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. In addition, the company offers installation services through independent contractors in various product categories; and extended protection plans and repair services. It sells its national brand-name merchandise and private brand products to professional customers, homeowners, renters, businesses, and government. The company also sells its products through Lowes.com website; and through mobile applications. Lowe's Companies, Inc. was founded in 1921 and is based in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Bank OZK (Symbol: OZK), where a total volume of 4,235 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 423,500 underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 46.1% of OZK's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 917,710 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $42.50 strike call option expiring January 16, 2026, with 1,750 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 175,000 underlying shares of OZK. Below is a chart showing OZK's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $42.50 strike highlighted in orange:
Lowe's Companies Inc (Symbol: LOW) options are showing a volume of 14,412 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.4 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 45.4% of LOW's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.2 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $265 strike put option expiring September 19, 2025, with 1,562 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 156,200 underlying shares of LOW. Below is a chart showing LOW's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $265 strike highlighted in orange:
And Duolingo Inc (Symbol: DUOL) saw options trading volume of 9,486 contracts, representing approximately 948,600 underlying shares or approximately 44.8% of DUOL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $340 strike put option expiring August 22, 2025, with 646 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 64,600 underlying shares of DUOL. Below is a chart showing DUOL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $340 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for OZK options, LOW options, or DUOL options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Funds Holding SEPU
RACY market cap history
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding HEPA
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Friday Option Activity: OZK, LOW, DUOL

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Wednesday closed down by -0.24%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up by +0.04%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down by -0.58%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) fell -0.29%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) fell -0.64%.
Stock indexes on Wednesday extended Tuesday's slide, with the S&P 500 falling to a 1.5-week low and the Nasdaq 100 dropping to a 2-week low. The weakness in the Magnificent Seven technology companies and the selloff in chip stocks weighed on the overall market. Also, disappointing corporate news was negative for stocks, as Target fell more than -6% after forecasting a bigger-than-expected decline in full-year sales. Estee Lauder fell more than -3% after forecasting weaker-than-expected 2026 EPS.
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Walmart rose more than +1% on Wednesday to keep the Dow Jones Industrials in positive territory. Walmart settled higher on expectations that its Q2 earnings report, which will be released before Thursday's open, will show comparable-store sales coming in ahead of estimates. The consensus is that total Q2 US comparable sales ex-gasoline rose +4.21%.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -1.4% in the week ended August 15, with the purchase mortgage sub-index up +0.1% and the refinancing sub-index down -3.1%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +1 bp to 6.68% from 6.67% in the prior week.
Wednesday's minutes of the July 29-30 FOMC meeting were slightly hawkish and negative for stocks. The minutes showed that most policymakers judged the upside risk to inflation as a greater risk than weaker employment, saying the labor market was "solid" but inflation remained "somewhat elevated."
Diplomatic talks over the war in Ukraine continue to make headway. President Trump is pushing for a summit between Presidents Putin and Zelenskiy soon, and European leaders are discussing a plan to send British and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement. The outcome of the talks could have macroeconomic implications regarding tariffs and oil prices, and could, of course, have significant consequences for European security.
The focus of the markets this week will be on any new tariff news and signs of progress toward a Ukraine peace deal. On Thursday, weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to climb by +1,000 to 225,000, and the Aug Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey is expected to fall to 6.7 from 15.9 in July. Also, the Aug S&P manufacturing PMI is expected to remain unchanged at 49.8. In addition, Jul existing home sales are expected to fall -0.3% m/m to 3.92 million. On Friday, Fed Chair Powell speaks on the economic outlook at the Federal Reserve's annual symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Regarding tariffs, President Trump widened steel and aluminum tariffs to include more than 400 consumer items that contain the metals, such as motorcycles, auto parts, furniture components, and tableware. The change went into effect on Monday and did not exclude goods already in transit. Last Friday, Mr. Trump said, "I'll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say chips – chips and semiconductors, we'll be setting sometime next week, week after." Mr. Trump last week said he planned a 100% tariff on semiconductors but would exempt companies that move chip manufacturing to the US. Mr. Trump also mentioned 200% or 300% tariffs on chips.
In other recent tariff news, Mr. Trump last Tuesday extended the tariff truce with China for another 90 days until November. On August 6, Mr. Trump announced that he will double tariffs on US imports from India to 50% from the current 25% tariff, due to India's purchases of Russian oil. On August 5, Mr. Trump said that US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports would be announced "within the next week or so." According to Bloomberg Economics, the average US tariff will rise to 15.2% if rates are implemented as announced, up from 13.3% earlier, and significantly higher than the 2.3% in 2024 before the tariffs were announced.
Federal funds futures prices are discounting the chances for a -25 bp rate cut at 84% at the September 16-17 FOMC meeting, down from 93% last Thursday. The markets are discounting the chances at 55% for a second -25 bp rate cut at the following meeting on October 28-29.
Earnings reports indicate that S&P 500 earnings for Q2 are on track to rise +9.1% y/y, much better than the pre-season expectations of +2.8% y/y and the most in four years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. With over 93% of S&P 500 firms having reported Q2 earnings, about 83% of companies exceeded profit estimates.
Overseas stock markets on Wednesday settled mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.20%. China's Shanghai Composite climbed to a new 10-year high and closed up +1.04%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.51%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU25) on Wednesday closed up +3 ticks, and the 10-year T-note yield fell -1.5 bp to 4.291%. Sep T-notes posted modest gains on Wednesday, supported by weakness in equity markets. Also, falling inflation expectations were supportive of T-notes after the 10-year breakeven inflation rate fell to a 2-week low on Wednesday of 2.350%. T-notes garnered support after the Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump is considering firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook over allegations that she committed mortgage fraud. If Cook is fired or resigns, Mr. Trump could appoint another Fed Governor who favors his lower interest rate policies.
T-notes fell back from their best levels due to weak demand for the Treasury's $16 billion auction of 20-year T-bonds, which showed the bid-to-cover ratio of 2.54, below the 10-auction average of 2.60. Also, Wednesday's hawkish minutes of the July 29-30 FOMC meeting weighed on T-note prices.
European government bond yields on Wednesday moved lower. The 10-year German bund yield fell -3.3 bp to 2.717%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -6.8 bp to 4.672%.
ECB President Lagarde said the Eurozone economy is likely to see slower growth this quarter, with questions over global trade remaining despite recent trade deals with the US reducing uncertainty.
UK Jul CPI rose +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.7% y/y and the fastest pace of increase in 1.5 years. Jul core CPI also rose +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.7% y/y.
Swaps are discounting the chances at 7% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the September 11 policy meeting.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven stocks were under pressure on Wednesday, weighing on the broader market. Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Tesla (TSLA) closed down more than -1%. Also, Microsoft (MSFT) closed down -0.79%, Meta Platforms (META) closed down -0.50%, and Nvidia (NVDA) closed down -0.14%.
Weakness in chip stocks is a drag on the overall market. Intel (INTC) closed down more than -6% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, and Micron Technology (MU) closed down more than -3%. Also, ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed down more than -2%, and Broadcom (AVGO), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -1%.
James Hardie Industries Plc (JHX) closed down more than -34% after reporting its Q2 operating profit sank -29% y/y and said difficult economic conditions continue to weigh on homebuyers after recording the slowest spring season in more than twelve years.
La-Z-Boy (LZB) closed down more than -12% after reporting Q1 comparable sales fell -4% y/y versus -3% y/y, and forecast Q2 sales of $510 million-$530 million, the midpoint below the consensus of $528.5 million.
Target (TGT) closed down more than -6% after forecasting a full-year sales decline of a low single-digit percentage compared to the consensus of a -1.71% decline.
Estee Lauder (EL) closed down more than -3% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.90-$2.10, weaker than the consensus of $2.16.
Avis Budget Group (CAR) closed down more than -5%, CarMax (KMX) closed down more than -2%, and Carvana (CVNA) closed down more than -1% after CNBC reported that Hertz Global Holdings will start selling pre-owned cars on Amazon Autos.
Analog Devices (ADI) closed up more than +6% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q3 revenue of $2.88 billion, better than the consensus of $2.76 billion.
Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) closed up more than +6% after CNBC reported the company will start selling pre-owned cars on Amazon Autos.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) closed up more than +3% after it said it expects action by the FDA on its multiple regulatory submissions for its Eylea HD product by Q4 of 2025, which is sooner than anticipated, according to BMO Capital Markets.
TJX Cos (TJX) closed up more than +2% after reporting Q3 comparable sales rose +4%, stronger than the consensus of +3.09%, and boosting its 2026 comparable sales forecast to +3% from a previous estimate of +2% to 3%, better than the consensus of +2.87%.
Dayforce (DAY) closed up more than +2% on reports that the company is in advanced talks with Thoma Bravo to be acquired for $70 a share.
Jack Henry & Associates (JKHY) closed up more than +2% after reporting Q4 processing revenue of $264.1 million, above the consensus of $255.3 million.
McCormick & Co. (MKC) closed up more than +1% after JPMorgan Chase double upgraded the stock to overweight from underweight with a price target of $83.
Earnings Reports(8/21/2025)
Intuit Inc (INTU), Louisiana-Pacific Corp (LPX), Ross Stores Inc (ROST), Walmart Inc (WMT), Workday Inc (WDAY), Zoom Communications Inc (ZM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Finish Mostly Lower on Tech Stock Weakness

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down by -1.01%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.27%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down by -1.75%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) are down -1.06%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) are down -1.80%.
Stock indexes today have extended Tuesday’s losses, with the S&P 500 falling to a 1.5-week low and the Nasdaq 100 dropping to a 2-week low. The weakness in the Magnificent Seven technology companies and a selloff in chip stocks are weighing on the overall market. Also, disappointing corporate news is negative for stocks, with Target down more than -7% after forecasting a bigger-than-expected decline in full-year sales. Estee Lauder is down more than -5% after forecasting weaker-than-expected 2026 EPS.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -1.4% in the week ended August 15, with the purchase mortgage sub-index up +0.1% and the refinancing sub-index down -3.1%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +1 bp to 6.68% from 6.67% in the prior week.
Diplomatic talks over the war in Ukraine continue to make headway. President Trump is pushing for a summit between Presidents Putin and Zelenskiy soon, and European leaders are discussing a plan to send British and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement. The outcome of the talks could have macroeconomic implications regarding tariffs and oil prices, and could, of course, have significant consequences for European security.
The focus of the markets this week will be on any new tariff news and signs of progress toward a Ukraine peace deal. Later today, the minutes of the July 29-30 FOMC meeting will be released. On Thursday, weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to climb by +1,000 to 225,000, and the Aug Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey is expected to fall to 6.7 from 15.9 in July. Also, the Aug S&P manufacturing PMI is expected to remain unchanged at 49.8. In addition, Jul existing home sales are expected to fall -0.3% m/m to 3.92 million. On Friday, Fed Chair Powell speaks on the economic outlook at the Federal Reserve’s annual symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Regarding tariffs, President Trump widened steel and aluminum tariffs to include more than 400 consumer items that contain the metals, such as motorcycles, auto parts, furniture components, and tableware. The change went into effect on Monday and did not exclude goods already in transit. Last Friday, Mr. Trump said, “I’ll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say chips – chips and semiconductors, we’ll be setting sometime next week, week after.” Mr. Trump last week said he planned a 100% tariff on semiconductors but would exempt companies that move chip manufacturing to the US. Mr. Trump also mentioned 200% or 300% tariffs on chips.
In other recent tariff news, Mr. Trump last Tuesday extended the tariff truce with China for another 90 days until November. On August 6, Mr. Trump announced that he will double tariffs on US imports from India to 50% from the current 25% tariff, due to India’s purchases of Russian oil. On August 5, Mr. Trump said that US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports would be announced “within the next week or so.” According to Bloomberg Economics, the average US tariff will rise to 15.2% if rates are implemented as announced, up from 13.3% earlier, and significantly higher than the 2.3% in 2024 before the tariffs were announced.
Federal funds futures prices are discounting the chances for a -25 bp rate cut at 84% at the September 16-17 FOMC meeting, down from 93% last Thursday. The markets are discounting the chances at 55% for a second -25 bp rate cut at the following meeting on October 28-29.
Earnings reports indicate that S&P 500 earnings for Q2 are on track to rise +9.1% y/y, much better than the pre-season expectations of +2.8% y/y and the most in four years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. With over 92% of S&P 500 firms having reported Q2 earnings, about 82% of companies exceeded profit estimates.
Overseas stock markets today are mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.22%. China’s Shanghai Composite climbed to a new 10-year high and closed up +1.04%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.51%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU25) today are up +6 ticks, and the 10-year T-note yield is down -2.5 bp to 4.281%. Sep T-notes are modestly higher today, supported by weakness in equity markets. Also, strength in European government bonds is providing carryover support to T-notes. T-notes remained higher after the Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump is considering firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook over allegations that she committed mortgage fraud. If Cook is fired or resigns, Mr. Trump could appoint another Fed Governor who favors his lower interest rate policies.
Supply pressures are limiting gains in T-notes as the Treasury will auction $16 billion of 20-year T-bonds later today. Also, concerns that last week’s bearish US July CPI and PPI reports could keep the Fed from cutting interest rates at next month’s FOMC meeting are weighing on T-notes.
European government bond yields today are moving lower. The 10-year German bund yield is down -3.4 bp to 2.716%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -6.0 bp to 4.680%.
ECB President Lagarde said the Eurozone economy is likely to see slower growth this quarter, with questions over global trade remaining despite recent trade deals with the US reducing uncertainty.
UK Jul CPI rose +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.7% y/y and the fastest pace of increase in 1.5 years. Jul core CPI also rose +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.7% y/y.
Swaps are discounting the chances at 7% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the September 11 policy meeting.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven stocks are under pressure today, weighing on the broader market. Tesla (TSLA) is down more than -4% and Nvidia (NVDA) is down more than -3%. Also, Meta Platforms (META), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Amazon (AMZN) are down more than -2%, and Apple (AAPL) is down more than -1%. Microsoft (MSFT) is down -0.33%.
Weakness in chip stocks is a drag on the overall market. Intel (INTC) is down more than -7% and Micron Technology (MU) is down more than -6%. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are down more than -4%. In addition, Broadcom (AVGO) is down more than -3%, and Lam Research (LRCX), Applied Materials (AMAT), ON Semiconductor (ON), and GlobalFoundries (GFS) are down more than -2%.
James Hardie Industries Plc (JHX) is down more than -36% after reporting its Q2 operating profit sank -29% y/y and said difficult economic conditions continue to weigh on homebuyers after recording the slowest spring season in more than twelve years.
La-Z-Boy (LZB) is down more than -13% after reporting Q1 comparable sales fell -4% y/y versus -3% y/y, and forecast Q2 sales of $510 million-$530 million, the midpoint below the consensus of $528.5 million.
Target (TGT) is down more than -7% after forecasting a full-year sales decline of a low single-digit percentage compared to the consensus of a -1.71% decline.
Estee Lauder (EL) is down more than -5% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.90-$2.10, weaker than the consensus of $2.16.
Carvana (CVNA) and Avis Budget Group (CAR) are down more than -5%, and CarMax (KMX) is down more than -1% after CNBC reported that Hertz Global Holdings will start selling pre-owned cars on Amazon Autos.
TJX Cos (TJX) is up more than +4% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q3 comparable sales rose +4%, stronger than the consensus of +3.09%, and boosting its 2026 comparable sales forecast to +3% from a previous estimate of +2% to 3%, better than the consensus of +2.87%.
Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) is up more than +5% after CNBC reported the company will start selling pre-owned cars on Amazon Autos.
Dayforce (DAY) is up more than +2% on reports that the company is in advanced talks with Thoma Bravo to be acquired for $70 a share.
Analog Devices (ADI) is up more than +2% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q3 revenue of $2.88 billion, better than the consensus of $2.76 billion.
Jack Henry & Associates (JKHY) is up more than +2% after reporting Q4 processing revenue of $264.1 million, above the consensus of $255.3 million.
McCormick & Co. (MKC) is up more than +1% after JPMorgan Chase double upgraded the stock to overweight from underweight with a price target of $83.
Lowe’s (LOW) is up more than +1% after acquiring Foundation Building Materials for about $8.8 billion as it expands beyond home improvement supplies.
Earnings Reports(8/20/2025)
Analog Devices Inc (ADI), Coty Inc (COTY), Estee Lauder Cos Inc/The (EL), Lowe’s Cos Inc (LOW), Nordson Corp (NDSN), Target Corp (TGT), TJX Cos Inc/The (TJX).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Losses Accelerate on a Rout in Tech Stocks

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. LOW posted second-quarter fiscal 2025 results with year-over-year growth in both the top and bottom lines. While revenues came in just shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, earnings surpassed the same. The Mooresville, NC-based home improvement retailer returned to positive comparable sales during the quarter. Management also updated its full-year outlook following the completion of the Artisan Design Group (ADG) acquisition.
LOW’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & Insights
The home improvement retailer posted adjusted earnings of $4.33 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.23. The figure marked a 5.6% increase from earnings of $4.10 per share reported in the same period last year. Including costs related to the acquisition of ADG, quarterly earnings came in at $4.27 per share, up from $4.17 in the prior-year period.
Net sales of $23,959 million marginally missed the consensus estimate of $23,961 million but rose from $23,586 million in the year-ago period. The growth was driven by a 1.1% increase in comparable sales as both Pro and DIY customers contributed despite a challenging start to the quarter from the weather. We had anticipated a 1.5% increase in comparable sales.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
LOW’s Margin & Cost Details
Lowe’s reported an adjusted gross margin of 33.8%, an increase of 37 basis points from the same quarter last year. We had expected gross margin to remain flat year over year.
Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $4,149 billion, up from $4,068 million from the year-ago period. As a percentage of net sales, the metric came in at 17.3%, almost flat year over year.
The adjusted operating income increased to $3,512 million from $3,404 million a year earlier. We observe that the operating margin expanded 23 basis points to 14.7%. We anticipated a 10-basis-point lift in the operating margin.
Lowe’s Pro Strategy: ADG Closed; FBM Deal Announced
The acquisition of ADG expands Lowe’s ability to capture a greater share of Pro planned spending and strengthens its reach in new home construction. Building on this, the company has entered into an agreement to acquire Foundation Building Materials (FBM) for roughly $8.8 billion.
With more than 370 locations in the United States and Canada, and about 40,000 Pro customers, FBM generated an estimated $6.5 billion in revenues and $635 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2024 on a pro forma basis. The deal, to be funded with debt, is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in the first full year post-close and significantly advance Lowe’s Total Home and Pro strategies.
LOW’s Financial Health Snapshot
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4,860 million, long-term debt (excluding current maturities) of $30,548 million, and a shareholders’ deficit of $11,400 million.
For the first half of fiscal 2025, operating cash flow totaled $7,610 million, while free cash flow stood at $6,597 million after accounting for capital expenditures of $1,013 million. The company returned value to its shareholders by paying $645 million in dividends during the quarter, in addition to investing $1.3 billion toward the ADG acquisition.
As of Aug. 1, 2025, Lowe's operated 1,753 stores, encompassing a total of 195.5 million square feet of retail selling space.
A Sneak Peek Into LOW’s FY25 Outlook
Management raised its full-year sales guidance to reflect ADG’s contribution. Total sales are now projected between $84.5 billion and $85.5 billion, up from the prior range of $83.5 billion to $84.5 billion. Comparable sales are expected to be flat to up 1%. The operating margin forecast is 12.1%-12.2% (previously between 12.3% and 12.4%), with the adjusted operating margin guided to 12.2%-12.3%.
Lowe’s foresees earnings per share to be in the band of $12.10 to $12.35 (previously $12.15 to $12.40) with adjusted earnings projected in the range of $12.20 to $12.45 per share. Capital expenditures remain guided at approximately $2.5 billion.
Lowe’s Stock Price Performance
Shares of Lowe’s have advanced 17.2% in the past month compared with the industry’s rise of 13%.
Don’t Miss These Solid Bets
The Kroger Co. KR operates in the thin-margin grocery industry, and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). KR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kroger’s current financial-year sales and earnings implies growth of 1.1% and 6.5%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Grocery Outlet GO, an extreme value retailer of quality, name-brand consumables and fresh products, carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. GO has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.2%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Grocery Outlet’s current financial-year sales suggests growth of around 8.2% from the year-ago reported numbers.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings OLLI is a value retailer of brand-name merchandise at drastically reduced prices and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. OLLI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ollie's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 14.2% and 14%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
#1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA)
The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Lowe's Q2 Earnings Beat, Comps Rise Y/Y, View Revised on ADG Inclusion

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down by -0.30%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.12%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down by -0.67%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) are down -0.35%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) are down -0.71%.
Stock indexes today extended Tuesday’s losses, with the S&P 500 falling to a 1-week low and the Nasdaq 100 dropping to a 2-week low. The weakness in the Magnificent Seven technology companies and losses in chip makers are weighing on the overall market. Also, disappointing corporate news is negative for stocks, with Target down more than 8% after forecasting a bigger-than-expected decline in full-year sales. Estee Lauder is down more than -3% after forecasting weaker-than-expected 2026 EPS.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -1.4% in the week ended August 15, with the purchase mortgage sub-index up +0.1% and the refinancing sub-index down -3.1%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +1 bp to 6.68% from 6.67% in the prior week.
Diplomatic talks over the war in Ukraine continue to make headway. President Trump is pushing for a summit between Presidents Putin and Zelenskiy soon, and European leaders are discussing a plan to send British and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement. The outcome of the talks could have macroeconomic implications regarding tariffs and oil prices, and could, of course, have significant consequences for European security.
The focus of the markets this week will be on any new tariff news and signs of progress toward a Ukraine peace deal. On Wednesday, the minutes of the July 29-30 FOMC meeting will be released. On Thursday, weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to climb by +1,000 to 225,000, and the Aug Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey is expected to fall to 6.7 from 15.9 in July. Also, the Aug S&P manufacturing PMI is expected to remain unchanged at 49.8. In addition, Jul existing home sales are expected to fall -0.3% m/m to 3.92 million. On Friday, Fed Chair Powell speaks on the economic outlook at the Federal Reserve’s annual symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Regarding tariffs, President Trump widened steel and aluminum tariffs to include more than 400 consumer items that contain the metals, such as motorcycles, auto parts, furniture components, and tableware. The change went into effect on Monday and did not exclude goods already in transit. Last Friday, Mr. Trump said, “I’ll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say chips – chips and semiconductors, we’ll be setting sometime next week, week after.” Mr. Trump last week said he planned a 100% tariff on semiconductors but would exempt companies that move chip manufacturing to the US. Mr. Trump also mentioned 200% or 300% tariffs on chips.
In other recent tariff news, Mr. Trump last Tuesday extended the tariff truce with China for another 90 days until November. On August 6, Mr. Trump announced that he will double tariffs on US imports from India to 50% from the current 25% tariff, due to India’s purchases of Russian oil. On August 5, Mr. Trump said that US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports would be announced “within the next week or so.” According to Bloomberg Economics, the average US tariff will rise to 15.2% if rates are implemented as announced, up from 13.3% earlier, and significantly higher than the 2.3% in 2024 before the tariffs were announced.
Federal funds futures prices are discounting the chances for a -25 bp rate cut at 84% at the September 16-17 FOMC meeting, down from 93% last Thursday. The markets are discounting the chances at 55% for a second -25 bp rate cut at the following meeting on October 28-29.
Earnings reports indicate that S&P 500 earnings for Q2 are on track to rise +9.1% y/y, much better than the pre-season expectations of +2.8% y/y and the most in four years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. With over 92% of S&P 500 firms having reported Q2 earnings, about 82% of companies exceeded profit estimates.
Overseas stock markets today are mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.09%. China’s Shanghai Composite climbed to a new 10-year high and closed up +1.04%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.51%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU25) today are up +2 ticks, and the 10-year T-note yield is down -0.6 bp to 4.300%. Sep T-notes are modestly higher today, supported by weakness in equity markets. Also, strength in European government bonds is providing carryover support to T-notes.
Supply pressures are limiting gains in T-notes as the Treasury will auction $16 billion of 20-year T-bonds later today. Also, concerns that last week’s bearish US July CPI and PPI reports could keep the Fed from cutting interest rates at next month’s FOMC meeting are weighing on T-notes.
European government bond yields today are moving lower. The 10-year German bund yield is down -1.7 bp to 2.734%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -4.4 bp to 4.696%.
ECB President Lagarde said the Eurozone economy is likely to see slower growth this quarter, with questions over global trade remaining despite recent trade deals with the US reducing uncertainty.
UK Jul CPI rose +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.7% y/y and the fastest pace of increase in 1.5 years. Jul core CPI also rose +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.7% y/y.
Swaps are discounting the chances at 7% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the September 11 policy meeting.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven stocks are under pressure today, weighing on the broader market. Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), and Meta Platforms (META) are down more than -2%. Also, Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Apple (AAPL) are down more than -1%. Microsoft (MSFT) is down 0.05%.
Weakness in chip stocks is a drag on the overall market. Intel (INTC) is down more than -6% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, Micron Technology (MU) is down more than -3%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) are down more than -2%. In addition, Broadcom (AVGO), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are down more than -1%.
James Hardie Industries Plc (JHX) is down more than -33% after reporting its Q2 operating profit sank -29% y/y and said difficult economic conditions continue to weigh on homebuyers after recording the slowest spring season in more than twelve years.
La-Z-Boy (LZB) is down more than -13% after reporting Q1 comparable sales fell -4% y/y versus -3% y/y, and forecast Q2 sales of $510 million-$530 million, the midpoint below the consensus of $528.5 million.
Target (TGT) is down more than -8% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after forecasting a full-year sales decline of low-single digit percentage compared to the consensus of a -1.71% decline.
Estee Lauder (EL) is down more than -3% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.90-$2.10, weaker than the consensus of $2.16.
Carvana (CVNA) and Avis Budget Group (CAR) are down more than -4%, and CarMax (KMX) is down more than -1% after CNBC reported that Hertz Global Holdings will start selling pre-owned cars on Amazon Autos.
TJX Cos (TJX) is up more than +5% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q3 comparable sales rose +4%, stronger than the consensus of +3.09%, and boosting its 2026 comparable sales forecast to +3% from a previous estimate of +2% to 3%, better than the consensus of +2.87%.
Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) is up more than +5% after CNBC reported the company will start selling pre-owned cars on Amazon Autos.
Dayforce (DAY) is up more than +3% on reports that the company is in advanced talks with Thoma Bravo to be acquired for $70 a share.
Analog Devices (ADI) is up more than +2% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q3 revenue of $2.88 billion, better than the consensus of $2.76 billion.
Nubank (NU) is up more than +2% after Citigroup double upgraded the stock to buy from sell with a price target of $18.
McCormick & Co. (MKC) is up more than +2% after JPMorgan Chase double upgraded the stock to overweight from underweight with a price target of $83.
Lowe’s (LOW) is up more than +1% after acquiring Foundation Building Materials for about $8.8 billion as it expands beyond home improvement supplies.
Earnings Reports(8/20/2025)
Analog Devices Inc (ADI), Coty Inc (COTY), Estee Lauder Cos Inc/The (EL), Lowe’s Cos Inc (LOW), Nordson Corp (NDSN), Target Corp (TGT), TJX Cos Inc/The (TJX).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tech Weakness and Negative Corporate News Weigh on Stocks

Much like the past few days of trading, we’re seeing some selling off in the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and small-cap Russell 2000 this morning, while the blue-chip Dow is narrowly holding onto hopes for a green open: the Dow is +10 points at this hour, +0.02%. The S&P 500 is -5 points, -0.09%, and the Nasdaq is -46 points, -0.20%. The Russell 2000 is -0.12% at this hour.
Earnings Reports Ahead of Today’s Open
Aside from reporting Q2 earnings, big-box retailer Target TGT announced that it will replace its long-term CEO Brian Cornell with 20-year Target veteran Michael Fiddelke as of February of next year. Target reported mixed results this morning, missing by 4 cents on its bottom line with earnings of $2.05 per share on revenues of $25.21 billion in the quarter, +1.2% better than analysts were expecting.
In Target’s case, it may take some time before investors warm to this front-office shakeup: pre-market trading has sent down TGT shares more than -10% so far in early trading. This piles on to the -22% performance in the shares, year to date.
The TJX Companies TJX, the parent of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods stores, outpaced expectations on both top and bottom lines. Earnings of $1.10 per share amounted to a +8.9% beat, while revenues of $14.4 billion surpassed the Zacks consensus by +2.33%. Shares are up +4% on the news so far this morning, adding onto the +11.4% gains year to date.
Home improvement retailer Lowe’s LOW outpaced earnings estimates by a solid dime in its Q2 report ahead of today’s open to $4.33 per share. Revenues came in-line — officially a miss by a mere -0.01% to $23.96 billion in the quarter. Same-store sales turned around in the quarter, and shares are up +2.8% in pre-market trading.
Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder EL posted a one-penny beat to +$0.09 per share in the company’s fiscal Q4 report this morning, while revenues of $3.41 billion posted a modest beat of +0.27% over estimates. The company’s outlook has not impressed investors this morning, however, as shares are down -5% on the news, giving back a quarter of its gains year to date.
What to Expect After the Bell
The World Economic Symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming begins today and goes through Friday. Today, we’ll expect a speech from Fed Governor Chris Waller, one of the two dissenting voices at the July Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, at this symposium. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic — one of the nine votes to keep rates steady — will also deliver speeches both today and tomorrow, but not at Jackson Hole.
What to Expect from the Stock Market This Week
Fed Chair Jerome Powell will give a speech between FOMC meetings at the Jackson Hole symposium this Friday. Most analysts currently expect Powell to give a neutral outlook on whether or not the Fed will lower rates below their current 4.25-4.50% range where we’ve been all of 2025 so far. Likely he will point to upcoming PCE, BLS, CPI and PPI numbers scheduled to be released between now and the next Fed meeting in mid-September.
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Pre-Markets Mixed to Open the Session

Lowe's(NYSE:LOW) reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (ending Jan. 31, 2026) on August 20, 2025, delivering $24 billion in sales (up 1.1% in comparable sales) and adjusted diluted EPS of $4.33, a 5.6% increase over the prior year quarter. The company announced a major $8.8 billion acquisition of Foundation Building Materials (FBM), with the transaction expected to close in 2025, complementing its prior ADG purchase and pivoting the long-term strategy toward large pro customers and pro distribution, aiming to expand its addressable market and diversify revenue streams.
Lowe's accelerates pro market push through FBM acquisition
The $8.8 billion FBM deal follows the recent closing of Artisan Design Group (ADG) in June, securing a robust foothold in the large pro segment and introducing new categories such as drywall and ceiling systems for commercial and residential customers. FBM’s 370 branches extend Lowe's reach in California, the Northeast, and Midwest, areas where current brick-and-mortar density is low, but project demand remains high.
"With the acquisition of FBM, we are strategically expanding our pro offering to serve the large pro, especially their plan spend. We're now well positioned to not only continue driving growth with our core DIY, and small to medium pro customers, but this acquisition also unlocks our ability to serve the larger pro within a $250 billion total addressable market. The acquisition of FBM strengthens our portfolio, diversifies our revenue streams, and allows us to capture a larger portion of pro sales all of which is expected to deliver significant long-term value to our shareholders."
-- Marvin Ellison, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
This transformational acquisition positions Lowe's to mitigate cyclicality risk, accelerate cross-selling, and capture incremental share in the structurally attractive and largely underpenetrated large pro segment, supporting both revenue growth and long-term earnings resilience.
Lowe's delivers margin expansion and record free cash flow
Adjusted gross margin rose 37 basis points year-over-year to 33.8%, and adjusted operating margin increased to 14.7% (up 23 basis points YoY), while free cash flow reached $3.7 billion, and return on invested capital improved to 29.5%. The improvement was driven by PPI (perpetual productivity improvement) initiatives, optimized inventory allocation, and reduced shrink, despite modest SG&A deleverage due to ADG transaction costs.
"For the quarter, comparable average ticket increased 2.9% and comparable transactions declined 1.8%. Adjusted gross margin was 33.8% in the quarter, up 37 basis points from last year with improvements in both shrink and credit revenue as well as continued benefits from our perpetual productivity improvement or PPI initiatives. And adjusted SG&A of 17.3% of sales deleveraged six basis points in line with our expectations. Adjusted operating margin rate of 14.7% was up 23 basis points versus prior year and the adjusted effective tax rate of 24.1% was in line with prior year results. Inventory ended Q2 at $16.3 billion, down $499 million versus prior year. We continue to manage our inventory replenishment in line with demand trends while also driving strong in-stock across both pro and DIY categories. ADG operations did not have a material impact on our results"
-- Brandon Sink, Chief Financial Officer
The company’s disciplined cost management and operational improvements enabled margin expansion and robust cash generation, even as it absorbed integration costs from recent acquisitions.
Lowe's integrates digital and AI tools to drive customer satisfaction and productivity
The rollout of the MyLo Companion AI-powered app contributed to improved customer satisfaction scores by empowering associates to provide fast, expert assistance across departments, while MyFBM’s technology is planned for integration post-acquisition to deliver real-time order management for pro customers. Online sales grew 7.5%, reflecting growing digital engagement and successful loyalty program enhancements.
"These increases coincide with the rollout of MyLo Companion, our AI-powered app designed specifically to support associates on the sales floor. The app is helping new associates build confidence early while enabling experienced associates to expand knowledge across departments. For example, a paint department associate in the garden center can use the app to instantly calculate how much mulch a customer needs, recommend the right tools for sparing it, and a hardware associate can help a customer in the appliance department quickly identify the most energy-efficient washer and dryer pair available under $1,500. We're pleased with the strong adoption rate, which has already surpassed our targets. Because the app is powered by AI, it has the capacity to learn from feedback and deliver even more helpful responses over time."
-- Joe McFarland, Executive Vice President, Stores
The integration of proprietary AI solutions internally, and customer-facing digital innovation, strengthens Lowe's competitive differentiation and advances engagement.
Looking Ahead
Management now guides full-year fiscal 2025 (ending Jan. 31, 2026) sales of $84.5 billion-$85.5 billion, comparable sales flat to up 1%, adjusted operating margin of 12.2%-12.3%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $12.20-$12.45, incorporating the ADG acquisition but excluding FBM until close. Capital expenditures are projected at $2.5 billion, and share repurchases are paused until after debt ratios return to target levels by the end of 2027. No quantified financial guidance for FBM is provided until post-closing, expected later in 2025.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Lowe's Q2 Sales Rise FBM Deal Announced

Lowe's (LOW) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.33 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.23 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.1 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.36%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this home improvement retailer would post earnings of $2.88 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.92, delivering a surprise of +1.39%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Lowe's, which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Home Furnishings industry, posted revenues of $23.96 billion for the quarter ended July 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.01%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $23.59 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Lowe's shares have added about 3.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9%.
What's Next for Lowe's?
While Lowe's has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Lowe's was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.04 on $20.56 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $12.29 on $84.39 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Retail - Home Furnishings is currently in the bottom 20% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Lovesac (LOVE), is yet to report results for the quarter ended July 2025.
This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.72 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -89.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Lovesac's revenues are expected to be $160.85 million, up 2.7% from the year-ago quarter.
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Lowe's (LOW) Q2 Earnings Top Estimates

(RTTNews) - Lowe's Cos. (LOW) reported earnings for its second quarter that Increases, from last year
The company's earnings totaled $2.398 billion, or $4.27 per share. This compares with $2.383 billion, or $4.17 per share, last year.
The company's revenue for the period rose 1.6% to $23.959 billion from $23.586 billion last year.
Lowe's Cos. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $2.398 Bln. vs. $2.383 Bln. last year. -EPS: $4.27 vs. $4.17 last year. -Revenue: $23.959 Bln vs. $23.586 Bln last year.
-Guidance: Full year EPS guidance: $12.20 - $12.45 Full year revenue guidance: $84.5 - $85.5B
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Lowe's Cos. Reports Advance In Q2 Income

Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Today we saw a further continuance of highly valued tech stocks being pulled back, leading to a deeper drop on the Nasdaq relative to other major indexes today. The Dow closed the session up +10 points, +0.02%, while the S&P 500 slipped -37 points, -0.59%. The Nasdaq shed -314 points on the day, -1.46%, while the small-cap Russell 2000 was -17, -0.78%.
The Nasdaq had already begun to tack lower on Monday, but dropped to another level Tuesday. Intel data mining major Palantir PLTR slip -9.3% on the day, now down -16.5% over the past five sessions. On the other side, Home Depot HD pleased investors with its full-year outlook this morning, and was up +3% during normal trading.
Toll Brothers Beats on Earnings and Sales
Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers TOL outpaced expectations on both top and bottom lines in its fiscal Q3 earnings report released after the closing bell today. Earnings of $3.73 per share surpassed the $3.59 in the Zacks consensus, on $2.88 billion in revenues, improving over the $2.85 billion analysts were projecting. This is the company’s fourth earnings beat in the last five quarters.
Adjust Gross Margins matched the previous month at +27.5%, while orders came in lower than expected: -4% versus expectations of flat. The average home sold by Toll Brothers in the quarter came to $974K, slightly below what analysts were thinking. As such, shares are down -2% in late trading, though the stock had risen roughly +30% since May.
What to Expect from the Stock Market Wednesday
We’re expecting as big morning of retail earnings reports tomorrow morning. Target TGT, The TJX Stores TJX, Lowe’s LOW and Estee Lauder EL — all Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stocks ahead of earnings — expect a wide array of results ahead of the open: Target -18.7% on earnings year over year, TJX +5%, Lowe’s +3.2% and Estee Lauder -87.5% on its year-over-year bottom line.
We take a break from major economic reports during early trading Wednesday. At 2pm ET, the minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), where the Fed kept rates steady at 4.25-4.50% for the fifth-straight meeting, come out. This was the first time in more than 30 years that more than one voting Fed member dissented. In July’s case, Fed Governors Chris Waller and Michelle Bowman, both appointees of President Trump, voted for a 25 basis point (bps) cut.
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Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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