Brokerages Set Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Target Price at $280.85

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-six brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $280.85.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Wedbush reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $250.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. StockNews.com raised shares of Lowe’s Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $275.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 11th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was 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 $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. IFS Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of 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 worth $30,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors raised its position in 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 buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MFA Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 118.6% during the 3rd quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 129 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE:LOW opened at $261.16 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $259.44 and a 200-day moving average of $255.60. Lowe’s Companies has a 12 month low of $209.55 and a 12 month high of $287.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.47 billion, a PE ratio of 21.78, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.11.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 22nd will be given a dividend of $1.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 22nd. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. Lowe’s Companies’s payout ratio is presently 38.37%.

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.