Lowe’s Companies, Inc. $LOW Position Lessened by Securian Asset Management Inc.

Securian Asset Management Inc. lowered its position in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 7.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,063 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 2,195 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $6,801,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Solstein Capital LLC lifted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 627.8% in the second quarter. Solstein Capital LLC now owns 131 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Traub Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Lowe’s Companies in the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 128.8% in the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 135 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Olistico Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Up 0.7%

LOW opened at $246.48 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $138.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.96. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $239.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $242.07. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $206.38 and a 12-month high of $274.98.

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

Lowe’s Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 4th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 21st will be given a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 21st. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wolfe Research reduced their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $308.00 to $285.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $320.00 to $315.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Evercore ISI reissued a “positive” rating on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $295.00 to $290.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lowe’s Companies presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $276.80.

About Lowe’s Companies

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.