Clorox average target set at $122.88 as Goldman cuts to $94
Nineteen analysts rate Clorox at an average “Reduce” with four sell, fourteen hold and one buy recommendation, setting a mean 12-month price target of $122.88. Goldman Sachs cut its target to $94 with a sell rating, while director Pierre Breber boosted his stake by 44% via a 4,000-share purchase at $104.13.
1. Analyst Consensus and Rating Distribution
Nineteen brokerages currently cover Clorox, assigning an average recommendation of “Reduce.” Four analysts rate the stock as a sell, fourteen as a hold and one as a buy. Over the past year, these firms have provided detailed guidance, reflecting mixed sentiment: while a sell consensus suggests caution on near-term upside, the predominance of hold ratings underscores expectations of limited volatility and stable cash flows in the consumer staples sector.
2. Target Revisions by Major Firms
Several leading research teams have lowered their price objectives and maintained conservative ratings. Goldman Sachs cut its target from 110 to 94 and upheld a sell rating. Citigroup trimmed its objective from 120 to 109, keeping a neutral stance. Barclays reduced its target from 112 to 108 with an underweight view, Deutsche Bank shifted from 128 to 121 on hold, and Wells Fargo moved from 117 to 108 with an equal-weight rating. These adjustments reflect concerns over margin pressure, cost inflation and the ongoing ERP implementation.
3. Insider and Institutional Positioning
Director Pierre R. Breber acquired 4,000 shares at an average cost of 104.13 per share, boosting his holdings by 44.4% to 13,000 shares valued at roughly 1.35 million. Insider ownership stands at 0.63%. On the institutional side, hedge funds and other large investors hold 78.53% of the company. Key moves in the first quarter include a 4.0% stake increase by Mirae Asset Global ETFs to 13,380 shares, Woodline Partners’ 253.7% lift to 10,407 shares, Focus Partners Wealth’s 34.4% rise to 14,936 shares, Belpointe Asset Management’s 6.9% gain to 3,181 shares, and Geneos Wealth Management’s 70.2% jump to 2,652 shares.
4. Financial Results, Guidance and Dividend Profile
In the latest quarter, Clorox delivered EPS of 0.85, beating consensus by 0.07, on revenue of 1.43 billion versus an estimated 1.41 billion. Net margin was 11.68% and return on equity reached 358.4%, despite year-over-year revenue down 18.9%. Fiscal 2026 EPS guidance is set at 5.95 to 6.30, compared with a consensus outlook of 7.15, reflecting continued ERP transition headwinds. The board declared a quarterly dividend of 1.24 per share, payable February 13, representing an annualized 4.7% yield and a payout ratio of 77.9%.