Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. Has $19.82 Million Stock Position in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. increased its stake in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 3.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 84,991 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after buying an additional 3,154 shares during the quarter. Lowe's Companies comprises 2.7% of Greatmark Investment Partners Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc.'s holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $19,822,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 125,299 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $29,223,000 after buying an additional 1,470 shares during the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of 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 worth $26,236,000 after purchasing an additional 13,092 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of 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 worth $6,498,000 after purchasing an additional 2,615 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of 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 worth $1,745,960,000 after purchasing an additional 993,833 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trek Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $882,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LOW traded down $1.54 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $222.59. 2,766,978 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,494,763. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $206.39 and a 1-year high of $287.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $124.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.44, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.90. The company's 50-day moving average price is $224.14 and its 200-day moving average price is $234.03.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $20.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.09 billion. Lowe's Companies had a negative return on equity of 49.12% and a net margin of 8.22%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.06 EPS. On average, research 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 23rd will be given a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 23rd. This is a positive change from Lowe's Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.16%. Lowe's Companies's dividend payout ratio is 39.77%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have weighed in on LOW. Truist Financial set a $264.00 target price on Lowe's Companies and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Lowe's Companies from $300.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen raised Lowe's Companies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Robert W. Baird dropped 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Lowe's Companies from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. One equities 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 company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lowe's Companies currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $271.12.

Insider Buying and Selling

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

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.