The Clorox Company Unveils Home Care Redefined: A Look at How Americans Are Reimagining Time, Wellness, and Convenience at Home [Accessibility Statement] Skip Navigation- Convenience is being reimagined: consumers now value ease and enjoyment over sheer speed in their everyday routines- Awareness of the home's influence on family health is rising, and younger generations are taking a more proactive, wellnessfocused approach to home care- Report underscores the evolution of home care from a string of chores ...

Core Insights - The Clorox Company, based in Oakland, California, has a market capitalization of $14.5 billion and is known for its well-established brands such as Clorox, Pine-Sol, Glad, Burt's Bees, and Hidden Valley [1] Performance Overview - Over the past 52 weeks, Clorox shares have declined by 18.1%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which increased by 15.6%. However, year-to-date (YTD), Clorox stock is up 19.5%, outperforming the S&P 500's 1.7% return [2] - Clorox has also underperformed the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP), which rose by 9.1% over the past 52 weeks, but has outpaced XLP's 12.2% YTD increase [3] Earnings Report - On February 3, Clorox shares rose by 1.5% following a mixed Q2 earnings release. The company's revenue slightly decreased year-over-year to $1.7 billion but exceeded Wall Street expectations by 2.5%. Adjusted EPS fell by 10.3% from the previous year to $1.39, missing analyst expectations of $1.43 [4] Future Earnings Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in June, analysts project Clorox's EPS to decline by 23.3% year-over-year to $5.92. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, with two out of the last four quarters exceeding consensus estimates and two missing [5] Analyst Ratings - Among 18 analysts covering Clorox, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of one "Strong Buy," 13 "Hold," and four "Strong Sell" ratings [5] - Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained a "Hold" rating on Clorox with a price target of $136, indicating a potential upside of 12% from current levels. The company is currently trading above its mean price target of $116.27, while the highest price target of $151 suggests a potential upside of 24.3% [7]

Core Insights - Clorox Company (CLX) is a prominent player in the consumer staples sector, supported by a portfolio of trusted household brands that cater to everyday consumer needs, demonstrating resilience despite a challenging operating environment marked by cautious consumer spending [1][2] Group 1: Growth Potential - Clorox benefits from a strong brand portfolio, including Clorox, Glad, Kingsford, and Burt's Bees, which have high household penetration and consumer trust, allowing the company to maintain pricing resilience even as consumers become more value-conscious [3] - The successful implementation of a new ERP system is expected to enhance operational efficiency, improve inventory visibility, and support margin recovery over time, despite initial disruptions [4] - Innovation is central to Clorox's growth strategy, with the company focusing on new product introductions and expanding existing platforms to address changing consumer behaviors and regain market share [5] - Clorox's disciplined financial management, including strong cash flow generation and prudent capital allocation, supports its growth outlook and enhances shareholder confidence [6] Group 2: Challenges - Clorox faces near-term sales pressure due to muted category growth and the aftereffects of its ERP system implementation, which led to temporary out-of-stocks and market share losses [7] - The company operates in a competitive environment, particularly in value-sensitive categories, where increased promotional activity from competitors has intensified price competition, potentially limiting short-term share gains [8] - Evolving consumer behavior, with a focus on value amid economic uncertainty, has resulted in negative price/mix dynamics, which may challenge Clorox's ability to drive margin expansion [10] Group 3: Market Performance - Clorox shares have declined by 30.7% over the past year, underperforming the Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry's decline of 10.7% and the broader Consumer Staples sector's growth of 4.8% [11] - The current forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for Clorox is 17.51X, which is a modest discount compared to the industry average of 18.36X [14]

Core Viewpoint - The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) is highlighted as a potential investment opportunity amidst a challenging market for AI stocks, emphasizing the importance of diversification in investment portfolios [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Clorox produces cleaning, household, and personal care products, as well as food and water-filtration items [2]. - The company has notable brands including Burt's Bees, Hidden Valley Ranch, Brita, Kingsford Charcoal, and Clorox itself [2]. Group 2: Market Performance - Clorox is described as "one of the worst stocks in the S&P 500 this year," indicating significant underperformance [2]. - The stock currently offers a yield of 4.72%, which may attract income-focused investors [2]. Group 3: Investment Sentiment - There is a concern that the current market may be missing a potential bottom for consumer packaged goods stocks, including Clorox, which have been affected by inflation and lack of growth [2]. - Despite the challenges, there is recognition of Clorox's potential as an investment, although some analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may present greater upside potential with less downside risk [2].

Group 1 - The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) is currently viewed as one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 for the year, raising concerns about potentially missing a generational bottom in consumer packaged goods stocks [1] - Clorox has a diverse portfolio of strong brands, including Burt's Bees, Hidden Valley Ranch, Brita, Kingsford Charcoal, and Clorox itself, which contributes to its appeal despite current performance issues [1] - The company offers a dividend yield of 4.72%, which may attract income-focused investors [1] Group 2 - Clorox produces a range of products including cleaning, household, personal care, food, and water-filtration items, indicating a broad market presence [2] - There is a belief that certain AI stocks may present greater upside potential and carry less downside risk compared to Clorox, suggesting a competitive investment landscape [2]

Company Overview - The Clorox Company (CLX) has a market cap of $14.9 billion and is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products, operating through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International [1] - Clorox's product offerings include trusted brands such as Clorox, Pine-Sol, Glad, Kingsford, Hidden Valley, Brita, and Burt's Bees, sold across various channels including mass retailers, grocery stores, and e-commerce platforms [2] Stock Performance - CLX shares have decreased by 29.3% from their 52-week high of $171.37, while the stock has seen a marginal rise over the past three months, outperforming the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP), which declined by 3.3% [3] - Year-to-date, CLX stock is down 25.4%, which is a more significant decline compared to XLP's slight drop, and over the past 52 weeks, CLX shares have decreased by 25.9%, while XLP dipped by 5.7% [4] Financial Performance - Clorox reported a stronger-than-expected Q4 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.87 and net sales of $1.99 billion; however, shares fell nearly 2% the following day due to a weak FY2026 outlook [5] - The company anticipates a decline in net sales by 6% to 10% and organic sales by 5% to 9%, primarily due to a reversal of incremental ERP shipments that had previously boosted fiscal 2025 results [5] - EPS is projected to fall sharply to between $5.60 and $5.95, with adjusted EPS expected to be between $5.95 and $6.30, reflecting an 18% to 23% decline [5] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts are cautious about Clorox's prospects, with a consensus rating of "Hold" from 19 analysts, and a mean price target of $132.44, indicating a premium of 9.6% to current levels [6]

Core Insights - The Clorox Company reported strong margin expansion and adjusted EPS growth for FY25 despite a challenging environment in the second half of the fiscal year [1][3] - The company faced rapidly shifting consumer behaviors and broader market volatility, which are expected to continue [3] Fiscal Year 2025 Summary - Net sales increased by 4%, driven by an 8-point increase in volume, partially offset by a 4-point unfavorable price mix [6] - Diluted EPS rose by 55% to $2.68, while adjusted EPS increased by 58% to $2.87, benefiting from higher volume and incremental ERP shipments [6][14] - The company achieved a gross margin of 46.5%, remaining flat year-over-year, with incremental ERP shipments contributing approximately 150 basis points [6] Strategic and Operational Highlights - The company executed strong preparations for its ERP launch, including building retailer inventory [7] - Clorox continued to invest in product innovations across major brands, enhancing product offerings and expanding partnerships [7] - The company was recognized as a top workplace by various publications, reflecting its commitment to employee satisfaction [7] Segment Performance - Health and Wellness segment net sales increased by 4% to $2.0 billion, with organic sales up by 8% [6] - Household segment net sales rose by 7%, driven by higher volume, while the Lifestyle segment saw a 3% increase in net sales [8][12] - International sales were impacted by unfavorable foreign exchange rates, but organic sales increased by 1% [12] ERP Transition Impact - The ERP transition resulted in temporary benefits, contributing about 3.5 to 4 points to sales and approximately 85 to 95 cents to earnings per share for FY25 [10] - The company anticipates a decline in sales and earnings for FY26 due to the reversal of the inventory drawdown related to the ERP transition [10][18] Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook - Net sales are expected to decrease by 6% to 10% compared to FY25, with organic sales projected to decline by 5% to 9% [18] - Diluted EPS for FY26 is forecasted to be between $5.60 and $5.95, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 14% to 9% [18][40] - The company plans to continue investing in digital capabilities and productivity enhancements, which will impact adjusted EPS [18][40]

Core Insights - The Clorox Company reported lower-than-expected sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, with net sales decreasing by 8% to $1.67 billion, primarily due to divestitures and a challenging consumer environment [1][5][3] - Despite the sales decline, the company maintained overall market shares and achieved its tenth consecutive quarter of gross margin expansion, increasing gross margin by 240 basis points to 44.6% [1][5][6] - The company expects continued organic sales growth and strong earnings growth for the fiscal year, despite macroeconomic uncertainties impacting shopping behaviors [3][8] Financial Performance - Net sales decreased 8% to $1.67 billion, with organic sales down 2% due to unfavorable price mix and flat organic volume [5][6] - Diluted EPS increased 466% to $1.50 from a loss of $0.41 in the prior year, influenced by the lapping of losses from divestitures and cyberattack insurance recoveries [5][6] - Adjusted EPS decreased 15% to $1.45 from $1.71, primarily due to lower net sales, partially offset by higher gross margin [5][6] Strategic and Operational Highlights - The company maintained market shares despite complex geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions and continued to invest in product innovations [6][3] - Clorox achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status across all global manufacturing plants where infrastructure allows [6] - The company introduced several new products, including Burt's Bees Boosted Tinted Balm and Clorox Scentiva ToiletWand Refills, to meet consumer needs [6] Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook - The company updated its fiscal year 2025 outlook, expecting net sales to be down 1% to flat, with organic sales growth projected at 4% to 5% [9][13] - Diluted EPS is expected to range between $5.73 and $6.13, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 155% to 172% [10][13] - The outlook includes anticipated benefits from incremental shipments related to the company's ERP transition, expected to contribute 2% to 3% to organic sales growth [9][13]