Posted on 05/07/2026 7:01:14 AM PDT by BenLurkin
A combination of rising costs, aggressive competition, and an uncooperative economy led to weaker-than-expected earnings, a dividend cut, and reduced financial guidance.
Shares are down in early trading on Thursday.
Wednesday evening, Whirlpool reported a first-quarter per share loss of 56 cents from sales of $3.3 billion. Wall Street was looking for earnings per share of 38 cents from sales of $3.4 billion, according to FactSet.
A year ago, Whirlpool reported earnings per share of $1.70 from sales of $3.6 billion. Lower industry sales, unfavorable “price/mix,” and tariff confusion helped lead to the decline.
In February, the Supreme Court overturned President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs, which impacted industry pricing, Whirlpool said. The company was already facing higher steel and aluminum prices due to the separate Section 232 tariffs.
Section 232 gives the U.S. president the authority to restrict imports deemed a threat to national security.
The company now expects to earn between $3.00 and $3.50 for the full year and free cash flow of $300 million. Prior guidance given in January called for earnings per share of $7 and free cash flow of about $450 million.
The company was looking forward to a housing recovery this year, which has yet to materialize. It also announced a dividend “suspension.” Whirlpool was paying 90 cents per quarter.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
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What a horrible stock to own. It is down over 80% over the past five years and now no dividend.
Our dishwasher broke but we got a hand me down and it’s hardly been used , sorry Whirlpool ,LOL
Go back to making appliances that last more than two years and maybe your stock will go up again...
You really don’t want to get me started on my rants about Whirlpool brands.
Do tell.
My appliance lady at Home Depot wanted American brands for maintenance purposes. Whirlpool was one.
A little off topic however, we avoid whirlpool as much as possible.
When it came time for a new washing machine we went with the Speed Queen brand.
Made in Wisconsin.
You’ll pay a bit more but they have the reputation for lasting 20+ years versus 5 or 6 years you get out of other brands at the big box stores.
we’ve had good luck with whirlpool-made fridges and freezers, but bought a Bosch dishwasher ... i did a self-install and when we turned it on the first time, it was so quiet i thought it was broken or that i had botched the install ...
Compare and contrast to a 1950 matching Frigidaire stove and refrigerator that my parents bought about a year after they were married and gifted us when we got married in 1984.
We sold the house 10 years later and the appliances were still working fine. Only flaw was that the oven door had to be shut tight by pushing a chair against it because my older brother has spring it by using it as a step stool to steal from the cookie jar, circa 1956.
Same for me. I hate whirlpool appliances with a white hot passion. Refrigerator ice maker went out in 16 months. Known defect with the wiring harness, $450 fix. Dishwasher began falling apart almost immediately. Stopped working after 2.5 years.
They’ve lost their way, based on my experience. We bought a new dishwasher a few years ago to replace the Whirlpool we had, and we bought basically the same model, just the current version. Well, the thing doesn’t dry the dishes. It gets all hot inside, but the vent design doesn’t allow the moisture to escape. It’s not like they haven’t been making things that work for 80 years or anything. Sheesh.
My experience with Whirlpool has been good.
I replaced 25 year oldish Kenmore appliances which were made by Whirlpool with Whirlpool appliances from Lowe’s.
My over the range microwave is going on 15 years.
My replacement dishwasher is heading toward ten years and my replacement washer and dryer is going on fifteen all with no service calls.
I’ve also heard the Speed Queen is the best you can buy, and well worth the extra cost. I’ve also heard that large families should consider getting a true commercial model. They’re built like tanks.
How about the impact of folks finally paying attention and realizing that ALL large appliances are made in the same factory to same spec by same CCP manufacturer? There is no BEST brand, they all break in 5 years — by design.
Speed Queen has metal internal parts where other brands are plastic.
That makes a BIG difference in longevity.
My wife absolutely loves the thing.
I have read that Speedqueen is the one washer available in this country that actually supplies enough water to fully cover the clothes. I have to add several buckles of water to our current GE model.
Their new HE machines stink. We have them at our apt project. I take my clothes wo the laundromat where they have nice old machines.
I just bought a Speed Queen washer/dryer combo after doing my due diligence rather than my usual “Meh, it’s on sale” purchase choices.
No comparison on quality between the two mechanically. Yes I paid more, but with a warranty of 10 years it was a buy once / cry once purchase that should last us the remainder of our lives.
Maybe stop making crap appliances?
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