Allianz SE Makes New $9.15 Million Investment in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Allianz SE acquired a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 37,096 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $9,153,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in LOW. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,780,000. Intrust Bank NA grew its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 8,996 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $2,220,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Allstate Corp purchased a new position in shares of Lowe’s Companies in the fourth quarter worth $4,147,000. DnB Asset Management AS raised its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. DnB Asset Management AS now owns 102,983 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $25,416,000 after buying an additional 4,195 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Level Four Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 31,514 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $7,778,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on LOW shares. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $301.00 to $304.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Lowe’s Companies to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $292.00 to $285.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Lowe’s Companies has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $279.71.

Lowe’s Companies Trading Down 1.7 %

NYSE:LOW opened at $228.20 on Friday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $211.80 and a twelve month high of $287.01. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $245.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $257.24. The company has a market cap of $127.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.12.

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

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be paid a $1.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 23rd. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.02%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.67%.

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.