Empowered Funds LLC Raises Stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 41,245 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after buying an additional 855 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $10,179,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in LOW. IFS Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Lowe’s Companies in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 56.4% during the fourth quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. JNBA Financial Advisors increased its position in Lowe’s Companies by 555.6% in the third quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors now owns 118 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MFA Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 118.6% in the third quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 129 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

Lowe’s Companies stock opened at $252.17 on Monday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $211.80 and a fifty-two week high of $287.01. The stock has a market cap of $142.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.11. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $257.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $257.92.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd were given a dividend of $1.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 22nd. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.82%. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is 38.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Lowe’s Companies news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of Lowe’s Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.37, for a total transaction of $1,974,915.26. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,703 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,582,802.11. This trade represents a 30.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LOW has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays increased their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $229.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $301.00 to $304.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $280.85.

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.