Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirty-six analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and twenty-three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $264.5667.

LOW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. HSBC cut their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $260.00 to $220.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $260.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Wolfe Research set a $254.00 price target on Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Gordon Haskett decreased their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $250.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 21st.

Insider Transactions at Lowe’s Companies

In related news, EVP Margrethe R. Vagell sold 2,500 shares of Lowe’s Companies stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.83, for a total value of $559,575.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 20,220 shares in the company, valued at $4,525,842.60. This trade represents a 11.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Juliette Williams Pryor sold 9,330 shares of Lowe’s Companies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.81, for a total transaction of $2,097,477.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 16,142 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,628,883.02. The trade was a 36.63% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 25,980 shares of company stock worth $5,796,937. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Swiss RE Ltd. bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora lifted its position in Lowe’s Companies by 52.5% in the fourth quarter. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. United Financial Planning Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Sankala Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

Shares of LOW stock opened at $227.26 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $127.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.86. Lowe’s Companies has a 52-week low of $203.40 and a 52-week high of $293.06. The business’s fifty day moving average is $221.70 and its 200 day moving average is $243.78.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 20th. The home improvement retailer reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $23.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.98 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 67.96% and a net margin of 7.51%.The firm’s revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.92 earnings per share. Lowe’s Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.250-12.750 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies will post 12.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lowe’s Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. This is a boost from Lowe’s Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 22nd. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is 40.57%.

About Lowe’s Companies

Lowe’s Companies, Inc is a leading home improvement retailer that operates large-format stores and digital channels serving both do-it-yourself homeowners and professional contractors. The company offers a broad assortment of products including building materials, lumber, appliances, tools and hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies, paint, flooring, kitchen and bath fixtures, outdoor and garden products, and home decor. Lowe’s also provides a range of services such as installation, home improvement financing, tool and equipment rental, and contractor-focused sales programs.

Operations are centered on a nationwide brick-and-mortar store network supported by distribution centers and an e-commerce platform that enables online ordering, delivery and in-store pickup.