StockNews.com Upgrades Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) to “Buy”

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $305.00 to $290.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. BNP Paribas raised Lowe’s Companies to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $292.00 to $285.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $279.71.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LOW opened at $232.35 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $246.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $257.35. The company has a market capitalization of $130.05 billion, a PE ratio of 19.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.12. Lowe’s Companies has a 12-month low of $211.80 and a 12-month high of $287.01.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $18.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.29 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 47.55% and a net margin of 8.19%. On average, analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies will post 11.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lowe’s Companies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. United Bank raised its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. United Bank now owns 10,099 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $2,735,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Soros Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 39.3% in the third quarter. Soros Capital Management LLC now owns 2,508 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $679,000 after buying an additional 708 shares during the last quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 13.2% in the third quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC now owns 2,770 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $750,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund boosted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 101.3% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 150,000 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $40,628,000 after acquiring an additional 75,500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CreativeOne Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 18.5% during the 3rd quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 12,344 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $3,343,000 after acquiring an additional 1,924 shares in the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.