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 appears to be a mature, profitable retailer with strong operating efficiency, but also with notable balance sheet constraints. On valuation, the company trades below the industry on P/E, which supports the case for moderate undervaluation; however, P/S is noticeably above the median, while P/FCF is only slightly higher, so overall the multiples do not provide a strong reason for an upward re-rating. The P/E trend is declining from 22.29 to 17.57, which usually indicates a more attractive price relative to earnings, but this advantage is partially offset by weak liquidity. Operating margin and net margin are above industry levels, confirming good cost management and the ability to generate profits even in a competitive environment. At the same time, gross margin is slightly below the median and shows almost no improvement over the years, meaning pricing power and cost structure do not look outstanding. ROA and ROI are very strong relative to the industry, indicating efficient use of assets and capital, but ROE and return on tangible equity appear incorrectly reported or weakly disclosed in the data and do not add confidence in capital quality. Revenue, EBITDA, operating profit, and net income remain high in absolute terms, supporting the investment case, although volatility is visible across some periods. On the other hand, cash on hand is low, the quick ratio is significantly below normal, and the current ratio is only slightly above 1, which means limited short-term liquidity cushion. Long-term debt has increased, and liabilities remain very high; combined with negative equity, this raises financial risk and limits the potential for aggressive multiple expansion. Dividend yield is present, but it is moderate and does not look high enough to fully offset the balance sheet risks. Overall, the fundamentals support a cautiously positive view of the business, but do not justify a strong increase in the target price. For an investor, this is a story of a high-quality operating model with strong profitability, but with a notable debt burden and weak liquidity, so the valuation should remain conservative.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Medium index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Слабый индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Weak index, significantly up. The market does not support the bulls.

Слабый индекс, незначительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги остается на невысоком уровне.

Weak index, slightly up. The inflow of funds into longs remains at a low level.

Strong operating profitability and a moderately attractive P/E are combined at Lowe's with weak liquidity, high debt, and negative equity.

Pre-market futures are up after two straight days of closing market indexes in the red. Q2 earnings season is in its final stages, the AI trade feels long in the tooth, and a pause on Canadian tariffs and relative quiet on the Middle Eastern front are helping the tide come in somewhat for stock buying.
Biggest among the gainers this morning is Moderna MRNA, up +95% at this hour following a report regarding the efficacy of its intismeran vaccine, which met its primary goals in Phase 3 testing: preventing cancer in melanoma patients whose tumors had been surgically removed. Moderna’s partner/bank for this vaccine’s development is Merck MRK, which is up +7% on the news.
Also, as this article gets typed, news from the U.S. Treasury has sent bonds yields notably lower and market indexes notably higher: it plans to double liquidity support buyback operations on longer-end securities (10-30 years). The current buyback position is $2 billion per operation; this will now become $4 billion. The 30-year bond has now dropped below +5.3%, the 10-year beneath +4.7% and the 2-year under +4.2%. Market indexes are now up triple digits a half hour ahead of the opening bell.
Morning Earnings Reports at a Glance: TGT, LOW & More
Target TGT reported beats on both top and bottom lines this morning, with earnings of $2.46 per share on revenues of $26.54 billion up +7% and +1.6% from expectations, respectively. Guidance was raised going forward, with emphasis on the success of the retailer’s turnaround. Yet shares are selling off -1%, following +56% growth year to date.
Lowe’s LOW posted mixed Q2 results this morning, outpacing estimates on earnings by +4.27% to $4.40 per share while revenues of $25.96 billion missed the Zacks consensus by -0.68% (though still up $2 billion from a year ago). The company continued the narrative from Home Depot’s earnings yesterday, which depicted a frozen housing market.
TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods parent The TJX Companies TJX outperformed estimates this morning, with earnings of $1.22 per share surpassing the Zacks consensus by 4 cents on revenues of $15.18 billion, up +0.29% from expectations. A weaker outlook in the current quarter, however, saw investors sell shares -3.3% on the news.
Estee Lauder EL shares are booming this morning — +12% — following its strong performance in fiscal Q4 this morning: earnings of $0.39 per share bettered the $0.32 anticipated, while revenues of $3.63 billion improved by +2.15% over expectations. Shares had been down -12.7% year to date, so the stock is back to breakeven.
What to Expect from the Stock Market Today
Of course, we’ll keep an eye on developments in the Strait of Hormuz and at the White House. This afternoon, we’ll see the Fed minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting from last month. While the Fed kept interest rates steady at their 3.50-3.75% range, there were three dissenters who voted for a 25 basis-point increase.
In the first FOMC meeting with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the helm, we saw many changes afoot: no guidance in the Fed monetary policy statement nor in the press conference which followed. The minutes from that meeting, when they were announced, were detailed and expansive. We expect the minutiae to be tilled in today’s release, as well. Hopefully it will give us some of the answers the DC press pool had been looking for.
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Bond Yields Open Notably Lower

Lowe's (LOW) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.4 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.22 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.33 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.27%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this home improvement retailer would post earnings of $2.96 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.03, delivering a surprise of +2.36%.
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 $25.96 billion for the quarter ended July 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.68%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $23.96 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two 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 lost about 10.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.4%.
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 unfavorable. 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 #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform 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 $3.12 on $22.63 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $12.43 on $92.85 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 29% 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.
Another stock from the same industry, Lovesac (LOVE), has yet to report results for the quarter ended July 2026.
This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.39 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +13.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Lovesac's revenues are expected to be $163.39 million, up 1.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW)?
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Lowe's (LOW) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates

(RTTNews) - Lowe's Companies (LOW) said it is updating outlook for fiscal 2026 to reflect operational results for the first half of the year as well as current demand trends. The company now projects diluted earnings per share to be approximately $11.75, revised from prior guidance of $11.75 to $12.25. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is projected to be approximately $12.25, revised from prior guidance range of $12.25 to $12.75. Total sales are projected to be $92.0 billion, revised from prior outlook of $92.0 to $94.0 billion. Comparable sales are expected to be flat as compared to prior year. Previously, the company projected comparable sales to be flat to up 2%. The company noted that its fiscal 2026 outlook also includes tariff refunds recognized during the second quarter and excludes any potential additional tariff refunds in the second half of the year. The company said it remains committed to generating sustainable shareholder value through a disciplined focus on its capital allocation program.
Lowe's reported net earnings of $2.4 billion and diluted earnings per share of $4.27 for the second quarter compared to $2.4 billion and diluted EPS of $4.27 in the second quarter of 2025. Excluding items, second quarter adjusted diluted EPS increased 1.6% to $4.40 compared to prior-year. The company noted that both diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS included an $0.11 benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds.
Second quarter total sales were $26.0 billion, compared to $24.0 billion in the prior-year quarter. Comparable sales for the quarter increased 0.2%, driven by strong performance in Pro and home services sales, as well as a 15.7% increase in online sales, partially offset by persistent DIY macro pressures.
In pre-market trading on NYSE, Lowe's shares are down 2.67 percent to $210.00.
For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.

Lowe's Updates 2026 Outlook

(RTTNews) - Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) released a profit for second quarter of $2.399 billion
The company's bottom line came in at $2.399 billion, or $4.27 per share. This compares with $2.398 billion, or $4.27 per share, last year.
Excluding items, Lowe's Companies, Inc. reported adjusted earnings of $4.40 per share for the period.
The company's revenue for the period rose 8.3% to $25.956 billion from $23.959 billion last year.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $2.399 Bln. vs. $2.398 Bln. last year. -EPS: $4.27 vs. $4.27 last year. -Revenue: $25.956 Bln vs. $23.959 Bln last year.
-Guidance: Full year EPS guidance: $ 12.25 Full year revenue guidance: $ 92.0 B

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Q2 Sales Increase

The following companies are expected to report earnings prior to market open on 08/19/2026. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The semiconductor company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 8 analysts that follow the stock is $3.33. This value represents a 62.44% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year ADI has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 6.92%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for ADI is 31.42 vs. an industry ratio of 80.90.
TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The discount retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 7 analysts that follow the stock is $1.18. This value represents a 7.27% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year TJX has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 17.82%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for TJX is 29.07 vs. an industry ratio of 26.80, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The home furnishings company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 12 analysts that follow the stock is $4.22. This value represents a 2.54% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year LOW has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 2.36%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for LOW is 17.36 vs. an industry ratio of 18.10.
Target Corporation (TGT)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The discount retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 13 analysts that follow the stock is $2.30. This value represents a 12.20% increase compared to the same quarter last year. TGT missed the consensus earnings per share in the 3rd calendar quarter of 2025 by -1.91%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for TGT is 17.91 vs. an industry ratio of 26.80.
Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The leisure (recreational) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $1.25. This value represents a 26.26% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year VIK has met analyst expectations once and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for VIK is 30.08 vs. an industry ratio of -11.30, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. (EL)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The cosmetic & toiletries company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 12 analysts that follow the stock is $0.32. This value represents a 255.56% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year EL has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 37.88%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for EL is 35.00 vs. an industry ratio of 21.80, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (YMM)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The technology services company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.18. This value represents a 5.88% increase compared to the same quarter last year. YMM missed the consensus earnings per share in the 3rd calendar quarter of 2025 by -7.69%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for YMM is 12.81 vs. an industry ratio of 28.40.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The shipping company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $-0.10. This value represents a 152.63% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for ZIM is 9.15 vs. an industry ratio of 14.80.
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The internet software company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $-0.12. This value represents a 42.86% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year KC has met analyst expectations once and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for KC is -31.64 vs. an industry ratio of 274.50.
Opera Limited (OPRA)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The internet content company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.26. This value represents a 44.44% increase compared to the same quarter last year. OPRA missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2025 by -10%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for OPRA is 17.52 vs. an industry ratio of -27.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Weibo Corporation (WB)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The internet content company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.33. This value represents a 34.00% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. The "days to cover" for this stock exceeds 21 days. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for WB is 6.00 vs. an industry ratio of -27.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Datavault AI Inc. (DVLT)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The internet software company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $-0.03. This value represents a 94.44% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year DVLT Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for DVLT is 16.02 vs. an industry ratio of 274.50.

Pre-Market Earnings Report for August 19, 2026 : ADI, TJX, LOW, TGT, VIK, EL, YMM, ZIM, KC, OPRA, WB, DVLT

As Lowe's Companies, Inc. LOW prepares to unveil its second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Aug. 19, before the opening bell, investors are eager to see if the company can beat market expectations.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $26.14 billion, implying 9.1% growth from the prior year. Meanwhile, the consensus mark for earnings per share has fallen by a penny to $4.22 over the past seven days, which suggests a 2.5% decline from the year-ago period.
LOW has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.3%, on average. In the last reported quarter, this Mooresville, NC-based company’s bottom line outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a margin of 2.4%.
What the Zacks Model Says About LOW’s Q2 Earnings
As investors prepare for Lowe’s second-quarter results, the question looms regarding an earnings beat or miss. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Lowe’s this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here.
Lowe’s has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and an Earnings ESP of -0.91%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Key Factors to Observe Ahead of LOW's Q2 Earnings
Lowe’s second-quarter performance is likely to have benefited from sustained demand, backed by focused merchandising and promotional execution. The company entered the quarter with strength in lawn and garden and other outdoor categories and planned to keep value and innovation at the center of its offers. A broad assortment of leading brands, healthy in-stock positions and convenient delivery options may have helped Lowe’s convert seasonal traffic across stores and digital channels. Management also highlighted the continued rollout of workwear and pet assortments, which could have provided an incremental sales opportunity during the quarter.
We believe continued momentum in Lowe’s Total Home strategy may also have supported the quarter. The Pro business remained a key area of strength, with small- and medium-sized professional customers continuing to engage in repair and maintenance projects despite the difficult housing backdrop. Investments in Pro Extended Aisle, localized assortments, improved fulfillment and digital tools have expanded the company’s ability to serve these customers while simplifying the purchasing process. At the same time, enhancements to online shopping, same-day delivery and the MyLowe’s loyalty platforms are likely to have encouraged customers.
Home services and operational improvements may have provided another layer of support. Lowe’s continued to gain traction with installation and replacement projects, particularly in categories where customers value speed, convenience and professional service. Appliances also remained well positioned because of the company’s broad brand assortment, omnichannel capabilities and fast delivery and installation network. Productivity initiatives across stores and the supply chain — including AI-enabled associate tools, faster replenishment and efforts to improve product availability — may have helped Lowe’s maintain service levels and capture demand more efficiently. The integration of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group also offered opportunities for procurement efficiencies and cross-selling while extending Lowe’s reach with professional and construction customers.
That said, Lowe’s is likely to have continued to face pressure from the broader home improvement environment. Elevated interest rates, high housing costs and subdued housing turnover have kept DIY demand under strain, particularly for larger discretionary projects, while lower-income consumers have remained cautious. These demand challenges were compounded by cost pressures, including higher transportation expenses and inflation in fuel and commodity-based products.
LOW Stock Price Performance
Lowe’s, which competes with The Home Depot, Inc. HD and Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. FND, has seen its shares decline 0.6% over the past three months against the industry’s rise of 9.6%. Shares of Home Depot and Floor & Decor Holdings have advanced 12.1% and 28%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Does LOW Present a Strong Case for Value Investing?
Lowe’s valuation remains discounted relative to the industry. The stock currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 16.64, below the industry average of 19.63. LOW is also trading below its own 12-month median P/E of 18.66, suggesting that the stock remains attractively valued relative to the industry and its recent historical range.
Lowe’s is trading at a discount to Home Depot (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 21.59) and Floor & Decor (26.24).
Final Words on Lowe’s Stock
Lowe’s enters the second-quarter earnings release with a mixed setup. Strength in Pro, online, home services and ongoing productivity initiatives could support sales, while its relatively attractive valuation may appeal to long-term investors. However, persistent weakness in discretionary DIY demand, housing-market pressures and elevated operating costs remain meaningful concerns. More importantly, the current earnings setup does not point convincingly toward an earnings beat, which limits the case for taking an aggressive position ahead of the report.
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Lowe's Q2 Earnings Preview: Is LOW Ready to Surprise the Street?

One of the world’s leading home improvement retailers, Lowe’s is expected to report second-quarter earnings results on Wednesday before the opening bell. A Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock, Lowe’s surpassed earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters. With Home Depot posting impressive comparable sales growth this morning, is Lowe’s a buy prior to Wednesday’s release?
Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Analysts anticipate the company to post earnings of $4.22 per share, reflecting a 2.5% decline versus the same quarter in the prior year. Estimates for the quarter have fallen slightly over the past 60 days. Revenues are projected to rise 9.1% to $26.1 billion.
Lowe’s LOW remains well-positioned to drive value creation through its Total Home strategy. The company delivered a 2.3% average earnings surprise over the prior four quarters. Our proprietary Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) indicator does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the upcoming announcement.
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While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
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Is Lowe's (LOW) a 'Buy' Ahead of Its Upcoming Earnings Announcement?

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 18, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Walmart WMT, Home Depot HD, Target TGT, Lowe’s LOW, Deere DE and JP Morgan JPM.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Retail Earnings & the U.S. Consumer: Global Week Ahead
What happens in this Global Week Ahead?
World markets are in full summer mode.
As tensions flare in the Gulf, there is no shortage of risk events for investors, including:
A health check on the mighty U.S. consumer, and
Enough focus on inflation — to bring gold back into the spotlight
Next are Reuters’ five world market themes, re-ordered for equity traders—
(1) A Wave of U.S. Corporate Retail Reports: A Tell on the U.S. Consumer
A wave of retail earnings will provide a timely check on the health of the U.S. consumer, showing whether spending remains resilient across income groups; and whether the Iran conflict is beginning to weigh on household budgets.
With a resolution stalled, Walmart, Home Depot, Target, Lowe’s and Deere could offer the clearest read yet on how higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty are affecting demand.
Gas is more than $4 a gallon, but inflation elsewhere shows signs of cooling.
Walmart and Target may reveal whether households are shifting spending towards essentials as fuel and transportation costs remain high.
Home Depot and Lowe’s could show whether inflation and borrowing costs are curbing home-improvement spending, while Deere may signal how rising energy and input costs are affecting farmers.
Whether executives view these pressures as manageable headwinds or a growing threat to margins and demand will be the real focus for investors.
(2) Fears of Global Food Price Inflation Rising
A super El Niño combined with higher energy costs, fertilizer shortages linked ‌to the Middle East conflict, and new disruptions to grain shipments from the war in Ukraine are fueling fears of another bout of food inflation.
The impact is likely to be felt most acutely across Asia and Latin America, where households spend a larger share of their income on food, and policymakers remain wary of any renewed price pressures.
Economies such as India have already felt it.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has warned the world is verging on another wave of food inflation.
JP Morgan has estimated a strong El Niño on its own and at its peak could raise global food inflation by about 0.7%.
Markets will be watching closely to see if this is temporary or a new inflation headache, forcing central banks to rethink monetary policy.
(3) Investors Start to Buy More Gold — Again
A rising dollar and a surge in inflation expectations and bond yields were always going to knock gold.
With the price sitting near record highs at the start of the conflict, the opportunity to cash in on a parabolic rally was too good to miss. In three months, gold fell 25% and its reputation as a safe haven lay in tatters.
However, from late June's six-month low around $3,965, it has risen nearly +10%.
Inflation has not rampaged out of control and markets are assuming the Federal Reserve may not raise rates.
Investors are starting to buy gold.
After four months of outflows, gold ETFs are starting to draw in capital.
More importantly, central banks, which slowed buying sharply in the first quarter, just bought more gold between April and June than in any second quarter on record, with 289 metric tons, according to the World Gold Council.
(4) Will the Bank of Japan (BoJ) Hike Next Month? A GDP Print Shows the Pulse
The latest print of Japanese gross domestic product will offer a glimpse into how Asia's second-biggest economy is weathering the Iran war and its tolerance for a central bank interest rate hike.
GDP likely expanded an annualized 2% in the three months through June, according to the median forecast of 15 economists, marking a third straight quarterly advance.
The prolonged Middle East crisis has weighed heavily on Japan, delivering a double whammy of higher costs for imported ‌oil and depreciation in its currency.
With mounting pressures to contain inflation and protect the yen, markets are growing more certain that the Bank of Japan will lift its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25% next month, following its June hike to 1%.
(5) Fresh U.K. Unemployment and Inflation Figures Come Out
After the latest reading of U.K. GDP, which beat expectations in June thanks to hot weather, World Cup football and stronger business investment, unemployment and inflation figures are up next.
Both are, of course, important, but the latter especially will be closely watched. Inflation eased to 2.6% in June, helped by a fall in energy prices after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
But the pause in fighting didn't last and energy prices accelerated again, which points to a potentially higher July print.
Adding to Iran-fueled inflation concerns are growing worries about higher food prices. Extreme heat in the UK and Europe is impacting food production, and several UK supermarket groups have already warned of a food price shock.
Considering the cost of living is a priority for new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, price pressures are bound to be a concern as he works out his spending and policy plans.
The Bank of England will also be watching: The chances of a rate hike later this year are falling, but not zero.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Walmart, Home Depot, Target, Lowe's, Deere and JP Morgan

The 2026 Q2 earnings season is slowly winding down, though there still remains a solid chunk of notable companies slated to report, including two peers with many similarities, namely Home Depot HD and Lowe’s LOW.
Both companies are navigating the same challenging backdrop, specifically slow housing turnover, affordability pressures, and cautious spending on large remodeling projects, all of which have lingered in the post-pandemic era.
There has been a big performance disparity between the duo in 2026, with LOW shares facing much more pressure relative to HD.
Home Depot Estimates and Recent Results
Concerning headline figures in its latest release, Home Depot’s sales increased 4.8% to $41.8 billion, with adjusted EPS declining roughly 3.7% to $3.43. Notably, comparable sales rose 0.6% year-over-year, while its comparable average ticket rose 2.2% from the same period last year, which helped offset a 1.3% YoY decline in transactions.
Both EPS and sales revisions have been dominantly stable for HD over recent months, with the company currently expected to see roughly 5% sales growth on 0.6% higher earnings YoY.
Lowe’s Estimates and Recent Results
LOW’s sales increased 10.3% to $23.1 billion throughout its latest period, aided in a big way by acquisitions, while adjusted EPS increased 3.8% YoY to $3.03. Comparable sales also rose 0.6%, the comparable average ticket grew 1.5% YoY, and transactions declined 0.9%. Its online sales grew by a strong 15.5% year-over-year, reflecting a standout highlight in the release.
Revisions for LOW have been more negative than for HD, with EPS and sales revisions down 2.1% and 0.6%, respectively, in recent months. Sales are forecasted to grow 9% year-over-year, whereas earnings are expected to see a 2.5% decline from the same period last year.
The weaker revisions picture here relative to HD is important to note from a near-term momentum standpoint, with LOW also carrying an unfavorable Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at the present.
The Quick Valuation Picture
HD shares trade at a significantly higher premium relative to LOW, trading at a 21.7X forward 12-month multiple compared to LOW's 16.9X. That said, both are currently trading a fair amount below their respective five-year medians, with HD historically trading at a higher price overall.
Putting Everything Together
Both companies have faced a challenging operating environment in the post-pandemic era due to a tighter affordability picture that is impacting the broader housing market, which has similarly led to a decrease in big-ticket items commonly used in remodeling projects.
Both releases will help provide a stronger pulse on the state of the consumer in that regard, but more stable EPS and sales revisions heading into the releases favor Home Depot HD from a near-term momentum standpoint, with it also carrying a more favorable Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) relative to a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Lowe’s LOW.
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Lowe's and Home Depot Earnings: Which Has a Near Term Edge?

This week, we transfer focus to “Retail Earnings Week,” where the biggest of the big-box retailers report quarterly earnings. It also signifies earnings season overall nearing its end until we pick up calendar Q3 earnings season this fall. We also have a full palate of economic reports throughout the week, from housing to manufacturing to weekly jobless claims.
Otherwise, we see spot oil prices up roughly +5% from a week ago, at $82 per barrel (/bbl) on WTI (the domestic print) and $88/bbl on Brent crude (international). With a choked-off Strait of Hormuz for more than half of 2026 so far, global oil reserves are running thin. Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) in the U.S. are currently sub-300 million barrels, a level we’ve not seen since the 1980s. Even more importantly, a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran remains elusive presently.
Empire State Strongest Month in 4+ Years
A surprise jump in Empire State Manufacturing for August — a productivity read from the third-largest economy among U.S. states, after California and Texas — welcomes investors this morning: +20.6 nearly doubles the +12 anticipated and higher than the unrevised +15.6 reported for July. This is the strongest level of 2026 so far (+19.6 in May), and the strongest print for this survey since December of 2021.
We shall see if this level of manufacturing growth is sustainable for the near term. Empire State numbers (along with Philly Fed, which reports later this week) tend to bounce around a bit: we saw -0.2 in May and -7 in September of last year. Inventories are lowering in this data set as well, with unfilled orders climbing and input price pressures heating up.
Retail Earnings This Week: WMT, HD & More
We don’t see any big-box retailers reporting today, but over the course of the week we have hundreds of billions in revenues to be accounted for. Tomorrow we see Home Depot HD results, while Wednesday brings us Lowe’s LOW, Target TGT, TJX Companies TJX and Estee Lauder EL. On Thursday, we’ll see Walmart WMT, Ross Stores ROST and Alibaba BABA.
Of these, only Target has a Buy rating (Zacks Rank #2); the rest are Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The biggest year-over-year earnings gain is expected from Estee Lauder (which would make Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who is married to the heir of this company, happy) at +255%; Alibaba represents the other side of that coin, with -5.8% earnings growth expected.
What to Expect from the Market This Week
Throughout the course of this week, we will see a plethora of economic data. We are sandwiched between “Inflation Week” last week (CPI and PPI) and next week’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), with “Jobs Week” following that. But Housing Starts and Building Permits join Pending Home Sales later this week, along with Imports and Exports, Philly Fed, Leading Economic Indicators (LEI), flash Manufacturing/Services PMI and Jobless Claims.
Mid-week, we’ll see the release of the minutes from the most recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting from last month, where the split decision came to keep the Fed funds rate at its steady +3.50-3.75% range. Three dissenters voted to raise rates 25 basis points (bps) as inflation numbers had been marching higher. But as FOMC statements now eschew guidance or much description (likewise the press conferences featuring Fed Chair Warsh), we look toward these minutes for the level of discord among Fed members, to whatever extent it exists.
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Periodand min./max. price, $	Price change, %		Volatility, %		Volume, $
Periodand min./max. price, $	LOW	Industry	LOW	Industry	Volume, $
Yesterday 214.6 - 220.5	2.23	15.00	5.29	1.14	423.96M
Week 213.6 - 220.9	2.09	23.08	4.34	3.04	1.78B
Month 199.4 - 223.9	2.84	18.60	6.07	11.18	8.21B
3 Months 199.4 - 228.8	3.77	20.55	9.17	14.04	24.16B
6 Months 199.4 - 283.8	-20.36	12.61	16.08	18.65	51.96B
Year 199.4 - 293.1	-12.02	12.47	26.93	28.61	111.78B
3 years 181.9 - 293.1	3.07	65.51	43.04	59.31	257.61B
5 years 170.1 - 293.1	12.78	88.68	59.44	82.14	443.69B
All time 5.4 - 287.0	4,006.68	508.10	—	—	443.27B

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Price and volatility history

Risk ratios