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Lowe's (LOW) Q4 Earnings & Sales Beat, Digital Sales Strong
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Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (LOW - Free Report) reported robust fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein earnings and sales outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate and grew year over year. Notably, the company delivered the seventh straight earnings beat and the fourth consecutive sales surprise.
Results benefited from its focus on the execution of strategies to meet the strong demand across the board. Backed by the demand, the company recorded sales growth of more than 16% across the all merchandise departments and more than 19% in all U.S. regions. Apparently, sales at lowes.com increased 121% in the fiscal fourth quarter. Moreover, the company is focused on improving operating efficiency. Going forward, management is committed toward expanding market share and boosting operating margin expansion.
Moreover, the company has been investing in providing pandemic-related support to frontline hourly associates through bonuses and incentives. In the reported quarter, management invested more than $100 million to assist frontline hourly associates. This brought the total COVID-related associate financial support to above $900 million for fiscal 2020. It invested about $1.3 billion in relation to COVID-related support for associates, store safety and community pandemic relief in the same fiscal.
Over the past three months, shares of the home-improvement retailer have gained 8.7% compared with the industry’s growth of 3.3%.
Q4 in Detail
Adjusted earnings of $1.33 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22 and rose 41.5% year over year.
Lowes Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Net sales of $20,311 million rose 26.7% year over year and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $19,542 million. Notably, comparable sales increased 28.1% during the quarter under review. Comparable sales for the U.S. home-improvement business reflected a robust rise of 28.6% in the quarter.
Gross profit improved 29.6% year over year to $6,456 million, while gross margin expanded 70 basis points to 31.8% on strong top-line growth.
Other Financial Aspects
The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company ended the fiscal fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4,690 million, long-term debt (excluding current maturities) of $20,668 million, and shareholders’ equity of $1,437 million. Moreover, its revolving credit facility had $3 billion of undrawn capacity at the end of the fiscal fourth quarter. This provides the company with adequate liquidity to meet future contingencies.
Lowe’s generated cash flow from operations of $11,049 million as of Jan 29, 2021. Moreover, it spent $1,791 million toward capital expenditure in fiscal 2020.
During the fiscal fourth quarter, Lowe’s bought back 21.1 million shares worth $3.4 billion and paid dividends of $452 million. In fiscal 2020, the company returned $6.7 billion to shareholders, including repurchases of $5 billion and dividends of $1.7 billion.
As of Jan 29, 2021, the company operated 1,974 home-improvement and hardware stores across the United States and Canada. Further, it serviced nearly 230 dealer-owned stores.
Key Things to Note
Lowe’s continues to witness sales momentum in February. Driven by a strong quarterly performance, management reiterated the perspectives issued at the Dec 9, 2020 Investor Update. On Dec 9, the company had introduced the Total Home strategy that includes providing complete solutions for various types of home repair and improvement needs. The strategy is an extension of the company’s retail-fundamentals approach.
Management highlighted that the new strategy focuses on strengthening customer engagement and market share, especially through the intensified focus on Pro customers. Moreover the initiative encompasses improving online business, refurbishing installation services as well as enhancing localization efforts.
Furthermore, Lowe’s is planning share buybacks of $9 billion and capital expenditures of $2 billion in fiscal 2021.
Lumber Liquidators (LL - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 27.5%. It presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Target (TGT - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.5%.
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A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
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Lowe's (LOW) Q4 Earnings & Sales Beat, Digital Sales Strong
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (LOW - Free Report) reported robust fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein earnings and sales outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate and grew year over year. Notably, the company delivered the seventh straight earnings beat and the fourth consecutive sales surprise.
Results benefited from its focus on the execution of strategies to meet the strong demand across the board. Backed by the demand, the company recorded sales growth of more than 16% across the all merchandise departments and more than 19% in all U.S. regions. Apparently, sales at lowes.com increased 121% in the fiscal fourth quarter. Moreover, the company is focused on improving operating efficiency. Going forward, management is committed toward expanding market share and boosting operating margin expansion.
Moreover, the company has been investing in providing pandemic-related support to frontline hourly associates through bonuses and incentives. In the reported quarter, management invested more than $100 million to assist frontline hourly associates. This brought the total COVID-related associate financial support to above $900 million for fiscal 2020. It invested about $1.3 billion in relation to COVID-related support for associates, store safety and community pandemic relief in the same fiscal.
Over the past three months, shares of the home-improvement retailer have gained 8.7% compared with the industry’s growth of 3.3%.
Q4 in Detail
Adjusted earnings of $1.33 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22 and rose 41.5% year over year.
Lowes Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Lowes Companies, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Lowes Companies, Inc. Quote
Net sales of $20,311 million rose 26.7% year over year and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $19,542 million. Notably, comparable sales increased 28.1% during the quarter under review. Comparable sales for the U.S. home-improvement business reflected a robust rise of 28.6% in the quarter.
Gross profit improved 29.6% year over year to $6,456 million, while gross margin expanded 70 basis points to 31.8% on strong top-line growth.
Other Financial Aspects
The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company ended the fiscal fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4,690 million, long-term debt (excluding current maturities) of $20,668 million, and shareholders’ equity of $1,437 million. Moreover, its revolving credit facility had $3 billion of undrawn capacity at the end of the fiscal fourth quarter. This provides the company with adequate liquidity to meet future contingencies.
Lowe’s generated cash flow from operations of $11,049 million as of Jan 29, 2021. Moreover, it spent $1,791 million toward capital expenditure in fiscal 2020.
During the fiscal fourth quarter, Lowe’s bought back 21.1 million shares worth $3.4 billion and paid dividends of $452 million. In fiscal 2020, the company returned $6.7 billion to shareholders, including repurchases of $5 billion and dividends of $1.7 billion.
As of Jan 29, 2021, the company operated 1,974 home-improvement and hardware stores across the United States and Canada. Further, it serviced nearly 230 dealer-owned stores.
Key Things to Note
Lowe’s continues to witness sales momentum in February. Driven by a strong quarterly performance, management reiterated the perspectives issued at the Dec 9, 2020 Investor Update. On Dec 9, the company had introduced the Total Home strategy that includes providing complete solutions for various types of home repair and improvement needs. The strategy is an extension of the company’s retail-fundamentals approach.
Management highlighted that the new strategy focuses on strengthening customer engagement and market share, especially through the intensified focus on Pro customers. Moreover the initiative encompasses improving online business, refurbishing installation services as well as enhancing localization efforts.
Furthermore, Lowe’s is planning share buybacks of $9 billion and capital expenditures of $2 billion in fiscal 2021.
Don’t Miss These Solid Bets
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 18% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Lumber Liquidators (LL - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 27.5%. It presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Target (TGT - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.5%.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>