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Whirlpool Faces Consumer Confidence Slump
29 Jan
Summary
- Consumer confidence hit a 12-year low, impacting Whirlpool.
- Whirlpool projects a 5% organic net sales increase in 2026.
- Fourth-quarter earnings missed analyst expectations due to discounting.
Appliance manufacturer Whirlpool is navigating a period of decreased consumer confidence, which recently reached a 12-year low. CEO Marc Bitzer suggested this dip might be temporary, citing past instances where such declines were short-lived.
Looking ahead, Whirlpool anticipates a rebound, forecasting a 5% increase in organic net sales by 2026, bolstered by new product introductions from the previous year. The company also projected full-year adjusted earnings per share of $7, slightly below Wall Street's $7.17 forecast.
In the most recent financial quarter, Whirlpool's adjusted earnings were reported at $1.10 per share, significantly under the $1.52 expected by analysts. Management attributed this shortfall to intensified discounting during the critical Black Friday sales period, which impacted profitability. Consequently, the company's stock experienced a decline of over 3% in after-hours trading.
