Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Cuts Stock Holdings in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund decreased its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 55.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,437 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after selling 20,599 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $3,834,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in LOW. Gen Wealth Partners Inc grew its position in Lowe's Companies by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Gen Wealth Partners Inc now owns 2,163 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $534,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. FFT Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Lowe's Companies by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. FFT Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,377 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $340,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 3,166 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Peachtree Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Peachtree Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,286 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $317,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Second Line Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Second Line Capital LLC now owns 4,793 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $1,183,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Lowe's Companies

In other news, EVP Juliette Williams Pryor sold 1,130 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.50, for a total transaction of $257,075.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:LOW opened at $212.40 on Friday. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $206.39 and a 52-week high of $287.01. The company has a 50 day moving average of $223.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $237.78. The company has a market capitalization of $119.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.92.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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. Lowe's Companies had a net margin of 8.22% and a negative return on equity of 49.12%. The company had revenue of $20.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.06 earnings per share. Lowe's Companies's revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Lowe's Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 23rd will be given a dividend of $1.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 23rd. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.26%. This is an increase from Lowe's Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. Lowe's Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.11%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Lowe's Companies from $300.00 to $263.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. DA Davidson cut their price target on Lowe's Companies from $270.00 to $240.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Bank of America cut 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. Finally, BNP Paribas raised shares of Lowe's Companies to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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.

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