Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co Acquires 3,400 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. $LOW

Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co boosted its holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 4.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 88,163 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,400 shares during the period. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $21,261,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Activest Wealth Management grew its position 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 acquiring an additional 51 shares during the period. United Financial Planning Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora grew 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 acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Guerra Advisors Inc bought a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

NYSE LOW opened at $233.55 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $245.40 and a 200-day moving average of $249.98. The stock has a market cap of $130.80 billion, a PE ratio of 19.71, a P/E/G ratio of 5.07 and a beta of 0.91. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $210.33 and a 52-week high of $293.06.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $20.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.34 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 7.71% and a negative return on equity of 61.40%. Lowe’s Companies’s quarterly revenue was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.93 EPS. Lowe’s Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.250-12.75 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 12.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lowe’s Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 22nd will be paid a $1.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 22nd. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is 40.51%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LOW has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $316.00 to $315.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 price objective (up from $294.00) on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Gordon Haskett decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $325.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $286.00 to $288.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Barclays raised shares of Lowe’s Companies from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $289.10.

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.