Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) Shares Up 0.6%

Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) were up 0.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $225.04 and last traded at $224.76. Approximately 250,001 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 2,431,008 shares. The stock had previously closed at $223.35.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Lowe’s Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Tuesday, May 21st. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Mizuho initiated coverage on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Tuesday, March 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $280.00 price target for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and issued a $246.00 price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $251.33.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Up 1.5 %

The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $227.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $227.28. The stock has a market cap of $129.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.05, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.08.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $3.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.94 by $0.12. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 48.52% and a net margin of 8.46%. The firm had revenue of $21.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.14 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.67 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 12.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lowe’s Companies Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 24th will be given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 24th. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.34%.

Institutional Trading of Lowe’s Companies

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies in the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Tidemark LLC acquired a new stake in Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. 74.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lowe’s Companies Company Profile

Lowe's Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States. The company offers a line of products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and decorating. It also provides home improvement products, such as appliances, seasonal and outdoor living, lawn and garden, lumber, kitchens and bath, tools, paint, millwork, hardware, flooring, rough plumbing, building materials, décor, and electrical.