Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Makes New $8.91 Million Investment in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 36,119 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $8,914,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in LOW. United Bank boosted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. United Bank now owns 10,099 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $2,735,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the period. Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC now owns 1,729 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $468,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 36.5% during the 3rd quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 2,357 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $638,000 after purchasing an additional 630 shares during the period. Mendel Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Mendel Capital Management LLC now owns 1,371 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $371,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, Capital City Trust Co. FL lifted its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 11.6% in the 3rd quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL now owns 1,763 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $478,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.06% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Performance

Shares of LOW opened at $225.85 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $127.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.84, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.12. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $249.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $258.48. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $211.80 and a 52 week high of $287.01.

Lowe’s Companies (NYSE:LOW) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $18.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.29 billion. Lowe’s Companies had a negative return on equity of 47.55% and a net margin of 8.19%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on LOW shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $301.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price objective on Lowe’s Companies from $305.00 to $300.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Lowe’s Companies has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $280.83.

Lowe’s Companies 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.