WD-40 (NASDAQ:WDFC) Hits New 1-Year Low on Disappointing Earnings

WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as low as $175.38 and last traded at $186.74, with a volume of 204136 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $203.50.

The specialty chemicals company reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $154.42 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $155.10 million. WD-40 had a net margin of 14.68% and a return on equity of 31.84%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.39 earnings per share. WD-40 has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.750-6.150 EPS.

WD-40 Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This is a boost from WD-40’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 16th. WD-40’s dividend payout ratio is 56.29%.

Key WD-40 News

Here are the key news stories impacting WD-40 this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company increased its dividend for shareholders, which supports income-focused holders and may have helped limit downside. WD-40’s (NASDAQ:WDFC) Shareholders Will Receive A Bigger Dividend Than Last Year
• Positive Sentiment: Several insiders purchased shares in recent months (listed in coverage), which investors often view as a vote of confidence from management. WD-40 Company (WDFC) Releases Q1 2026 Earnings: Slight Revenue Gain but EPS Miss; Operating Profit and Cash Flow Down
• Neutral Sentiment: Management updated FY‑2026 guidance to an EPS range of $5.75–$6.15 and revenue guidance of $630M–$655M. The EPS midpoint is slightly below consensus, but the range signals manageable expectations rather than a large reset. WD-40 Company Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings call transcripts were published (useful for detail on margin pressures and timing of cost actions). Investors can read management’s commentary for color on recovery plans. WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Q1 results missed expectations: reported EPS $1.28 (vs. roughly $1.36–$1.45 consensus) and revenue $154.4M (slightly below estimates). Operating profit and net income declined year‑over‑year, and operating cash flow weakened materially. Those items explain near-term selling pressure. WD-40 shares tumble as first quarter earnings miss estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage summaries emphasize margin pressure and lower cash generation (operating cash from activities down ~33% year-over-year), raising short-term execution risk until margins stabilize. WD-40 Company (WDFC) Releases Q1 2026 Earnings: Slight Revenue Gain but EPS Miss; Operating Profit and Cash Flow Down

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on WDFC shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of WD-40 in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. DA Davidson set a $300.00 price target on shares of WD-40 in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $300.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at WD-40

In related news, CFO Sara Kathleen Hyzer bought 200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $200.46 per share, for a total transaction of $40,092.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer directly owned 5,935 shares in the company, valued at $1,189,730.10. This trade represents a 3.49% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Daniel T. Carter bought 1,000 shares of WD-40 stock in a transaction on Monday, October 27th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $199.37 per share, with a total value of $199,370.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 7,205 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,436,460.85. This represents a 16.12% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have purchased 2,640 shares of company stock worth $522,765. Company insiders own 0.78% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WD-40

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WDFC. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of WD-40 during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,563,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in WD-40 by 22,709.1% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 157,383 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $35,897,000 after acquiring an additional 156,693 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in WD-40 by 110.1% during the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 178,395 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $35,251,000 after acquiring an additional 93,502 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC purchased a new position in shares of WD-40 during the third quarter worth approximately $13,817,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of WD-40 by 24.4% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 333,505 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $76,069,000 after acquiring an additional 65,423 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.52% of the company’s stock.

WD-40 Stock Down 7.5%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 2.79. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $198.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $207.86. The company has a market cap of $2.55 billion, a PE ratio of 27.96 and a beta of 0.15.

WD-40 Company Profile

WD-40 Company, headquartered in San Diego, California, is best known for its flagship WD-40® Multi-Use Product, a water-displacing spray used for lubrication, rust prevention and cleaning. Since its introduction in 1953 by the Rocket Chemical Company, the WD-40 brand has become a household and industrial staple. Over time, the company has broadened its portfolio to include complementary maintenance and cleaning brands such as 3-IN-ONE® oils, Lava® hand cleaners, Solvol® solvents, Spot Shot® stain removers and X-14® cleaning products.

WD-40 Company distributes its products in more than 176 countries through retail, industrial and automotive channels.