Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. Acquires 125 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 176.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 196 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $48,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FMR LLC increased its position in Lowe’s Companies by 10.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 26,010,730 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $7,045,006,000 after purchasing an additional 2,399,897 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 1,889.7% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,134,969 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $578,256,000 after buying an additional 2,027,668 shares during the last quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 387.7% during the 3rd quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC now owns 811,374 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $219,761,000 after buying an additional 645,017 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 170.5% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 735,633 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $162,178,000 after buying an additional 463,645 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 25,013,655 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $6,774,948,000 after acquiring an additional 460,851 shares during the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LOW opened at $256.73 on Thursday. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $209.55 and a 1-year high of $287.01. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $260.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $253.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $144.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.11.

Lowe’s Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd will be paid a $1.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 22nd. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.79%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the firm’s 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,703 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,582,802.11. This trade represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on LOW shares. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America increased their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $275.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies from $280.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. 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 research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, 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. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Lowe’s Companies presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $280.85.

Lowe’s Companies Company 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.