Whirlpool Corporation (WHR): Today's Featured Consumer Durables Laggard

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) pushed the Consumer Durables industry lower today making it today's featured Consumer Durables laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.3%. By the end of trading, Whirlpool Corporation fell $1.43 (-1.3%) to $106.97 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.4 million shares of Whirlpool Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.1 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $106.84-$109.76 after having opened the day at $108.69 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $108.40. Other companies within the Consumer Durables industry that declined today were: iRobot Corporation (IRBT), down 13.4%, Furniture Brands International (FBN), down 4.6%, Sony Corporation (SNE), down 4.4%, and Flexsteel Industries (FLXS), down 4.3%.

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Whirlpool Corporation engages in the manufacture and marketing of home appliances worldwide. Its principal products include laundry appliances, refrigerators and freezers, cooking appliances, dishwashers, mixers, and other portable household appliances. Whirlpool Corporation has a market cap of $8.63 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.7, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are three analysts that rate Whirlpool Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and one rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Whirlpool Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, attractive valuation levels, good cash flow from operations, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins.

• You can view the full Whirlpool Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Manchester United PLC Class A (MANU), up 4.9%, Nautilus Group (NLS), up 4.1%, Black Diamond (BDE), up 4.1%, and Callaway Golf Company (ELY), up 3.7%, were all gainers within the consumer durables industry with Hasbro (HAS) being today's featured consumer durables industry leader.

• Use our consumer durables section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the consumer durables industry could consider Consumer Discretionary Sel Sec SPDR (XLY) while those bearish on the consumer durables industry could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods (SZK).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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For more information on Whirlpool Corporation click any of the following:

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