Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. Decreases Stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. lowered its stake in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 1.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 249,428 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 3,608 shares during the period. Lowe’s Companies accounts for 2.8% of Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $61,559,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. IFS Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Lowe’s Companies by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,339 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $1,071,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the period. Mason & Associates Inc raised its position in Lowe’s Companies by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Mason & Associates Inc now owns 1,006 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $248,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Foresight Capital Management Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Lowe’s Companies during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $305,000. Finally, Heritage Family Offices LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 8,359 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $2,063,000 after acquiring an additional 409 shares during the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

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 stock was sold at an average price of $274.37, for a total transaction of $1,974,915.26. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,703 shares in the company, valued at $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LOW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com lowered Lowe’s Companies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $305.00 price objective on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Mizuho raised their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $282.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Lowe’s Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Loop Capital raised shares of Lowe’s Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $250.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $280.85.

Lowe’s Companies Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of LOW opened at $256.08 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $144.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.36, a PEG ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.11. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $209.55 and a fifty-two week high of $287.01. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $260.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $253.93.

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 1.80%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 22nd. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 38.37%.

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.