* Whirlpool is down 36% year-to-date, with short interest doubling to 18% of float, making it a Battleground Stock.

* The squeeze score frequently exceeds critical levels during bear market rallies as the stock is crowded at the 70 level.

* A third of analysts rate the stock a “Sell,” due to deep cyclical, and structural challenges, global competition, execution issues, earnings, rising borrow costs.

Whirlpool is a classic case of a troubled stock. It is down more than a third this year after 2 down years. Short interest shows 18% of float is shorted, with positions doubling in 2025.

The increase in short interest, combined with a decline in active long holdings, has pushed Whirlpool into S3’s Battleground Stocks category, based on its Active Long-to-Short (L/S) ratio in gray.

The shorting follows a momentum-driven pattern, with shorting on the way down and covering on the way up, which exacerbates volatility.

Whirlpool is crowded at the 70 level and the short squeeze score spikes above 75 during bear market rallies.

Analyst sentiment remains bearish, with 30% issuing “Sell” ratings and only a small percentage recommending “Buy”. The price target has been cut significantly.

Whirlpool’s fundamental challenges are structural and persistent. The company operates in a mature market with low growth and cyclical sensitivity to housing and consumer demand.

• Global competition from Asian manufacturers intensifies pricing pressure.

• Execution issues in emerging markets limit expansion and profitability.

• Earnings dropped by over 37%, prompting analysts to lower price targets.

• Volatility is expected to rise amid increasing short interest and cyclical risk.

• The stock became difficult to borrow last month, reflecting tight securities lending conditions

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The information herein (some of which has been obtained from third party sources without verification) is believed by S3 Partners, LLC (“S3 Partners”) to be reliable and accurate. Neither S3 Partners nor any of its affiliates makes any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information herein or accepts liability arising from its use. Prior to making any decisions based on the information herein, you should determine, without reliance upon S3 Partners, the economic risks, and merits, as well as the legal, tax, accounting, and investment consequences, of such decisions.