Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Position Lowered by Entropy Technologies LP

Key Points

• Entropy Technologies LP reduced its stake in Lowe's Companies by 35.9%, selling 11,810 shares and ending up with 21,073 shares valued at approximately $4.9 million.
• Multiple large investors have adjusted their holdings in Lowe's, with Invesco Ltd. raising its stake by 10.6% and Taylor Financial Group Inc. increasing its holdings by 98.8%.
• Lowe's recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.20 per share, reflecting an annual yield of 2.0% and a payout ratio of nearly 39.77%.

Entropy Technologies LP decreased its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 35.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,073 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after selling 11,810 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $4,915,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, IFS Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Lowe's Companies by 60.0% during the 1st quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 160 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Trading Down 0.5%

NYSE:LOW traded down $1.11 on Monday, reaching $240.04. The stock had a trading volume of 2,602,458 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,697,837. The company has a 50-day moving average of $224.68 and a 200 day moving average of $230.41. The stock has a market cap of $134.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.89. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $206.38 and a 12-month high of $287.01.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $20.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.09 billion. Lowe's Companies had a net margin of 8.22% and a negative return on equity of 49.12%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.06 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Lowe's Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 23rd were given a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Lowe's Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Lowe's Companies's dividend payout ratio is 39.77%.

Insider Activity at Lowe's Companies

In other news, EVP Juliette Williams Pryor sold 1,130 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.50, for a total transaction of $257,075.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 31,898 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,256,795. This trade represents a 3.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LOW has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Lowe's Companies from $295.00 to $285.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Lowe's Companies from $250.00 to $240.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on Lowe's Companies from $244.00 to $242.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $305.00 price target on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, KeyCorp upgraded Lowe's Companies from a "sector weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $266.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Lowe's Companies currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $270.68.

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.