Is CLX a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on The Clorox Company on DividendInvestor’s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on CLX. The Clorox Company's share was trading at $96.66 as of April 27th. CLX’s trailing and forward P/E were 15.82 and 14.01 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.
The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. CLX is being mispriced by the market amid a transitional period, creating a compelling income-oriented opportunity anchored by a 4.8% dividend yield and a 47-year track record of consistent dividend growth.
The stock has declined over 26% in the past year due to earnings misses, ERP-related disruptions, and margin pressure from elevated input costs, with recent quarterly results reflecting continued softness in organic sales and slight gross margin compression.
However, this derating reflects temporary execution challenges rather than a structural impairment of Clorox’s underlying cash generation. The company operates a portfolio of category-leading, non-discretionary household brands, which benefit from stable, recurring demand and pricing power, forming a durable moat that supports long-term cash flow visibility.
The core investment thesis hinges on Clorox’s ability to sustain and gradually grow its $4.96 annual dividend through free cash flow, supported by margin recovery toward its 44%+ target and a cost optimization program expected to drive steady EBIT expansion. Financial performance already indicates a rebound, with fiscal 2025 net income surging 189% year-over-year and margins more than doubling, signaling operational normalization.
While the payout ratio appears elevated on an EPS basis, free cash flow coverage remains intact, reinforcing dividend safety. The current yield, significantly above historical averages, implies an excessive risk premium that overstates the likelihood of a dividend cut. As margins normalize and execution stabilizes, Clorox offers an attractive combination of income stability, defensive characteristics, and potential multiple expansion.
Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on The Clorox Company (CLX) by Business Model Mastery in April 2025, which highlighted the company’s brand dominance, innovation engine, retail relationships, and operational efficiency driving long-term resilience. CLX’s stock price has depreciated by approximately 29.34% since our coverage. DividendInvestor shares a similar view but emphasizes on dividend durability, free cash flow strength, and mispricing driven by temporary execution challenges.
The Clorox Company is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 48 hedge fund portfolios held CLX at the end of the fourth quarter which was 37 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of CLX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CLX and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.