Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $1.20

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 21st will be paid a dividend of 1.20 per share by the home improvement retailer on Wednesday, February 4th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 21st.

Lowe’s Companies has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.2%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 53 consecutive years. Lowe’s Companies has a payout ratio of 36.0% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Lowe’s Companies to earn $12.54 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $4.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 38.3%.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE LOW opened at $277.66 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $155.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.02, a P/E/G ratio of 4.60 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $245.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $244.63. Lowe’s Companies has a fifty-two week low of $206.38 and a fifty-two week high of $278.44.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $3.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.09. Lowe’s Companies had a net margin of 8.05% and a negative return on equity of 55.86%. The firm had revenue of $20.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.88 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.89 EPS. Lowe’s Companies’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lowe’s Companies will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Lowe’s Companies

In related news, CEO Marvin R. Ellison sold 18,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.17, for a total value of $4,701,060.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 231,043 shares in the company, valued at $60,341,500.31. This trade represents a 7.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Lowe’s Companies

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Waterloo Capital L.P. increased its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 1.2% in the second quarter. Waterloo Capital L.P. now owns 3,455 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $767,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. TruWealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. TruWealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,580 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $397,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Cypress Wealth Services LLC grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 2,191 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $551,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Hidden Cove Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Lowe’s Companies by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Hidden Cove Wealth Management LLC now owns 960 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $241,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Pacific Financial raised its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 2,544 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $613,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. 74.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Lowe’s Companies

Lowe’s Companies, Inc is a leading home improvement retailer that operates large-format stores and digital channels serving both do-it-yourself homeowners and professional contractors. The company offers a broad assortment of products including building materials, lumber, appliances, tools and hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies, paint, flooring, kitchen and bath fixtures, outdoor and garden products, and home decor. Lowe’s also provides a range of services such as installation, home improvement financing, tool and equipment rental, and contractor-focused sales programs.

Operations are centered on a nationwide brick-and-mortar store network supported by distribution centers and an e-commerce platform that enables online ordering, delivery and in-store pickup.