Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Shares Bought by Americana Partners LLC

Americana Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 16.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,744 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 3,936 shares during the quarter. Americana Partners LLC's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $6,847,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 10.2% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 26,010,730 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $7,045,006,000 after buying an additional 2,399,897 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 1.9% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 25,013,655 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $6,774,948,000 after buying an additional 460,851 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 1.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,733,461 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $3,169,041,000 after buying an additional 187,473 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 1.2% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,369,052 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $912,508,000 after buying an additional 39,953 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 1.6% during the third quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 2,343,365 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $634,700,000 after buying an additional 36,054 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.37, for a total value of $1,974,915.26. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,703 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,582,802.11. This trade represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Price Performance

NYSE:LOW traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $246.63. 2,025,629 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,157,921. The firm has a market cap of $139.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.57, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.11. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $211.80 and a 52-week high of $287.01. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $254.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $258.65.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Wedbush reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $250.00 price objective on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $300.00 price target on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Lowe's Companies from $280.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $305.00 price target on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Thursday. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Lowe's Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lowe's Companies currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $282.96.

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.