming that these companies have infringed on its patented technology [1] Group 1: Company Actions - Whirlpool is taking legal action to protect its intellectual property by seeking a ban on imports from competitors [1] - The company alleges that rival manufacturers have copied its patented technology for an extended period [1] Group 2: Industry Implications - This move by Whirlpool highlights the ongoing competition and patent disputes within the microwave manufacturing industry [1] - The request for a trade agency intervention indicates a potential escalation in trade tensions between U.S. companies and foreign manufacturers [1]

Core Insights - The article provides a comprehensive market analysis of Whirlpool Corporation, focusing on its financial performance and market position [1] Financial Performance - Whirlpool Corporation reported a revenue of $19.4 billion for the last fiscal year, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 3% [1] - The company's net income for the same period was $1.2 billion, down from $1.4 billion the previous year, indicating a decline of approximately 14% [1] - The gross margin for Whirlpool was reported at 18%, which is a slight decrease from 19% in the prior year [1] Market Position - Whirlpool holds a significant market share in the home appliance sector, with a competitive edge in North America, where it commands approximately 25% of the market [1] - The company is facing increasing competition from both domestic and international brands, which is impacting its pricing strategy and market share [1] - Recent trends indicate a shift towards energy-efficient and smart appliances, which Whirlpool is adapting to by investing in new technologies [1] Strategic Initiatives - Whirlpool has announced plans to invest $500 million in research and development over the next three years to enhance its product offerings [1] - The company is also focusing on expanding its presence in emerging markets, aiming to increase its market penetration in Asia and Latin America [1] - Sustainability initiatives are a key focus, with Whirlpool committing to reducing its carbon footprint by 25% by 2025 [1]

Group 1: David Tepper's Investment Moves - David Tepper, a prominent hedge fund manager, has trimmed several AI and technology-related stocks while increasing his stake in consumer discretionary stocks, particularly Whirlpool [2][3][5] - Tepper completely sold out of Intel and Oracle, both of which saw significant stock price increases in Q3, with Intel rising about 50% and Oracle by approximately 40% [4][5] Group 2: Whirlpool's Stock Performance - Whirlpool has experienced a significant decline in stock price, down 75% from its 2021 highs and 40% year-to-date, which may present a value opportunity for investors [6][7] - The company's operating income has decreased from approximately $2.5 billion during the pandemic housing boom to just over $800 million currently, reflecting the decline in stock price [9] Group 3: Market Conditions Impacting Whirlpool - The decline in Whirlpool's sales is attributed to a post-pandemic housing bust, with homeowners reluctant to move and prospective buyers priced out of the market, leading to a slowdown in housing sales [8] - Tariffs imposed this year have negatively impacted Whirlpool, as foreign competitors have increased their sales to U.S. retailers, who have pre-purchased foreign items to avoid tariffs, thus reducing orders for Whirlpool's domestically produced goods [11][12] Group 4: Future Outlook for Whirlpool - Tepper's investment in Whirlpool suggests a belief in a potential recovery, as the CEO indicated that the full impact of tariffs would only take effect recently, which may lead to increased purchasing of Whirlpool products [13][14] - A housing recovery could serve as a catalyst for improved sales and earnings for Whirlpool, contingent on factors such as moderating long-term interest rates and homeowners beginning to sell their properties [14]

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool's shares have significantly underperformed over the past year, with a loss of approximately 39% in value, but recent 13F filings indicating purchases by investor David Tepper have led to a 6% increase in share price on Friday [1]. Company Performance - Whirlpool's stock has decreased by about 39% over the last year [1]. - The recent buying activity from David Tepper has positively impacted the stock, resulting in a 6% rise in share price [1]. Investor Sentiment - The buying from a notable investor like David Tepper suggests a potential shift in sentiment towards Whirlpool, which may attract further interest from other investors [1].

Core Insights - Appaloosa LP, led by David Tepper, reported a total market value of $7.38 billion for its U.S. stock holdings as of September 30, 2025, reflecting a 14% increase from the previous quarter's $6.45 billion [1][2] - The firm added 10 new stocks, increased holdings in 9 stocks, reduced holdings in 24 stocks, and completely sold out of 3 stocks, with the top 10 holdings accounting for 57.59% of the total market value [1][2] Holdings Summary - Alibaba (BABA.US) is the largest holding with 6.45 million shares valued at approximately $1.15 billion, representing 15.61% of the portfolio, down 8.73% from the previous quarter [2][3] - Amazon (AMZN.US) ranks second with 2.5 million shares valued at about $550 million, making up 7.43% of the portfolio, a decrease of 7.41% in share count [2][3] - Whirlpool (WHR.US) is the third largest holding with 5.5 million shares valued at around $430 million, a significant increase of 1966.95% in share count [3][5] - Nvidia (NVDA.US) is fourth with 1.9 million shares valued at approximately $354 million, an increase of 8.57% in share count [3][5] - Google (GOOG.US) is fifth with about 1.39 million shares valued at around $337 million, down 7.50% in share count [3][5] Significant Transactions - Appaloosa significantly increased its holdings in the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB.US), Qualcomm (QCOM.US), and Baidu (BIDU.US) [5] - The firm completely sold out of Intel (INTC.US), Oracle (ORCL.US), and Beike (BEKE.US) [5] - The top five purchases by percentage change in the portfolio included Whirlpool, AMD, KWEB, Qualcomm, and Fiserv (FISV.US) [6][7] - The top five sales by largest value included UnitedHealth (UNH.US), Intel, Vistra Energy (VST.US), Amazon, and Meta (META.US) [6][7]

Core Insights - Appaloosa LP, led by David Tepper, reported a total market value of $7.38 billion for its U.S. stock holdings as of September 30, 2025, reflecting a 14% increase from the previous quarter's $6.45 billion [1][2] Holdings Summary - Appaloosa added 10 new stocks, increased holdings in 9 stocks, reduced holdings in 24 stocks, and completely sold out of 3 stocks [1][2] - The top 10 holdings accounted for 57.59% of the total market value [2] Top Holdings - Alibaba (BABA.US) is the largest holding with 6.45 million shares valued at approximately $1.15 billion, representing 15.61% of the portfolio, down 8.73% from the previous quarter [3][4] - Amazon (AMZN.US) is the second largest holding with 2.5 million shares valued at about $550 million, accounting for 7.43% of the portfolio, down 7.41% [3][4] - Whirlpool (WHR.US) ranks third with 5.5 million shares valued at approximately $432 million, making up 5.85% of the portfolio, with a significant increase in holdings by 1966.95% [3][4] - Nvidia (NVDA.US) is the fourth largest holding with 1.9 million shares valued at around $354 million, representing 4.80% of the portfolio, up 8.57% [3][4] - Google (GOOG.US) is the fifth largest holding with approximately 1.39 million shares valued at about $337 million, accounting for 4.58% of the portfolio, down 7.50% [3][4] Significant Transactions - Appaloosa significantly increased its stake in the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB.US), Qualcomm (QCOM.US), and Baidu (BIDU.US) [4] - The firm completely sold out of Intel (INTC.US), Oracle (ORCL.US), and Beike (BEKE.US) [5] - The top five purchases by percentage change in the portfolio included Whirlpool, AMD (AMD.US), KWEB, Qualcomm, and Fiserv (FISV.US) [6][7] - The top five sales by largest value included UnitedHealth (UNH.US), Intel, Vistra Energy (VST.US), Amazon, and Meta (META.US) [6][7]

New Positions - Appaloosa Management has taken new stakes in several companies, with Advanced Micro Devices becoming one of the fund's top holdings [2] - The fund has also invested in another airline company for the second consecutive quarter and acquired new stakes in multiple regional banks [2] Exited Positions - In the third quarter, Appaloosa exited its positions in three companies, including a relatively short trade in Intel, which was initiated in the second quarter and sold off in the third quarter [3] Changes to Positions - The fund disclosed changes to existing stock positions, with the largest increases in shares for Advanced Micro Devices, Fiserv Inc, American Airlines Group, and several regional banks [4] - Whirlpool Corp had the largest percentage increase at +1,967%, followed by Goodyear Tire & Rubber at +496% and Qualcomm Inc at +256% [6][7] Decreased Positions - The fund sold off several stocks it had recently added or increased during the second quarter, including a continued reduction in Alibaba, which remains the largest position at 16% [7][10] Top Holdings - The top holdings in the fund include Alibaba at 16%, Amazon.com Inc at 7.4%, and Whirlpool at 5.9% [11]