Brokerages Set Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) PT at $264.57

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirty-six ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research 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 brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $264.5667.

Several equities analysts have weighed in on LOW shares. Benchmark started coverage on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $228.00 to $202.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $303.00 to $281.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. BTIG Research cut shares of Lowe’s Companies to a “reduce” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of 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.

Lowe’s Companies Trading Up 1.9%

NYSE LOW opened at $211.49 on Thursday. Lowe’s Companies has a 1 year low of $199.40 and a 1 year high of $293.06. The company has a market cap of $118.58 billion, a PE ratio of 17.88, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.86. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $215.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $239.94.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last announced 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 company had revenue of $23.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.98 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 7.51% and a negative return on equity of 67.96%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.92 earnings per share. Lowe’s Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.250-12.750 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies will post 12.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lowe’s Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be given a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 22nd. This is a positive change from Lowe’s Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is currently 42.27%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lowe’s Companies

In other news, EVP Margrethe R. Vagell sold 2,500 shares of the company’s 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 directly owned 20,220 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,525,842.60. This represents a 11.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Janice Dupre sold 14,150 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.90, for a total value of $3,139,885.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 39,785 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,828,291.50. This represents a 26.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 25,980 shares of company stock valued at $5,796,937 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Lowe’s Companies

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LOW. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora increased its holdings 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 worth $29,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Sankala Group LLC acquired a new position in Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

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.