Virtu Financial LLC Buys Shares of 3,197 Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 3,197 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $814,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LOW. Jacobsen Capital Management bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth $206,000. Stonegate Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 10,338 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $2,301,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the period. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Lowe’s Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $213,000. Colonial River Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Lowe’s Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $206,000. Finally, Howland Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC now owns 3,369 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $750,000 after buying an additional 505 shares during the period. 74.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

Shares of LOW stock opened at $240.42 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $137.00 billion, a PE ratio of 19.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $225.93 and a 200-day moving average of $230.17. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $181.85 and a one year high of $262.49.

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

Lowe’s Companies Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 24th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 24th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.25%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LOW has been the topic of several analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 13th. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $250.00 to $225.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Wedbush restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $250.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Wednesday, May 22nd. Telsey Advisory Group restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $230.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $246.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Wednesday, May 22nd. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $250.04.

Lowe’s Companies 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.