Skip to main content
The Markets by Proactive
Go to Proactive UK
Proactive UK has moved. Proactive’s coverage of London’s small caps continues on proactiveinvestors.com Go there →
Advertisement
The Markets
by Proactive
Proactive UK has moved.
Coverage of London’s small caps continues on proactiveinvestors.com
Go to Proactive UK
The Markets
by Proactive
Proactive UK has moved.
Small-cap coverage continues on .com
Go to Proactive UK
Advertisement
The Markets
by Proactive
Proactive UK has moved.
Small-cap coverage continues on .com
Go to Proactive UK

Manufacturing & engineering

Whirlpool cuts forecast, suspends dividend as Iran war hammers demand

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) reported a steep first-quarter loss and slashed its full-year outlook, citing rapid deterioration in macroeconomic conditions driven by the Iran war.

The appliance maker posted revenue of $3.27 billion for the first quarter of 2026, falling short of analyst estimates of $3.51 billion and down 9.6% from a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share came in at a loss of $0.56, badly missing the consensus estimate of $0.62. Ongoing EBIT margin contracted 4.6 percentage points year-over-year to just 1.3%.

The company's North America major domestic appliance segment bore the brunt of the weakness, with sales declining 7.5% to $2.24 billion and EBIT collapsing 96% to just $6 million. Latin America and the small domestic appliance segment offered some offset, with sales rising 5% and 13.4%, respectively.

Whirlpool's CFO told Yahoo Finance that appliance demand has not been this low since the global financial crisis.

For the full year, Whirlpool guided revenue of approximately $15 billion, below estimates of $15.27 billion, and adjusted EPS of $3 to $3.50, well under the $4.73 consensus. The company also suspended its common dividend to prioritize debt reduction, targeting over $900 million in debt paydown.

"We acted decisively to address pricing and costs in the face of rapid deterioration in macroeconomic conditions," CEO Marc Bitzer said in a statement.

Free cash flow for the quarter came in at negative $896 million.

The news sent Whirlpool shares down 12.5% on Thursday morning.

Advertisement
The Markets
by Proactive
Proactive UK has moved.
Small-cap coverage continues on .com
Go to Proactive UK