Clorox Boosts Dividend for 48th Year, Yield Hits Multi-Decade High
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
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Should l Buy CLX?
Source: Fool
- Dividend Growth Commitment: Clorox successfully raised its dividend for the 48th consecutive year last July, and despite market challenges, it is on track to achieve the milestone of becoming a Dividend King by 2027, demonstrating the company's long-term commitment to shareholders.
- Market Share Pressure: Although private labels like Costco's Kirkland Signature and Walmart's Great Value are gaining traction, Clorox's CEO noted that private label market share remained flat in the quarter, indicating that consumers still prefer high-quality brands, which provides Clorox with competitive opportunities.
- Sales Forecast Downgrade: Clorox now forecasts a 9% decline in organic sales for fiscal 2026, down from the previous guidance of 5% to 9%, reflecting the operational challenges faced amid intense competition and promotional pressures.
- ERP System Upgrade: Clorox completed a $580 million ERP system upgrade, which, despite being a complex transition affecting the supply chain, is expected to enhance overall operational efficiency and lay the groundwork for future business growth.
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Analyst Views on CLX
Wall Street analysts forecast CLX stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
10 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 92.110
Low
94.00
Averages
118.69
High
152.00
Current: 92.110
Low
94.00
Averages
118.69
High
152.00
About CLX
The Clorox Company is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products. Its brands include Brita, Burt's Bees, Clorox, Fresh Step, Glad, Hidden Valley, Kingsford, Liquid-Plumr, Pine-Sol and Purell as well as international brands such as Chux, Clorinda and Poett. Its segments include Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle and International. Health and Wellness segment consists of cleaning, disinfecting and professional products marketed and sold in the United States. Products within this segment include home care, cleaning and disinfecting products and laundry additives; professional cleaning and disinfecting products, and others. Household segment consists of bags and wraps, cat litter and grilling products marketed and sold in the United States. Lifestyle segment consists of food, water filtration and natural personal care products marketed and sold in the United States. International segment consists of products sold outside the United States.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Brand Confidence Recovery: Clorox's Q3 fiscal 2026 earnings report highlights that despite competitive promotional pressures, consumers remain confident in its brands, indicating resilience amid rising oil prices and economic uncertainty, which is expected to drive future sales recovery.
- GOJO Acquisition: Clorox's $2.25 billion acquisition of GOJO Industries aims to strengthen its market position in cleaning products, with GOJO expected to contribute approximately $200 million in quarterly revenue, thereby increasing Clorox's total revenue by about 10%.
- Earnings Guidance Downgrade: Clorox anticipates a 9% decline in fiscal 2026 organic sales, exceeding the previous guidance of 5% to 9%, primarily impacted by a $25 million gross profit loss due to rising oil prices, reflecting the challenges the company faces in the current economic environment.
- High-Yield Value Stock: Despite operational challenges, Clorox's stock is currently trading at just 13.7 times fiscal 2027 average earnings estimates, with a high dividend yield of 5.7%, making it an attractive deep value stock for investors seeking passive income.
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- Weak Financial Performance: Clorox's Q3 fiscal 2026 report indicates a projected 9% decline in organic sales, exceeding previous guidance of 5% to 9%, highlighting the company's pressure in market competition and declining profitability.
- Acquisition Strategy: Clorox's acquisition of GOJO Industries for $2.25 billion aims to strengthen its core competency in cleaning products, with GOJO expected to contribute approximately $200 million in quarterly revenue, enhancing Clorox's overall revenue by about 10%.
- Market Challenges: Despite strong performance in cleaning products, Clorox faces weak sales in key categories like litter and food due to promotional activities and deep discounts from competitors, reflecting the company's struggles with its diversified product portfolio.
- Investor Confidence Issues: Clorox's stock is hovering near an 11-year low, with a current P/E ratio of 13.7 and a high dividend yield of 5.7%, viewed as a deep value stock, yet investors remain cautious about management's ability to meet performance expectations.
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- Financial Performance Decline: Clorox reported a 140 basis point drop in gross margin to 43.2% for Q3 FY2026, down from 44.6% in the prior year, indicating significant challenges in cost management.
- Full-Year Outlook Downgrade: The company revised its FY2026 gross margin outlook to a decline of 250 to 300 basis points, significantly worse than the previous expectation of a 50 to 100 basis point decline, reflecting higher-than-expected supply chain costs and delayed cost savings.
- Stock Price Volatility: Following the earnings report, Clorox's stock price fell by $9.33, or 9.67%, closing at $87.11 per share on May 1, 2026, signaling market concerns regarding the company's future prospects.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Clorox and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could have profound implications for the company's future legal and financial standing.
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- Dividend Milestone: Clorox has raised its quarterly dividend to $1.24 per share, marking its 48th consecutive annual increase, positioning it to potentially become a Dividend King within the next 15 months, appealing to passive income investors.
- Cash Flow and Earnings Pressure: Despite paying $452 million in dividends in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026, Clorox generated only $161 million in free cash flow, indicating pressure on its profitability that could affect future dividend sustainability.
- Cost Control Measures: Clorox is implementing cost-cutting strategies, such as reducing advertising and administrative expenses, and has completed a $580 million transition to a new enterprise resource planning system aimed at boosting operational efficiency, although its brand competitiveness still needs improvement.
- Deteriorating Financial Condition: Clorox's long-term debt and leverage ratios have reached their highest levels in a decade, reflecting a decline in financial health, and while its gross margin has recovered, it remains below pre-pandemic levels, introducing uncertainty for future growth.
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- Dividend Growth History: Clorox has increased its dividend for 48 consecutive years, with the latest quarterly dividend at $1.24 per share; however, unless it returns to consistent earnings and free cash flow growth, its dividend expenses may become unsustainable.
- Financial Warning Signs: In the nine months ending March 31, 2026, Clorox paid $452 million in dividends but generated only $161 million in free cash flow, indicating that declining profitability could threaten the sustainability of future dividends.
- Cost Control Measures: Clorox is addressing rising manufacturing and logistics costs by reducing advertising investments and selling administrative expenses, and completed a $580 million transition to a new enterprise resource planning system in February to enhance operational efficiency, yet its long-term growth still hinges on brand market resonance.
- Market Competition Pressure: While Clorox's forward P/E ratio of 15.7 may attract value investors, it still faces challenges in brand differentiation and pricing power compared to stable dividend kings like Coca-Cola, needing to demonstrate stronger market performance in the next 15 months.
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- Dividend Growth Commitment: Clorox successfully raised its dividend for the 48th consecutive year last July, and despite market challenges, it is on track to achieve the milestone of becoming a Dividend King by 2027, demonstrating the company's long-term commitment to shareholders.
- Market Share Pressure: Although private labels like Costco's Kirkland Signature and Walmart's Great Value are gaining traction, Clorox's CEO noted that private label market share remained flat in the quarter, indicating that consumers still prefer high-quality brands, which provides Clorox with competitive opportunities.
- Sales Forecast Downgrade: Clorox now forecasts a 9% decline in organic sales for fiscal 2026, down from the previous guidance of 5% to 9%, reflecting the operational challenges faced amid intense competition and promotional pressures.
- ERP System Upgrade: Clorox completed a $580 million ERP system upgrade, which, despite being a complex transition affecting the supply chain, is expected to enhance overall operational efficiency and lay the groundwork for future business growth.
See More











