Whirlpool Stock on a Whirlwind Higher

Hard times, recession talk, bad economy and a struggling stock market. We watch it day after day on the news. But serious study shows that there are still possibilities out there that will make you money in the stock market. They're just harder to find these days.

This week, hundreds of gadgets, all promising to make our lives at home easier and more comfortable, will be launched at the annual International Consumer Electronics Show. One consumer home appliance maker is standing up for attention on Wall Street. Take a look at Whirlpool Corp. (Symbol: WHR).

Whirlpool's stock hit the ground hard around Nov. 21 with a price of $30.19 per share but has dug itself out of the ditches to stand $18.60 higher Tuesday. A recovery of 61.6 percent.

The home appliance manufacturer seems to be on a big recovery run, running up 20.5 percent in just five days (Dec. 31 to Jan. 6), closing Tuesday at $48.79.

Looking at the big picture, over the past year, the stock is actually down 35.5 percent, falling from it's 52 week high of $98.00.

The company manufactures products in 12 countries under 13 principal brand names and markets products. Its principal products are laundry appliances, refrigerators, cooking appliances, dishwashers, and mixers and other small household appliances.

In the United States alone, Whirlpool markets and distributes products under the Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Roper, Estate, Admiral, Magic Chef, Amana, and Inglis brand names primarily to retailers, distributors and builders.

Its not the usual business of rinse and spin at Whirlpool, according to an article in the January 2009 issue of DC Vertical.

The company is looking at development of more energy efficient products. You know the catch phase today, going green. Whirlpool is taking the lead in their market with a redesign of their supply chain, conserving energy, and cutting air pollution.

This isn't anything new really. The company's environmental activism goes back to the 1970s. The U.S. government gave them a gold star in 1992 for energy-efficient. Ok, the real award title is Energy Star. Over 500 Whirlpool products have the Energy Star label today. They have made a pledge to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. The push for more eco-friendly products is visible on their Web site with an advertisement for the "New Resource Saver Dishwasher. Uses 1/3 Less Water & Energy."

With annual sales of around $19 billion, Whirlpool is the worldwide leader in the global home appliance market. But the company is not immune to the mounting job cuts in the global downturn. Whirlpool announced Oct. 28 they would cut 5,000 jobs, according to Reuters.

Disclosure: The author owns shares of WHR.