AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its holdings in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW – Get Rating) by 1.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,228 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $1,042,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 1,381 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. United Bank boosted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 9,734 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $1,968,000 after purchasing an additional 617 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,629,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 256,098 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $51,780,000 after purchasing an additional 920 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its position in Lowe's Companies by 74.6% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 295 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.62% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on LOW shares. Loop Capital increased their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Wedbush increased their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $230.00 to $210.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $250.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $260.00 to $250.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $225.00.

Lowe's Companies Stock Performance

Lowe's Companies stock opened at $189.69 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $204.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $200.98. The company has a market capitalization of $117.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.95, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.10. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $170.12 and a fifty-two week high of $223.31.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW – Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $22.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.71 billion. Lowe's Companies had a negative return on equity of 82.30% and a net margin of 6.63%. Lowe's Companies's revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.78 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 13.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of Lowe's Companies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.00, for a total value of $1,853,967.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,888 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,523,936. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.24% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Profile

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Lowe's Cos., Inc engages in the retail sale of home improvement products. The firm offers products for maintenance, repair, remodeling, home decorating and property maintenance. It also provides home improvement products in the following categories: appliances, bathroom, building supply, electrical, flooring, hardware, paint, kitchen, plumbing, lighting & fans, outdoor living, windows and doors.

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