Virtu Financial LLC Buys 1,554 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Virtu Financial LLC grew its stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 28.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,028 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after buying an additional 1,554 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $1,734,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. United Bank raised its position in Lowe’s Companies by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. United Bank now owns 10,099 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $2,735,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 42,266 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $11,448,000 after acquiring an additional 1,175 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 3.0% in the third quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,824 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $3,748,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 25.4% in the third quarter. Allen Capital Group LLC now owns 1,725 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $467,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meridian Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the third quarter worth $3,291,000. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on LOW shares. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $301.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America decreased their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $305.00 to $290.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $305.00 to $300.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $280.83.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

LOW stock opened at $227.09 on Friday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $211.80 and a 52 week high of $287.01. The company has a market capitalization of $128.23 billion, a PE ratio of 18.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.12. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $247.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $257.79.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last announced its 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. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 8.19% and a negative return on equity of 47.55%. The firm had revenue of $18.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.29 billion. On average, analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Lowe’s Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be issued a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.03%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 37.67%.

About Lowe’s Companies

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.