Strategies for Investing in ETFs and Stocks During Back-to-School Season
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 02 2025
0mins
Should l Buy LOW?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Back-to-School Shopping Trends: The back-to-school and college shopping season in the U.S. is seeing a significant increase in early shoppers, with 67% starting their purchases by early July, up from 55% last year. Families are concerned about rising prices, leading to earlier spending, with average budgets for K-12 and college students allocated across various categories like electronics, clothing, and food.
Retail and Investment Insights: Major retailers like Costco, Lowe's, and Amazon are highlighted as key players in the back-to-school market, while various ETFs focused on online retail, food and beverage, and semiconductors are positioned to benefit from the increased consumer spending during this season.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy LOW?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on LOW
Wall Street analysts forecast LOW stock price to fall
22 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 287.040
Low
250.00
Averages
278.27
High
316.00
Current: 287.040
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.
Cyclical Stocks Show Strong Performance Amid Market Shifts
- DuPont Restructuring: DuPont's split into Qnity Electronics and the new DuPont, focusing on healthcare and water, has shown strong quarterly results, indicating significant progress in its transformation and potential to enhance market competitiveness.
- Dover's Performance Surge: Dover's investments in industrial sectors have resulted in double-digit bookings and near double-digit earnings growth, demonstrating robust performance in a low-interest-rate environment and signaling future growth potential.
- Honeywell's Spin-Off Plans: As Honeywell approaches its split into aerospace and automation businesses, market recognition of its value is increasing, particularly for the security automation segment, which could benefit from lower rates, driving the stock price recovery from the $190s last year.
- Eaton and GE Vernova Price Target Increases: Eaton and GE Vernova's price targets have been raised from $410 and $800 to $425 and $875 respectively, reflecting strong market expectations for data center demand, despite both companies having other business developments.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Forecast 18% Rise for S&P 500
- S&P 500 Forecast: Wall Street analysts predict an 18% increase in the S&P 500 to 8,200 over the next year, reflecting optimistic market sentiment about economic recovery, which may attract more investors into the market.
- Sector Performance: The information technology and consumer discretionary sectors are expected to grow by 33% and 22%, respectively, indicating that these industries will be focal points for investors, particularly through exposure via Vanguard ETFs.
- Vanguard Tech ETF Performance: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF achieved a total return of 776% over the past decade, equivalent to an annual growth of 24%, showcasing its strong performance in the tech sector, despite underperforming during market corrections.
- Concentration Risk Management: The top three stocks in the Vanguard Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary ETFs account for 44% and 43% of their performance, respectively, prompting investors to consider diversifying their portfolios to mitigate concentration risk and enhance resilience.
See More
Wall Street Optimistic on Tech and Consumer Sectors
- Sector Outlook: Wall Street analysts forecast that the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors will outperform the S&P 500 over the next year, with expected gains of 33% and 22% respectively, indicating growing investor confidence in these areas.
- ETF Investment Opportunities: Investors can gain exposure to these sectors through the Vanguard Information Technology ETF and Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF, which heavily feature stocks like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, as well as Amazon, Tesla, and Home Depot, reflecting a strong focus on tech and consumer goods.
- Long-Term Return Potential: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF achieved a total return of 776% over the past decade, averaging 24% annually, while the Consumer Discretionary ETF delivered a total return of 311%, averaging 15% annually, highlighting the attractiveness of these sectors for long-term investment.
- Risk and Diversification Strategy: Despite underperformance during market corrections, investors should consider diversifying their portfolios by purchasing index funds tracking financials, industrials, or utilities to mitigate risks associated with economic fluctuations.
See More
Housing Market May Be Stabilizing: Building Supplies Company QXO Anticipates Recovery
- Company Overview: QXO is a building-supplies company led by Brad Jacobs, known for his history of acquiring businesses.
- Recent Activity: The company has recently announced another acquisition deal, continuing its trend of expansion through acquisitions.
See More
Senator Hickenlooper's Significant Stock Trades to Start 2026
- Trading Activity Overview: Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado disclosed four six-figure stock transactions at the start of 2026, indicating his active presence in the market, which may influence investor interest in his future trades.
- Stock Performance Analysis: The senator's two stock sales were categorized as partial sales, suggesting he may still hold shares in those companies, while Lowe's and TJX stocks have risen by 10.8% and 22.8% respectively over the past year, potentially prompting him to take profits.
- Trading History Review: Hickenlooper has been active in trading since taking office in 2021, with the recent transactions marking his first purchases since September 2025, reflecting his sensitivity to market dynamics and adjustments in investment strategy.
- Market Monitoring Recommendation: Investors should continue to monitor Hickenlooper's trading activities, particularly in light of his trading performance over the past year and prevailing market trends, as this may provide critical insights for investment decisions.
See More
Advance Auto Parts and CDW Show Active Options Trading
- Advance Auto Parts Options Activity: Advance Auto Parts Inc (AAP) has seen an options trading volume of 8,920 contracts today, representing approximately 892,000 shares, which is about 45.1% of its average daily trading volume of 2.0 million shares over the past month, indicating a significant increase in market interest.
- High Call Option Volume: Within AAP, the $55 strike call option has traded 2,756 contracts today, representing around 275,600 shares, reflecting investor expectations for AAP's future price increase, which could influence its stock performance.
- CDW Options Trading Overview: CDW Corp (CDW) has recorded an options trading volume of 7,793 contracts today, equating to approximately 779,300 shares, or about 44.4% of its average daily trading volume of 1.8 million shares over the past month, showcasing its market activity.
- CDW Call Option Trading: For CDW, the $150 strike call option has seen a trading volume of 3,713 contracts today, representing approximately 371,300 shares, indicating optimistic investor sentiment regarding CDW's future performance, which may drive its stock price higher.
See More
Cyclical Stocks Show Strong Performance Amid Market Shifts
- DuPont Restructuring: DuPont's split into Qnity Electronics and the new DuPont, focusing on healthcare and water, has shown strong quarterly results, indicating significant progress in its transformation and potential to enhance market competitiveness.
- Dover's Performance Surge: Dover's investments in industrial sectors have resulted in double-digit bookings and near double-digit earnings growth, demonstrating robust performance in a low-interest-rate environment and signaling future growth potential.
- Honeywell's Spin-Off Plans: As Honeywell approaches its split into aerospace and automation businesses, market recognition of its value is increasing, particularly for the security automation segment, which could benefit from lower rates, driving the stock price recovery from the $190s last year.
- Eaton and GE Vernova Price Target Increases: Eaton and GE Vernova's price targets have been raised from $410 and $800 to $425 and $875 respectively, reflecting strong market expectations for data center demand, despite both companies having other business developments.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Forecast 18% Rise for S&P 500
- S&P 500 Forecast: Wall Street analysts predict an 18% increase in the S&P 500 to 8,200 over the next year, reflecting optimistic market sentiment about economic recovery, which may attract more investors into the market.
- Sector Performance: The information technology and consumer discretionary sectors are expected to grow by 33% and 22%, respectively, indicating that these industries will be focal points for investors, particularly through exposure via Vanguard ETFs.
- Vanguard Tech ETF Performance: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF achieved a total return of 776% over the past decade, equivalent to an annual growth of 24%, showcasing its strong performance in the tech sector, despite underperforming during market corrections.
- Concentration Risk Management: The top three stocks in the Vanguard Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary ETFs account for 44% and 43% of their performance, respectively, prompting investors to consider diversifying their portfolios to mitigate concentration risk and enhance resilience.
See More
Wall Street Optimistic on Tech and Consumer Sectors
- Sector Outlook: Wall Street analysts forecast that the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors will outperform the S&P 500 over the next year, with expected gains of 33% and 22% respectively, indicating growing investor confidence in these areas.
- ETF Investment Opportunities: Investors can gain exposure to these sectors through the Vanguard Information Technology ETF and Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF, which heavily feature stocks like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, as well as Amazon, Tesla, and Home Depot, reflecting a strong focus on tech and consumer goods.
- Long-Term Return Potential: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF achieved a total return of 776% over the past decade, averaging 24% annually, while the Consumer Discretionary ETF delivered a total return of 311%, averaging 15% annually, highlighting the attractiveness of these sectors for long-term investment.
- Risk and Diversification Strategy: Despite underperformance during market corrections, investors should consider diversifying their portfolios by purchasing index funds tracking financials, industrials, or utilities to mitigate risks associated with economic fluctuations.
See More
Housing Market May Be Stabilizing: Building Supplies Company QXO Anticipates Recovery
- Company Overview: QXO is a building-supplies company led by Brad Jacobs, known for his history of acquiring businesses.
- Recent Activity: The company has recently announced another acquisition deal, continuing its trend of expansion through acquisitions.
See More
Senator Hickenlooper's Significant Stock Trades to Start 2026
- Trading Activity Overview: Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado disclosed four six-figure stock transactions at the start of 2026, indicating his active presence in the market, which may influence investor interest in his future trades.
- Stock Performance Analysis: The senator's two stock sales were categorized as partial sales, suggesting he may still hold shares in those companies, while Lowe's and TJX stocks have risen by 10.8% and 22.8% respectively over the past year, potentially prompting him to take profits.
- Trading History Review: Hickenlooper has been active in trading since taking office in 2021, with the recent transactions marking his first purchases since September 2025, reflecting his sensitivity to market dynamics and adjustments in investment strategy.
- Market Monitoring Recommendation: Investors should continue to monitor Hickenlooper's trading activities, particularly in light of his trading performance over the past year and prevailing market trends, as this may provide critical insights for investment decisions.
See More
Advance Auto Parts and CDW Show Active Options Trading
- Advance Auto Parts Options Activity: Advance Auto Parts Inc (AAP) has seen an options trading volume of 8,920 contracts today, representing approximately 892,000 shares, which is about 45.1% of its average daily trading volume of 2.0 million shares over the past month, indicating a significant increase in market interest.
- High Call Option Volume: Within AAP, the $55 strike call option has traded 2,756 contracts today, representing around 275,600 shares, reflecting investor expectations for AAP's future price increase, which could influence its stock performance.
- CDW Options Trading Overview: CDW Corp (CDW) has recorded an options trading volume of 7,793 contracts today, equating to approximately 779,300 shares, or about 44.4% of its average daily trading volume of 1.8 million shares over the past month, showcasing its market activity.
- CDW Call Option Trading: For CDW, the $150 strike call option has seen a trading volume of 3,713 contracts today, representing approximately 371,300 shares, indicating optimistic investor sentiment regarding CDW's future performance, which may drive its stock price higher.
See More
