Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Stock Holdings Boosted by Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC

Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 83.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 387,989 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 176,498 shares during the period. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC owned 0.07% of Lowe’s Companies worth $95,756,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 19,830 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $4,894,000 after buying an additional 501 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 106,305 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $26,236,000 after buying an additional 13,092 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 26,329 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $6,498,000 after buying an additional 2,615 shares in the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 472,838 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $116,696,000 after buying an additional 7,187 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 16.3% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,074,391 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $1,745,960,000 after buying an additional 993,833 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Trading Up 0.1%

LOW stock opened at $234.44 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $224.47 and a two-hundred day moving average of $245.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.22 billion, a PE ratio of 19.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.00. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $206.39 and a one year high of $287.01.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $18.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.29 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 8.19% and a negative return on equity of 47.55%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd were given a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 23rd. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.67%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on LOW shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $300.00 to $263.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. DA Davidson reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $270.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $300.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Citigroup restated a “neutral” rating and set a $253.00 price objective (down previously from $269.00) on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lowe’s Companies has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $276.17.

Lowe’s Companies Company 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.