Forsta AP Fonden Raises Holdings in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Forsta AP Fonden lifted its holdings in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 13.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 169,700 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after purchasing an additional 20,100 shares during the period. Forsta AP Fonden's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $41,882,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 37.6% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 80,500 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $17,664,000 after buying an additional 21,995 shares during the last quarter. Ascent Group LLC boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 4,028 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $888,000 after buying an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lowe's Companies in the 2nd quarter worth about $394,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 59,954 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $13,218,000 after buying an additional 4,343 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 6,952 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $1,533,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Lowe's Companies

In related news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was 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 $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Stock Performance

Shares of Lowe's Companies stock traded down $2.69 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $261.72. 2,092,161 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,301,187. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $210.10 and a 1 year high of $287.01. The stock's fifty day moving average is $259.15 and its 200 day moving average is $256.97. The firm has a market cap of $147.78 billion, a PE ratio of 21.83, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.11.

Lowe's Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd will be given a dividend of $1.15 per share. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 22nd. Lowe's Companies's dividend payout ratio is currently 38.37%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LOW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Wedbush restated a "neutral" rating and set a $250.00 target price on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Lowe's Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Lowe's Companies from $280.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Lowe's Companies presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $280.85.

Lowe's Companies Profile

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.