CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co Has $132.82 Million Holdings in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co decreased its stake in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 10.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 538,054 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after selling 65,515 shares during the period. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co owned 0.10% of Lowe's Companies worth $132,822,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies by 4.0% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 649,601 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $175,944,000 after buying an additional 24,812 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its position in Lowe's Companies by 288.6% during the fourth quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 19,028 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $4,696,000 after purchasing an additional 14,132 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 362,209 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $98,104,000 after acquiring an additional 4,435 shares in the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV raised its stake in shares of Lowe's Companies by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 19,830 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $4,894,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares in the last quarter. Finally, World Investment Advisors raised its position in Lowe's Companies by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 26,329 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $6,498,000 after acquiring an additional 2,615 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Stock Performance

LOW traded up $4.60 during trading on Friday, reaching $219.01. 2,166,819 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,469,826. The stock has a market cap of $122.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.07. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $232.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $252.76. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $206.39 and a twelve month high of $287.01.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last released 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 firm had revenue of $18.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $18.29 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lowe's Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be issued a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 23rd. Lowe's Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 37.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on LOW. BNP Paribas upgraded Lowe's Companies to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. DA Davidson reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $270.00 target price on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research report on Wednesday. StockNews.com upgraded Lowe's Companies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Lowe's Companies from $305.00 to $290.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Lowe's Companies from $292.00 to $285.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $278.74.

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.