Catalyst Financial Partners LLC Sells 702 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Catalyst Financial Partners LLC lowered its position in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 14.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,217 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 702 shares during the period. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $938,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the third quarter valued at about $26,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC lifted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 85.4% in the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 152 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Pacific Capital Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies in the third quarter worth approximately $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

LOW stock traded up $4.13 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $236.20. 1,651,555 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,436,139. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $181.85 and a 1-year high of $262.49. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $239.86 and its 200-day simple moving average is $221.76. The firm has a market cap of $135.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.94, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.15.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.09. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 51.42% and a net margin of 8.94%. The firm had revenue of $18.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.47 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.28 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 17.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 12.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 24th were paid a dividend of $1.10 per share. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 23rd. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is 33.43%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LOW has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $268.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Wedbush upped their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $215.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $240.00 to $225.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 16th. Robert W. Baird upgraded Lowe’s Companies from an “average” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $250.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $243.00 to $240.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $252.67.

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.