Sanford C. Bernstein Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) Stock Price

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) had its target price lowered by stock analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from $313.00 to $303.00 in a research note issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “outperform” rating on the home improvement retailer’s stock. Sanford C. Bernstein’s price target points to a potential upside of 14.55% from the company’s previous close.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the company. Oppenheimer lowered 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. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $295.00 to $293.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. DA Davidson reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Evercore upped their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $250.00 to $280.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $291.64.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

Shares of LOW stock opened at $264.51 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $148.38 billion, a PE ratio of 22.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 0.97. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $266.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $254.48. Lowe’s Companies has a 12 month low of $206.38 and a 12 month high of $293.06.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $20.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.34 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 61.40% and a net margin of 7.71%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.93 EPS. Lowe’s Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.250-12.75 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Lowe’s Companies

In other news, CEO Marvin R. Ellison sold 18,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.17, for a total value of $4,701,060.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 231,043 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,341,500.31. This represents a 7.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lowe’s Companies

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LOW. Swiss RE Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Activest Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 78.5% in the 3rd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 116 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OLD Second National Bank of Aurora boosted its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 52.5% in the 4th quarter. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. 74.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lowe’s Companies News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Lowe’s Companies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations: Lowe’s reported $1.98 EPS and $20.58B revenue (+10.9% Y/Y), driven by Pro, online and holiday strength — evidence of operational resilience. Q4 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple brokerages raised price targets and reiterated buy/outperform views (Goldman, Guggenheim, Wells Fargo, Piper Sandler, Mizuho, Telsey), signaling Wall Street support and providing upside catalysts. Analyst Raises
• Positive Sentiment: Macro tailwind developing: 30-year mortgage rates fell below 6%, which could ease the housing ‘lock‑in’ effect and eventually boost remodel/removal demand. That’s a potential multi‑month positive for Lowe’s sales. Mortgage Rates
• Neutral Sentiment: Lowe’s is targeting $1B of productivity gains in FY2026 and is using AI and cost cuts (including ~600 corporate roles) to protect margins — a mix of near‑term restructuring costs and longer‑term efficiency. Productivity Plan
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually large options volume indicates elevated trading and positioning by short‑term traders; watch for increased intraday volatility. Options Volume
• Neutral Sentiment: Partnerships and strategic moves (e.g., Affirm payment plans, acquisitions to grow Pro business) support longer‑term revenue diversification but add integration risk. Affirm Partnership
• Negative Sentiment: Management commentary and FY2026 guidance were cautious — the company flagged housing weakness and conservative outlook, which sparked the recent sell‑off as investors discounted future growth. Housing Headwinds
• Negative Sentiment: There are some price‑target trims and neutral/hold actions (TD Cowen, DA Davidson, a few smaller adjustments) reflecting concerns about guidance and margin pressure from acquisitions — potential headwinds for near‑term multiple expansion. Analyst Cuts

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.