Steph & Co. Sells 169 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Steph & Co. trimmed its position in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 56.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 128 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 169 shares during the period. Steph & Co.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $28,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors lifted its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 31.5% in the 4th quarter. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors now owns 3,314 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $737,000 after buying an additional 794 shares during the period. Tyche Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,332,000. Financial Strategies Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 22.5% during the fourth quarter. Financial Strategies Group Inc. now owns 14,387 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $3,029,000 after purchasing an additional 2,646 shares in the last quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 35.6% during the fourth quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. now owns 24,299 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $5,408,000 after purchasing an additional 6,380 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 11.2% during the fourth quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 3,994 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $889,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Up 0.2 %

Lowe’s Companies stock opened at $228.86 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $130.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a fifty day moving average of $239.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $218.38. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $181.85 and a twelve month high of $262.49.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $18.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.47 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 8.94% and a negative return on equity of 51.42%. The firm’s revenue was down 17.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.28 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 12.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 24th will be paid a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 23rd. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.92%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 33.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on LOW. Wedbush boosted their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $215.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. StockNews.com lowered Lowe’s Companies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Mizuho started coverage on Lowe’s Companies in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $280.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $199.00 to $236.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $252.52.

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.