Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Shares Bought by EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC

Key Points

• EagleClaw Capital Management LLC has increased its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 4.2% in Q1, bringing its total shares owned to 36,352, valued at approximately $8.48 million.
• Lowe's Companies reported a net revenue of $20.93 billion for the last quarter, missing analyst estimates, although it achieved earnings per share of $2.92.
• The company has announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.20 per share, signifying a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC grew its position in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 4.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 36,352 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 1,475 shares during the quarter. Lowe's Companies makes up approximately 1.3% of EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC's holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $8,478,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies by 2,984.6% during the first quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,038,069 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $475,339,000 after purchasing an additional 1,971,996 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies by 350.2% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,373,460 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $585,770,000 after buying an additional 1,846,315 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 26,796.0% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,657,332 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $386,540,000 after buying an additional 1,651,170 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in Lowe's Companies by 16.3% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,074,391 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $1,745,960,000 after acquiring an additional 993,833 shares during the period. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its stake in Lowe's Companies by 1,048.5% during the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 739,727 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $172,527,000 after acquiring an additional 675,318 shares during the period. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lowe's Companies Stock Performance

Shares of LOW stock opened at $223.55 on Friday. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $206.38 and a 1 year high of $287.01. The business's fifty day moving average is $222.93 and its 200-day moving average is $231.92. The stock has a market cap of $125.28 billion, a PE ratio of 18.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.90.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.04. Lowe's Companies had a negative return on equity of 49.12% and a net margin of 8.22%. The firm had revenue of $20.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.06 earnings per share. Lowe's Companies's revenue was down 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 23rd will be issued a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 23rd. This is an increase from Lowe's Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. Lowe's Companies's payout ratio is presently 39.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $305.00 target price on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Citigroup cut their price target on Lowe's Companies from $253.00 to $242.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Mizuho reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $280.00 target price on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Lowe's Companies from $300.00 to $263.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $270.68.

Insider Activity at Lowe's Companies

In related 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 directly owned 31,898 shares in the company, 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 filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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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