Chilton Capital Management LLC Reduces Position in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. $LOW

Chilton Capital Management LLC trimmed its stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 212,517 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 11,856 shares during the period. Lowe’s Companies accounts for approximately 1.8% of Chilton Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. Chilton Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $53,408,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in Lowe’s Companies during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Solstein Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 627.8% in the second quarter. Solstein Capital LLC now owns 131 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Traub Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 128.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 135 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Finally, Olistico Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Lowe’s Companies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lowe’s Companies

In other news, CEO Marvin R. Ellison sold 18,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $261.17, for a total transaction of $4,701,060.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 231,043 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,341,500.31. This represents a 7.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LOW opened at $277.81 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $155.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.04, a P/E/G ratio of 4.59 and a beta of 0.96. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $206.38 and a 52-week high of $281.36. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $250.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $246.71.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $3.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.09. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 8.05% and a negative return on equity of 55.86%. The business had revenue of $20.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.88 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.89 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lowe’s Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 4th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 21st will be issued a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 21st. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is 39.80%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on LOW. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $295.00 to $290.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Lowe’s Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Argus decreased their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $290.00 to $286.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Nineteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lowe’s Companies has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $283.65.

Lowe’s Companies Company Profile

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.