Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Shares Acquired by Smith Salley Wealth Management

Smith Salley Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 1.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 126,425 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 1,528 shares during the period. Lowe's Companies comprises 1.9% of Smith Salley Wealth Management's holdings, making the stock its 12th largest position. Smith Salley Wealth Management's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $29,486,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of LOW. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Lowe's Companies during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Caisse Des Depots ET Consignations acquired a new position in shares of Lowe's Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lowe's Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, IFS Advisors LLC grew its position 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 valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lowe's Companies Trading Down 0.7%

Lowe's Companies stock traded down $1.68 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $226.96. 2,174,320 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,496,726. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $223.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $235.51. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $206.39 and a fifty-two week high of $287.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.80, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.90.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.04. The firm 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 49.12% and a net margin of 8.22%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.06 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lowe's Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. This is an increase from Lowe's Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 23rd. Lowe's Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.11%.

Insider Transactions at Lowe's Companies

In other Lowe's Companies 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 31,898 shares of the company's stock, valued at $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 through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $280.00 price target on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Friday, June 13th. Citigroup restated a "neutral" rating and set a $253.00 price objective (down from $269.00) on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Lowe's Companies from $300.00 to $263.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of Lowe's Companies from $250.00 to $240.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of Lowe's Companies from $295.00 to $285.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Lowe's Companies currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $271.12.

About Lowe's Companies

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.