Bollard Group LLC Lowers Stock Holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. $LOW

Bollard Group LLC trimmed its position in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 16.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 30,695 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 6,046 shares during the quarter. Bollard Group LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $7,402,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Swiss RE Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora increased its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 52.5% in the fourth quarter. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. United Financial Planning Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the third quarter worth approximately $34,000. 74.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LOW opened at $220.57 on Friday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $203.40 and a one year high of $293.06. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $228.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $246.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $123.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.64, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.86.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 20th. The home improvement retailer reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.06. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 7.51% and a negative return on equity of 67.96%. The business had revenue of $23.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.98 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.92 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. Lowe’s Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.250-12.750 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 12.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lowe’s Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 22nd will be issued a $1.25 dividend. This is a positive change from Lowe’s Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 22nd. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on LOW shares. Gordon Haskett decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $250.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. William Blair started coverage on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $292.00 to $277.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $300.00 to $293.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $235.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Twenty-three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $264.57.

Lowe’s Companies Company Profile

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.