Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. Has $1.67 Million Holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. lessened its holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,749 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 172 shares during the quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $1,666,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of LOW. IFS Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 56.4% during the fourth quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. JNBA Financial Advisors increased its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 555.6% in the third quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors now owns 118 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MFA Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 118.6% in the third quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 129 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Down 1.0 %

NYSE:LOW opened at $261.72 on Thursday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $210.10 and a twelve month high of $287.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $147.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.11. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $259.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $256.97.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd will be given a dividend of $1.15 per share. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 22nd. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.37%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Lowe’s Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $291.00 to $292.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $275.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 11th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Lowe’s Companies currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $280.85.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lowe’s Companies

In other news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.37, for a total value of $1,974,915.26. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,703 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

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.