Investors Concerned About Returns on AI Spending Amid Market Volatility
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 20 hours ago
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Increased Market Volatility: Investor concerns regarding the returns on AI spending by major tech companies have led to significant market volatility, with the S&P 500 momentum index outperforming the broader market by over 70% since 2024, nearing levels seen during the dot-com bubble of the 1990s.
- Investment Strategy Shift: Jefferies recommends that investors hold high-quality, low-momentum stocks to navigate potential AI-induced market turbulence this summer, emphasizing the selection of companies with market values exceeding $10 billion and free cash flow yields above 3%.
- AI Investment Risks: Jefferies highlights that hyperscalers' capital spending in AI is projected to reach $700 billion, yet rising costs and shifting market sentiment could increase the risks associated with AI-led momentum strategies, which previously included materials and defense stocks before the outbreak of war with Iran.
- Strong Individual Stock Performance: AbbVie is rated as a high-quality stock by Jefferies, with an expected compound annual growth rate of nearly 28% from 2026 to 2027 and first-quarter global net revenues of $15 billion, primarily driven by a $7.3 billion immunology portfolio, while Netflix also features on Jefferies' list despite an 18% decline in its stock price so far in 2026.
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Analyst Views on LOW
Wall Street analysts forecast LOW stock price to rise
22 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 223.780
Low
250.00
Averages
278.27
High
316.00
Current: 223.780
Low
250.00
Averages
278.27
High
316.00
About LOW
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a home improvement company. The Company offers a complete line of products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and decorating. It offers home improvement products in various categories, including appliances, seasonal and outdoor living, lumber, lawn and garden, kitchens and bath, hardware, building materials, millwork, paint, rough plumbing, tools, electrical, flooring, and decor. It is focused on offering a wide selection of national brand-name merchandise complemented by its selection of private brands. Its services include installed sales and Lowe's Protection Plans and Repair Services. The Company offers installation services through independent contractors in many of its product categories. It offers extended protection plans for certain products within the appliances, kitchens and bath, decor, millwork, rough plumbing, electrical, seasonal and outdoor living, tools, and hardware categories. It operates over 1,700 home improvement stores.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Lowe's Stock Performance Analysis and Future Outlook
- Stock Fluctuation: Lowe's recent closing price of $223.78 reflects a 1.64% decline from the previous trading day, underperforming against the S&P 500's gain of 0.72%, indicating market caution regarding its short-term performance.
- Earnings Expectations: Lowe's is set to release its earnings report on August 19, 2026, with an expected EPS of $4.26, representing a 1.62% decline year-over-year, while revenue is projected at $26.25 billion, showing a 9.54% increase, highlighting the company's revenue growth potential.
- Valuation Analysis: Currently, Lowe's has a forward P/E ratio of 18.23, which is below the industry average of 23.84, suggesting that its stock may be undervalued in the current market environment, potentially attracting value investors.
- Industry Ranking: The Retail-Home Furnishings industry, where Lowe's operates, ranks 209 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the bottom 16% of over 250 industries, which may affect investor confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Investors Concerned About Returns on AI Spending Amid Market Volatility
- Increased Market Volatility: Investor concerns regarding the returns on AI spending by major tech companies have led to significant market volatility, with the S&P 500 momentum index outperforming the broader market by over 70% since 2024, nearing levels seen during the dot-com bubble of the 1990s.
- Investment Strategy Shift: Jefferies recommends that investors hold high-quality, low-momentum stocks to navigate potential AI-induced market turbulence this summer, emphasizing the selection of companies with market values exceeding $10 billion and free cash flow yields above 3%.
- AI Investment Risks: Jefferies highlights that hyperscalers' capital spending in AI is projected to reach $700 billion, yet rising costs and shifting market sentiment could increase the risks associated with AI-led momentum strategies, which previously included materials and defense stocks before the outbreak of war with Iran.
- Strong Individual Stock Performance: AbbVie is rated as a high-quality stock by Jefferies, with an expected compound annual growth rate of nearly 28% from 2026 to 2027 and first-quarter global net revenues of $15 billion, primarily driven by a $7.3 billion immunology portfolio, while Netflix also features on Jefferies' list despite an 18% decline in its stock price so far in 2026.
See More
Jefferies Recommends Low-Stress Quality Stocks Amid AI Volatility
- AI Investment Risks: Jefferies highlights increasing market volatility due to concerns over AI investments, recommending that investors hold low-stress quality stocks to navigate potential risks, particularly as overinvestment in AI could lead to market corrections.
- Quality Company Screening: The high-quality companies recommended by Jefferies must have market values exceeding $10 billion, solid fundamentals, and long-term free cash flow yields above 3%, while also being valued at less than 20 times expected earnings over the next year to ensure stability in uncertain markets.
- AbbVie Standout Performance: AbbVie is rated as a top-quality stock by Jefferies, with an expected compound annual growth rate of nearly 28% for 2026-2027 and a free cash flow yield of 5.2%, reflecting a strong growth and cash flow combination, reporting $15 billion in global net revenues in Q1, largely driven by a $7.3 billion immunology portfolio.
- Cautious Outlook for Netflix: Although Netflix also received a high-quality score in Jefferies' model, forecasting a 13% revenue growth for Q2, its stock fell 10% in mid-April due to concentrated content spending in the first half, indicating market caution regarding its future performance.
See More
Analysis of Retirement Income Growth Strategies
- Income Growth Potential: Starting with a 3.5% yield and assuming an 8% annual growth, a $35,000 income can grow to approximately $140,000 in 20 years, highlighting the critical importance of compounding effects in long-term retirement income.
- High-Yield Risks: High-yield instruments like mortgage REITs may offer substantial initial income, but as principal erodes, retirees will face significant purchasing power loss over a 25-year retirement, underscoring the need for stable growth investments.
- Advantages of Dividend Growth: Companies like Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have consistently raised dividends over the past decade, achieving 175% and 70 years of dividend growth respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of dividend growth strategies in long-term investing.
- Capital Requirement Analysis: To achieve an annual income of $60,000, a 3.5% yield requires approximately $1.714 million in capital, while a 12% yield only needs $500,000; although high yields seem attractive, stable growth investments may prove more advantageous in the long run.
See More
Home Improvement Showdown: Comparing Home Depot and Lowe's Growth Strategies
- Performance Comparison: For FY 2025, Home Depot reported sales of $164.7 billion, reflecting a 3.2% increase with a net income of $14.8 billion, showcasing its strong position in the professional market, while Lowe's generated $86.3 billion in revenue, up 3.1%, with a net income of $6.7 billion, indicating solid growth in the DIY segment.
- Acquisition and Expansion Strategies: Home Depot has enhanced its service capabilities for professional contractors by acquiring companies like SRS and GMS, aiming to become a one-stop shop for large renovation projects; Lowe's has expanded its branch network through the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group to better serve both homeowners and commercial clients.
- Risks and Challenges: Home Depot faces significant risks related to cybersecurity and regulatory scrutiny over data privacy, with recent legal challenges potentially impacting its reputation; Lowe's is sensitive to macroeconomic factors affecting the housing market, and it also faces operational risks during the integration of large acquisitions and its multi-year technology transformation.
- Future Growth Expectations: Analysts project Home Depot's sales to grow nearly 4% and net income to increase just over 1% in FY 2026, while Lowe's is expected to see sales growth of about 8% and net income growth of around 2.5%, with initiatives to enhance contractor customer experience through AI tools that reduce order fulfillment time from days to hours.
See More
Analysis of Competition Among Home Improvement Giants
- Market Leadership: Home Depot achieved sales of $164.7 billion in FY 2025, reflecting a 3.2% year-over-year growth with a net income of $14.8 billion, underscoring its strong influence in the professional contractor market, which is expected to continue attracting high-value clients.
- Acquisition Expansion Strategy: Lowe's expanded its branch network through the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group, generating revenue of approximately $86.3 billion in FY 2025, a 3.1% increase, indicating its accelerating penetration into the professional market while balancing the needs of homeowners and commercial clients.
- Technological Innovation Drive: Lowe's introduced an AI-assisted tool that is expected to reduce pro order fulfillment time from days to hours, with first-quarter sales rising by 10%, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing customer experience and attracting contractor clients.
- Financial Health Comparison: Home Depot's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 5.1x, while Lowe's is at -4.5x; despite Lowe's being more attractive on a price-to-earnings and price-to-sales basis, the differences in their financial structures may influence investor choices.
See More
Lowe's Stock Performance Analysis and Future Outlook
- Stock Fluctuation: Lowe's recent closing price of $223.78 reflects a 1.64% decline from the previous trading day, underperforming against the S&P 500's gain of 0.72%, indicating market caution regarding its short-term performance.
- Earnings Expectations: Lowe's is set to release its earnings report on August 19, 2026, with an expected EPS of $4.26, representing a 1.62% decline year-over-year, while revenue is projected at $26.25 billion, showing a 9.54% increase, highlighting the company's revenue growth potential.
- Valuation Analysis: Currently, Lowe's has a forward P/E ratio of 18.23, which is below the industry average of 23.84, suggesting that its stock may be undervalued in the current market environment, potentially attracting value investors.
- Industry Ranking: The Retail-Home Furnishings industry, where Lowe's operates, ranks 209 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the bottom 16% of over 250 industries, which may affect investor confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Investors Concerned About Returns on AI Spending Amid Market Volatility
- Increased Market Volatility: Investor concerns regarding the returns on AI spending by major tech companies have led to significant market volatility, with the S&P 500 momentum index outperforming the broader market by over 70% since 2024, nearing levels seen during the dot-com bubble of the 1990s.
- Investment Strategy Shift: Jefferies recommends that investors hold high-quality, low-momentum stocks to navigate potential AI-induced market turbulence this summer, emphasizing the selection of companies with market values exceeding $10 billion and free cash flow yields above 3%.
- AI Investment Risks: Jefferies highlights that hyperscalers' capital spending in AI is projected to reach $700 billion, yet rising costs and shifting market sentiment could increase the risks associated with AI-led momentum strategies, which previously included materials and defense stocks before the outbreak of war with Iran.
- Strong Individual Stock Performance: AbbVie is rated as a high-quality stock by Jefferies, with an expected compound annual growth rate of nearly 28% from 2026 to 2027 and first-quarter global net revenues of $15 billion, primarily driven by a $7.3 billion immunology portfolio, while Netflix also features on Jefferies' list despite an 18% decline in its stock price so far in 2026.
See More
Jefferies Recommends Low-Stress Quality Stocks Amid AI Volatility
- AI Investment Risks: Jefferies highlights increasing market volatility due to concerns over AI investments, recommending that investors hold low-stress quality stocks to navigate potential risks, particularly as overinvestment in AI could lead to market corrections.
- Quality Company Screening: The high-quality companies recommended by Jefferies must have market values exceeding $10 billion, solid fundamentals, and long-term free cash flow yields above 3%, while also being valued at less than 20 times expected earnings over the next year to ensure stability in uncertain markets.
- AbbVie Standout Performance: AbbVie is rated as a top-quality stock by Jefferies, with an expected compound annual growth rate of nearly 28% for 2026-2027 and a free cash flow yield of 5.2%, reflecting a strong growth and cash flow combination, reporting $15 billion in global net revenues in Q1, largely driven by a $7.3 billion immunology portfolio.
- Cautious Outlook for Netflix: Although Netflix also received a high-quality score in Jefferies' model, forecasting a 13% revenue growth for Q2, its stock fell 10% in mid-April due to concentrated content spending in the first half, indicating market caution regarding its future performance.
See More
Analysis of Retirement Income Growth Strategies
- Income Growth Potential: Starting with a 3.5% yield and assuming an 8% annual growth, a $35,000 income can grow to approximately $140,000 in 20 years, highlighting the critical importance of compounding effects in long-term retirement income.
- High-Yield Risks: High-yield instruments like mortgage REITs may offer substantial initial income, but as principal erodes, retirees will face significant purchasing power loss over a 25-year retirement, underscoring the need for stable growth investments.
- Advantages of Dividend Growth: Companies like Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have consistently raised dividends over the past decade, achieving 175% and 70 years of dividend growth respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of dividend growth strategies in long-term investing.
- Capital Requirement Analysis: To achieve an annual income of $60,000, a 3.5% yield requires approximately $1.714 million in capital, while a 12% yield only needs $500,000; although high yields seem attractive, stable growth investments may prove more advantageous in the long run.
See More
Home Improvement Showdown: Comparing Home Depot and Lowe's Growth Strategies
- Performance Comparison: For FY 2025, Home Depot reported sales of $164.7 billion, reflecting a 3.2% increase with a net income of $14.8 billion, showcasing its strong position in the professional market, while Lowe's generated $86.3 billion in revenue, up 3.1%, with a net income of $6.7 billion, indicating solid growth in the DIY segment.
- Acquisition and Expansion Strategies: Home Depot has enhanced its service capabilities for professional contractors by acquiring companies like SRS and GMS, aiming to become a one-stop shop for large renovation projects; Lowe's has expanded its branch network through the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group to better serve both homeowners and commercial clients.
- Risks and Challenges: Home Depot faces significant risks related to cybersecurity and regulatory scrutiny over data privacy, with recent legal challenges potentially impacting its reputation; Lowe's is sensitive to macroeconomic factors affecting the housing market, and it also faces operational risks during the integration of large acquisitions and its multi-year technology transformation.
- Future Growth Expectations: Analysts project Home Depot's sales to grow nearly 4% and net income to increase just over 1% in FY 2026, while Lowe's is expected to see sales growth of about 8% and net income growth of around 2.5%, with initiatives to enhance contractor customer experience through AI tools that reduce order fulfillment time from days to hours.
See More
Analysis of Competition Among Home Improvement Giants
- Market Leadership: Home Depot achieved sales of $164.7 billion in FY 2025, reflecting a 3.2% year-over-year growth with a net income of $14.8 billion, underscoring its strong influence in the professional contractor market, which is expected to continue attracting high-value clients.
- Acquisition Expansion Strategy: Lowe's expanded its branch network through the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group, generating revenue of approximately $86.3 billion in FY 2025, a 3.1% increase, indicating its accelerating penetration into the professional market while balancing the needs of homeowners and commercial clients.
- Technological Innovation Drive: Lowe's introduced an AI-assisted tool that is expected to reduce pro order fulfillment time from days to hours, with first-quarter sales rising by 10%, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing customer experience and attracting contractor clients.
- Financial Health Comparison: Home Depot's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 5.1x, while Lowe's is at -4.5x; despite Lowe's being more attractive on a price-to-earnings and price-to-sales basis, the differences in their financial structures may influence investor choices.
See More
