First Fiduciary Investment Counsel Inc. Sells 225 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

First Fiduciary Investment Counsel Inc. cut its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 0.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 99,358 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 225 shares during the period. Lowe’s Companies makes up approximately 5.0% of First Fiduciary Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. First Fiduciary Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $24,522,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. IFS Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 555.6% in the 3rd quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors now owns 118 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MFA Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 118.6% in the 3rd quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 129 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.37, for a total value of $1,974,915.26. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,703 shares in the company, valued at $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. DA Davidson boosted their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $250.00 price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $282.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $229.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lowe’s Companies currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $280.85.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

Shares of LOW stock opened at $256.69 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $144.94 billion, a PE ratio of 21.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $257.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $258.11. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $211.80 and a 1 year high of $287.01.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd were issued a $1.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 22nd. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.79%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.37%.

Lowe’s Companies Company 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.