Vest Financial LLC Decreases Stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Vest Financial LLC lessened its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 1.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 211,656 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 3,679 shares during the quarter. Vest Financial LLC’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $52,237,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cidel Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Lowe’s Companies by 1,611.4% during the 4th quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 67,702 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $16,709,000 after buying an additional 63,746 shares during the period. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $1,531,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth about $568,000. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 1,917 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $473,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 6.9% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 71,198 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $17,572,000 after purchasing an additional 4,599 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $229.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $282.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $305.00 price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $280.85.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lowe’s Companies

In related 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 transaction 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 approximately $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Down 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE LOW opened at $252.17 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $257.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $257.70. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $211.80 and a 52-week high of $287.01. The company has a market cap of $142.39 billion, a PE ratio of 21.03, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.11.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd were given a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 22nd. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.