Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) is featured in Mad Money’s latest recap as Jim Cramer shared his buy, sell, or hold verdict. When a caller mentioned that they bought the stock last year as it was down, Cramer said: I gotta tell you, you know… this one just mystifies me. Down 25%. The president’s done everything he can to try to make it so that they’re not, they lose by imports. I don’t know what to say other than the fact that I wish I could recommend it, but I just feel like, at every single point, it g ...

What happened According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated Feb. 17, 2026, Appaloosa sold 1,590,000 shares of Whirlpool during the fourth quarter. The estimated transaction value was $117.38 million, calculated using the quarter’s average share price. The fund’s position value declined by $150.23 million over the quarter, reflecting both the share sale and market price changes. What else to know Appaloosa’s post-trade stake in Whirlpool represents 4.07% of its reportable AUM, dow ...

Core Viewpoint - RWWM increased its stake in Whirlpool during the fourth quarter despite the company's challenges related to softer housing activity and restrained consumer spending [1] Group 1: Transaction Details - RWWM, Inc. purchased 275,389 additional shares of Whirlpool Corporation, raising its total position to 830,769 shares, with an estimated transaction value of $20.33 million [2] - The value of RWWM's stake in Whirlpool increased by $16.28 million at quarter-end, influenced by new purchases and changes in Whirlpool's share price [2] Group 2: Company Performance - As of February 12, 2026, Whirlpool shares were priced at $90.41, reflecting a 2.3% decline over the prior year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 15.2 percentage points [3] - Whirlpool's revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) is $15.53 billion, with a net income of $318 million and a dividend yield of 5.35% [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Whirlpool offers a wide range of home appliances, including refrigerators, laundry machines, and cooking appliances, under brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid [5][6] - The company serves diverse markets globally, generating revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of major household appliances [5] Group 4: Market Dynamics - Whirlpool's performance is closely linked to housing activity, particularly in North America, where home sales and builder orders significantly impact its business [8] - The company faces challenges due to higher mortgage rates slowing home sales and new construction, which reduces demand for major appliances [7][9] Group 5: Future Outlook - The outlook for Whirlpool will depend on the stabilization of housing turnover and the easing of promotional pressure and discounts [10] - While replacement demand provides some support, a significant recovery in earnings will likely require clear improvements in sales trends [10]

Core Insights - GE Appliances has been recognized as the 1 Most Reliable Appliance Brand in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Appliance Reliability & Service Study, highlighting its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction [1] Company Performance - GE Appliances received the highest number of awards in the J.D. Power study, which evaluated over 12,000 appliance reliability responses and 1,000 service responses, indicating fewer problems and better service scores compared to competitors [1] - The brand ranked No. 1 in reliability across multiple kitchen and laundry appliance categories, including side-by-side refrigerators, French door refrigerators, top freezer refrigerators, cooking appliances, clothes dryers, front-load washers, and top-load washers [1] Customer Satisfaction - GE Appliances was also recognized for Outstanding Customer Satisfaction with Dishwasher Reliability, further emphasizing its strong performance in customer service [1] Manufacturing and Investment - GE Appliances has made a significant investment of over $3.5 billion since 2016 in U.S. manufacturing, supporting nearly 98,000 additional American jobs [1] - The company announced the launch of its first-ever in-house water filter manufacturing operation at its Louisville headquarters, marking a major milestone in its commitment to U.S. manufacturing [1] Community Engagement - GE Appliances is expanding its partnership with Dare to Care Food Bank by donating cold storage units to enhance the distribution of fresh food, demonstrating its commitment to community support [2]

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 Insights - The company reported continued organic sales growth in Q3 2025, primarily driven by North America, with slight increases in Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa [2][3] - Operating income improved significantly, particularly in North America, despite a challenging pricing environment and currency headwinds [4][8] - The company revised its full-year capital expenditure outlook down to approximately SEK 3.5-4 billion from a previous estimate of SEK 4-5 billion [6] Sales Performance - Net sales for the quarter amounted to SEK 32,318 million, a decrease from SEK 33,286 million, with organic sales growth recorded at 4.6%, down from 6.2% [8][14] - Strong growth in North America was a key driver of organic sales, while Latin America showed flat organic sales due to previous strong growth in 2024 [2][3] Operating Income and Cash Flow - Operating income improved to SEK 890 million, resulting in an operating margin of 2.8%, up from 1.0% [8] - Operating cash flow after investments was SEK 624 million, lower than the previous year's SEK 1,053 million, impacted by a larger seasonal build-up of receivables and high inventory levels [5][8] Market Conditions - Competitive pressure and promotional activities remained high across all regions, with varying consumer demand trends [3] - In North America, demand remained resilient despite industry market price adjustments not reflecting U.S. tariff structures [3] Strategic Initiatives - Continued investments in marketing and innovation are deemed essential for offering consumer-relevant products, exemplified by the launch of a new range of dishwashers [7] - Organizational changes are being implemented to enhance customer focus in the Asia-Pacific region [9]

Core Viewpoint - LG Electronics India's IPO of Rs 11,607 crore is not merely a fundraising effort but a strategic move to enhance its market position and prepare for future growth in an underpenetrated market [1][3]. Company Overview - The IPO, priced between Rs 1,080 and Rs 1,140 per share, could value the company at approximately Rs 77,400 crore, making it one of India's most valuable consumer durables firms [4]. - The offering is an offer-for-sale by the South Korean parent company, reducing its stake by 15 percent [5]. - LG ranks as the second-largest appliance and electronics company in India, following Samsung, and is investing in expansion with a $600 million (around Rs 5,000 crore) plant in Andhra Pradesh [6]. Financial Position - The company is described as cash-rich, debt-free, and generating free cash flow year-on-year, with plans to utilize its own accruals for capacity expansion [7]. - For FY25, LG India reported a net profit of Rs 2,203 crore on a revenue of Rs 24,631 crore [9]. Market Dynamics - Recent GST rate cuts on televisions, air conditioners, and dishwashers have improved affordability and driven premiumization in the market [8]. - The sector is projected to grow at an annual rate of 12 percent over the next five years, supported by rising incomes, urbanization, and deeper appliance penetration [10]. Growth Prospects - The company expects continued momentum through the Diwali and wedding seasons, with significant growth potential due to low penetration across various product categories [9].

Core Insights - Costco is expanding its product offerings beyond traditional supermarket staples, increasingly focusing on "big and bulky" items such as furniture and saunas, which has contributed to its sales growth [2][3][12] E-commerce Growth - E-commerce sales reached nearly $20 billion in the most recent fiscal year, marking an increase of over 15%, and now account for more than 7% of Costco's annual net sales [6] - The majority of big and bulky sales are conducted online, indicating significant growth potential in this segment [5][8] Strategic Shift - Costco's shift towards larger, higher-margin items is a strategic response to market conditions, aiming to shield itself from volatility in lower-margin categories [14] - The company is targeting a more affluent customer base, appealing to consumers who appreciate value without necessarily needing to save money [15] Market Positioning - The introduction of larger items in stores is seen as an opportunity to attract new customers who may not have previously considered Costco for home furnishings or high-end products [9][12] - Costco's evolving brand perception is supported by a high percentage of visitor loyalty and an adaptable merchandising model [12] Seasonal Strategy - The upcoming holiday season will see Costco stocking categories that have not been traditionally offered, such as backyard sheds and saunas, reflecting the success of the big and bulky item trend [18][19] Competitive Landscape - Costco's expansion into larger items is prompting competition among major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, as they also seek to capture the big and bulky market [17]

Group 1 - The GST Council approved a significant restructuring of the GST framework, eliminating the 12% and 28% slabs and introducing a special 40% rate for 'sin' goods like tobacco and luxury items [4][7] - GST rates on essential items such as packaged food, shampoo, toothpaste, and shaving cream have been reduced to 5%, while rates for small cars, dishwashers, air conditioners, and televisions have decreased from 28% to 18% [4][7] - Economists anticipate that these changes, effective from the start of the festive season, will enhance domestic consumption amid uncertain global demand [5][7] Group 2 - The new GST rates are expected to benefit 11 of the top 30 consumption items, which account for about one-third of an average consumer's monthly spending [5][7] - The impact of the GST changes will be monitored through price movements, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and GST collections [5][8] - The average GST collection in the first five months of FY26 was ₹2.01 lakh crore, an increase from ₹1.83 lakh crore in the same period last year [6][8]