Cullen Investment Group LTD. Cuts Stock Position in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Cullen Investment Group LTD. decreased its position in shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 4.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,272 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after selling 1,231 shares during the period. Cullen Investment Group LTD.'s holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $5,894,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Trust Co of the South increased its position in Lowe's Companies by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Trust Co of the South now owns 6,160 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $1,437,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the period. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter worth $67,000. Chancellor Financial Group WB LP bought a new position in Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter worth $267,000. 111 Capital bought a new position in Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter worth $1,912,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Lowe's Companies by 11.1% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 397,390 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $98,076,000 after buying an additional 39,616 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:LOW traded up $0.64 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $225.57. 4,127,230 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,513,115. The stock has a market cap of $126.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.00. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $206.39 and a 12-month high of $287.01. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $224.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $242.95.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $20.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.09 billion. Lowe's Companies had a negative return on equity of 47.55% and a net margin of 8.19%. Lowe's Companies's quarterly revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.06 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Lowe's Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 23rd will be given a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.13%. This is a boost from Lowe's Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. Lowe's Companies's payout ratio is currently 39.77%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on LOW. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Lowe's Companies from $295.00 to $285.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Bank of America decreased their price target on Lowe's Companies from $305.00 to $290.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $305.00 price target on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st. Citigroup reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $253.00 price objective (down from $269.00) on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Mizuho set a $280.00 price objective on Lowe's Companies and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $271.12.

Lowe's Companies 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.