Axiom Financial Strategies LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Axiom Financial Strategies LLC increased its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 3.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,377 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. Lowe’s Companies makes up approximately 0.2% of Axiom Financial Strategies LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $340,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 37.6% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 80,500 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $17,664,000 after purchasing an additional 21,995 shares in the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 10.2% during the 2nd quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,979 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $436,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Ascent Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 12.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 4,028 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $888,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 204,435 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $45,070,000 after purchasing an additional 2,585 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lowe’s Companies during the second quarter worth approximately $394,000. 74.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Up 1.4 %

LOW stock opened at $265.97 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $150.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.11. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $209.81 and a 12 month high of $287.01. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $259.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $256.48.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd will be given a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 22nd. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio is 38.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,703 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LOW has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $291.00 to $292.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Wedbush reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $250.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. 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, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $280.85.

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.