Prudential Financial Inc. Has $226.34 Million Holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Prudential Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 917,109 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after buying an additional 46,701 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $226,343,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. IFS Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 56.4% in the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:LOW opened at $227.09 on Monday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $211.80 and a 1-year high of $287.01. The stock has a market cap of $128.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.94, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $247.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $257.88.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.10. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 47.55% and a net margin of 8.19%. The firm had revenue of $18.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.29 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Lowe’s Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be paid a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.03%. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is currently 37.67%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on LOW shares. BNP Paribas raised shares of Lowe’s Companies to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Mizuho dropped their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $305.00 to $300.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $250.00 price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $305.00 to $290.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $280.83.

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.