Analyst at Deutsche Bank provided their outlook on The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) ahead of the company’s Q3 earnings results. Since the company’s disappointing Q2 results announcement, investor skepticism has grown and now encompasses the company's ability to navigate through evolving value-seeking behavior.

According to the analysts, most investors maintain caution on (1) EPS delivery both in the quarter and in Q4 should gross margin headwinds overshoot management’s own expectations, (3) the company's ability to take further pricing (particularly in the light of relative slowness in expanding pricing across the portfolio thus far), and therefore (3) cost/margin implications into 2023.

Given that the company's full-year organic growth outlook will likely to remain intact through Q3 results, the analysts said that credible reiteration of the company's gross margin outlook (and EPS) may serve as at least a near-term/temporary positive catalyst.

The analysts lowered their price target to $146 from $148, while maintaining their hold rating.