Impax Asset Management Group plc Buys 35,454 Shares of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its holdings in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - Free Report) by 32.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 146,216 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock after acquiring an additional 35,454 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc's holdings in Lowe's Companies were worth $36,086,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of LOW. StoneX Group Inc. purchased a new position in Lowe's Companies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,713,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lowe's Companies by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 649,601 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $175,944,000 after acquiring an additional 24,812 shares during the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its position in Lowe's Companies by 288.6% in the fourth quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 19,028 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock worth $4,696,000 after acquiring an additional 14,132 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Lowe's Companies by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 362,209 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $98,104,000 after acquiring an additional 4,435 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV raised its position in Lowe's Companies by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 19,830 shares of the home improvement retailer's stock valued at $4,894,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.06% of the company's stock.

Lowe's Companies Trading Up 2.0 %

Lowe's Companies stock traded up $4.77 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $247.16. The company had a trading volume of 4,663,678 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,386,277. Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $211.80 and a 12 month high of $287.01. The company has a market capitalization of $139.56 billion, a PE ratio of 20.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.11. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $252.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $258.86.

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The home improvement retailer reported $1.93 earnings per share (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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Lowe's Companies, Inc. will post 11.9 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LOW has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wedbush reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $250.00 price objective on shares of Lowe's Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. DA Davidson upped their target price on Lowe's Companies from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on shares of Lowe's Companies from $301.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note 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 stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Lowe's Companies from $229.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.