Mizuho Reiterates Outperform Rating for Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW)

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "outperform" rating restated by equities researchers at Mizuho in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $280.00 price target on the home improvement retailer's stock. Mizuho's price target suggests a potential upside of 29.81% from the company's previous close.

Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on LOW. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Lowe's Companies from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price 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. BNP Paribas upgraded Lowe's Companies to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $295.00 to $285.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $266.00 target price on Lowe's Companies and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. One 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 MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $271.12.

Lowe's Companies Stock Performance

Shares of Lowe's Companies stock traded down $1.57 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $215.71. 807,149 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,519,574. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $223.77 and a 200-day moving average of $239.65. The company has a market cap of $120.89 billion, a PE ratio of 17.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.92. Lowe's Companies has a 12 month low of $206.39 and a 12 month high of $287.01.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 21st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.04. Lowe's Companies had a negative return on equity of 47.55% and a net margin of 8.19%. The business had revenue of $20.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.09 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.06 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Lowe's Companies will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Juliette Williams Pryor sold 1,130 shares of Lowe's Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $227.50, for a total transaction of $257,075.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 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 can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lowe's Companies

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Lowe's Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Caisse Des Depots ET Consignations purchased a new position in Lowe's Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Lowe's Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

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.