Whirlpool Shares Up 11% Today After Reporting Positive Earnings

Shares of Whirlpool Corp WHR are up 11% after the company beat earnings estimates this morning. The company announced today fourth-quarter net earnings of $205 million, or $2.62 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $171 million, or $2.19 per diluted share reported during the same period last year. Fourth-quarter sales in 2011 were $4.9 billion, compared to $5.0 billion reported in the fourth quarter of 2010. Improving price/mix was offset by unfavorable currency and lower industry demand. Fourth-quarter operating profit totaled $205 million compared with $202 million in the prior year-period. Results were positively impacted by continued improvement in price mix and cost productivity. In particular, the focused actions yielded a substantial improvement in the profitability of the North America region partially offset by weak economic conditions in Europe.