Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Has $2.44 Million Holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. $LOW

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 55.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,647 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,441 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $2,444,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the second quarter worth about $1,773,624,000. Tableaux LLC bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $282,884,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Lowe’s Companies by 22,167.5% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,032,319 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $229,041,000 after buying an additional 1,027,683 shares during the period. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 243.2% in the second quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 1,116,945 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $247,817,000 after acquiring an additional 791,526 shares during the period. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 101.4% in the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,244,941 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $312,866,000 after acquiring an additional 626,829 shares during the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Up 1.1%

NYSE LOW opened at $278.02 on Monday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $206.38 and a 52 week high of $281.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $155.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.05, a PEG ratio of 4.35 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a fifty day moving average of $257.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $249.92.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $3.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $20.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.88 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 55.86% and a net margin of 8.05%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.89 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on LOW shares. HSBC decreased their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $285.00 to $263.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Wolfe Research lowered their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $285.00 to $284.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $260.00 to $252.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $282.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Monday, December 29th. Nineteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $284.77.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Marvin R. Ellison sold 18,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.17, for a total transaction of $4,701,060.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 231,043 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $60,341,500.31. This trade represents a 7.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Lowe’s Companies 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.