Lowe's Reports Q1 Earnings with Mixed Results and Strategic Initiatives
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 20 2026
0mins
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Sales Performance: Lowe's reported $23.1 billion in sales for Q1, reflecting a 0.6% increase, despite DIY demand being pressured by high interest rates and low housing turnover, with strong performance in Pro, Appliances, and Online Services demonstrating the effectiveness of its Total Home strategy.
- Online Sales Growth: Online sales surged by 15.5%, driven by enhancements in user experience and fulfillment capabilities, including same-day delivery, which not only boosts customer loyalty but also lays a foundation for future sales growth.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Lowe's plans to invest up to $2.5 billion in capital expenditures over the next year, including $250 million aimed at training the next generation of skilled tradespeople to address industry labor shortages, showcasing the company's commitment to long-term development.
- Margin Pressure: Gross margin decreased by 70 basis points to 32.7%, primarily due to the dilutive impact of recent acquisitions, although the company is working with suppliers and leveraging productivity initiatives to manage cost pressures and maintain profitability.
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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: 217.920
Low
250.00
Averages
278.27
High
316.00
Current: 217.920
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 Increases Quarterly Dividend by 4.2%
- Dividend Increase: Lowe's has declared a quarterly dividend increase from $1.20 to $1.25 per share, representing a 4.2% rise, which reflects the company's ongoing improvement in cash flow stability and profitability, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Yield Metrics: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 2.29%, providing a relatively attractive return for investors, particularly in the current market environment, which may draw in more income-seeking investors.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on August 5, with a record date of July 22 and an ex-dividend date also set for July 22, ensuring shareholders receive timely enhanced returns, further solidifying the company's relationship with its investors.
- Market Outlook: Analysts believe Lowe's will capitalize on the aging housing market and increasing demand for professional renovations, indicating that while short-term growth prospects may be wobbly, the company's fundamentals remain strong, showcasing potential for long-term investment.
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Lowe's Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Increase
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- Consistent Dividend Record: Since going public in 1961, Lowe's has paid cash dividends every quarter and has increased its dividend for over 25 consecutive years, solidifying its status as a Dividend Aristocrat and boosting investor confidence.
- Strategic Investment: CEO Marvin R. Ellison emphasized that the company is executing its Total Home strategy while maintaining disciplined execution, aiming to drive long-term growth and enhance shareholder value.
- Market Performance: With fiscal 2025 sales exceeding $86 billion, Lowe's employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,750 stores, showcasing its strong market position and influence in the home improvement industry.
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Investment Choices in Home Improvement Market Analysis
- Lowe's Performance Overview: In fiscal 2025, Lowe's achieved revenue of $86 billion, reflecting a growth of approximately 3%, with a net income of about $6.7 billion and a net margin of 7.7%, indicating its stability and profitability in the home improvement market.
- Home Depot Highlights: Home Depot reported nearly $165 billion in revenue for 2025, growing around 3.2%, with a net income of approximately $14.2 billion and a net margin of 8.6%, showcasing its strong performance and profitability in the market.
- Competitive Risk Analysis: Lowe's faces intense competition from retail giants like Walmart and Amazon, with its performance heavily reliant on the health of the housing market and consumer spending, while Home Depot is sensitive to high interest rates that may slow down large renovation projects.
- Valuation Comparison: Lowe's forward P/E ratio stands at 17x, lower than Home Depot's 20.7x, and its P/S ratio is 1.4x compared to Home Depot's 1.9x, indicating a more attractive value proposition and growth potential moving forward.
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- Financial Health Comparison: As of January 2026, Lowe's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 4.2 with a current ratio of approximately 1.1 and free cash flow nearing $7.7 billion; in contrast, Home Depot's debt-to-equity ratio is 5.1 with free cash flow reaching $12.6 billion, highlighting differing financial management strategies.
- Growth Potential Assessment: Analysts project Lowe's annual earnings growth at about 9%, surpassing Home Depot's 5%, while Lowe's forward P/E ratio of 17 is lower than Home Depot's 21, indicating that Lowe's may offer higher investment return potential in the current market environment.
- Competitive Risk Analysis: Lowe's faces intense competition from Walmart and Amazon, with its performance heavily reliant on the health of the housing market, whereas Home Depot may be impacted by high interest rates affecting large renovation projects, necessitating both companies to maintain competitiveness in pricing and service to avoid market share loss.
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See More
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- Dividend Increase: Lowe's has declared a quarterly dividend increase from $1.20 to $1.25 per share, representing a 4.2% rise, which reflects the company's ongoing improvement in cash flow stability and profitability, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Yield Metrics: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 2.29%, providing a relatively attractive return for investors, particularly in the current market environment, which may draw in more income-seeking investors.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on August 5, with a record date of July 22 and an ex-dividend date also set for July 22, ensuring shareholders receive timely enhanced returns, further solidifying the company's relationship with its investors.
- Market Outlook: Analysts believe Lowe's will capitalize on the aging housing market and increasing demand for professional renovations, indicating that while short-term growth prospects may be wobbly, the company's fundamentals remain strong, showcasing potential for long-term investment.
See More
Lowe's Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Increase
- Dividend Increase: Lowe's announced an increase in its quarterly cash dividend from $1.20 to $1.25 per share, representing a 4% rise, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth and disciplined capital allocation strategy.
- Consistent Dividend Record: Since going public in 1961, Lowe's has paid cash dividends every quarter and has increased its dividend for over 25 consecutive years, solidifying its status as a Dividend Aristocrat and boosting investor confidence.
- Strategic Investment: CEO Marvin R. Ellison emphasized that the company is executing its Total Home strategy while maintaining disciplined execution, aiming to drive long-term growth and enhance shareholder value.
- Market Performance: With fiscal 2025 sales exceeding $86 billion, Lowe's employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,750 stores, showcasing its strong market position and influence in the home improvement industry.
See More
Analysis of XLY ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: The XLY ETF's 52-week low is $103.855 per share, with a high of $125.01, and the latest trade at $121.49 indicates relative stability in the current market, potentially attracting investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and identify potential buying opportunities to optimize investment decisions.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade similarly to stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, offering flexibility in adapting to market fluctuations.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs highlights those experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), as these liquidity changes can impact the performance of individual stocks within the ETF, thereby affecting the overall investment portfolio.
See More
Investment Choices in Home Improvement Market Analysis
- Lowe's Performance Overview: In fiscal 2025, Lowe's achieved revenue of $86 billion, reflecting a growth of approximately 3%, with a net income of about $6.7 billion and a net margin of 7.7%, indicating its stability and profitability in the home improvement market.
- Home Depot Highlights: Home Depot reported nearly $165 billion in revenue for 2025, growing around 3.2%, with a net income of approximately $14.2 billion and a net margin of 8.6%, showcasing its strong performance and profitability in the market.
- Competitive Risk Analysis: Lowe's faces intense competition from retail giants like Walmart and Amazon, with its performance heavily reliant on the health of the housing market and consumer spending, while Home Depot is sensitive to high interest rates that may slow down large renovation projects.
- Valuation Comparison: Lowe's forward P/E ratio stands at 17x, lower than Home Depot's 20.7x, and its P/S ratio is 1.4x compared to Home Depot's 1.9x, indicating a more attractive value proposition and growth potential moving forward.
See More
Lowe's vs Home Depot: Market Competition Analysis
- Market Positioning Differences: Lowe's focuses on DIY consumers with 1,748 stores and $86 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, yielding a net income of approximately $6.7 billion and a net margin of 7.7%, while Home Depot serves a broader customer base with nearly $165 billion in revenue and a net income of about $14.2 billion, reflecting a net margin of 8.6%.
- Financial Health Comparison: As of January 2026, Lowe's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 4.2 with a current ratio of approximately 1.1 and free cash flow nearing $7.7 billion; in contrast, Home Depot's debt-to-equity ratio is 5.1 with free cash flow reaching $12.6 billion, highlighting differing financial management strategies.
- Growth Potential Assessment: Analysts project Lowe's annual earnings growth at about 9%, surpassing Home Depot's 5%, while Lowe's forward P/E ratio of 17 is lower than Home Depot's 21, indicating that Lowe's may offer higher investment return potential in the current market environment.
- Competitive Risk Analysis: Lowe's faces intense competition from Walmart and Amazon, with its performance heavily reliant on the health of the housing market, whereas Home Depot may be impacted by high interest rates affecting large renovation projects, necessitating both companies to maintain competitiveness in pricing and service to avoid market share loss.
See More
Market Performance Review Since Last CNBC Investing Club Meeting
- Overall Market Performance: Since the April 16 meeting, the S&P 500 has risen by 6.7% and the Nasdaq by 10.6%, indicating a strong market rebound and significantly boosting investor confidence in equities.
- Outstanding Performance by Arm: Arm's stock surged 97.9% since our position initiation, driven by robust demand expectations for CPUs, particularly in the AI sector, with projected revenues of $20 billion this year greatly enhancing its royalty business.
- Cybersecurity Stocks Rebound: CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks saw increases of 60.6% and 53.8%, respectively, and despite ZScaler's negative impact, the market remains optimistic about their growth prospects, with price targets raised by multiple Wall Street firms.
- Underperformance of Meta and Home Depot: Meta's stock fell 9.5% primarily due to investor concerns over its spending on generative AI, while Home Depot dropped 7.9% as high mortgage rates dampened growth expectations, reflecting a lack of confidence in their future performance.
See More
