EXHIBIT 99 RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (dollars in millions) Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 Pretax earnings $ 146.3 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor 3.5 Interest on indebtedness 62.7 Amortization of debt expense and premium .2 WFC preferred stock dividend 1.6 -------- Adjusted income $ 214.3 ======== Fixed charges Portion of rents representative of the interest factor $ 3.5 Interest on indebtedness 62.7 Amortization of debt expense and premium 0.2 WFC preferred stock dividend 1.6 -------- $ 68.0 ======== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.15 ======== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges at March 31, 1997 1.87 ========