Hartford Investment Management Co. Sells 788 Shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Hartford Investment Management Co. decreased its stake in shares of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 35,058 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock after selling 788 shares during the quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Lowe’s Companies were worth $8,652,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Crew Capital Management Ltd. boosted its position in Lowe’s Companies by 1.0% during the third quarter. Crew Capital Management Ltd. now owns 3,873 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $1,049,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Lowe’s Companies by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,375 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $372,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. now owns 7,460 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $2,021,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Powers Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Powers Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,541 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $380,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Saxony Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Lowe’s Companies by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Saxony Capital Management LLC now owns 994 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. 74.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other Lowe’s Companies news, EVP Quonta D. Vance sold 7,198 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,703 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,582,802.11. This represents a 30.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Lowe’s Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LOW opened at $257.09 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $256.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $258.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $145.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.11. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $211.80 and a 12 month high of $287.01.

Lowe’s Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd were given a dividend of $1.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 22nd. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.79%. Lowe’s Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.37%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on LOW shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Lowe’s Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 price target on shares of Lowe’s Companies in a report on Thursday, December 12th. 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. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Lowe’s Companies from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Mizuho lifted 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. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $280.88.

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.