Hickory Asset Management Inc. Invests $272,000 in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Hickory Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 1,104 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock, valued at approximately $272,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. IFS Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lowe's Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Lowe's Companies in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Lowe's Companies by 56.4% during the fourth quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 122 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in Lowe's Companies by 555.6% during the 3rd quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors now owns 118 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MFA Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Lowe's Companies by 118.6% in the 3rd quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 129 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Lowe's Companies

In other Lowe's Companies news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,703 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on LOW. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on Lowe's Companies from $301.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Lowe's Companies from $291.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Lowe's Companies from $280.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Lowe's Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of Lowe's Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lowe's Companies has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $282.96.

Lowe's Companies Stock Down 1.7 %

NYSE LOW traded down $4.22 on Wednesday, reaching $246.49. 2,513,277 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,162,052. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $211.80 and a 12 month high of $287.01. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $254.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $258.65. The company has a market cap of $139.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.11.

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.