Albert Anthony is the pen name of a Croatian-American business author who is a contributing analyst on investor platform & financial media site Seeking Alpha, where he has over +1,000 followers, & also has written for platforms like Investing dot com. He is the author of a new book on Amazon called Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): A Fundamental Analysis (2026 Edition).The author's career focus as a business & information systems analyst also included the IT department at top 10 financial firm Charles ...

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's Companies Inc. is recognized for its consistent dividend growth, making it an attractive option for investors focused on steady income [3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Lowe's operates as a broad-based home improvement retailer, providing products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and home decoration [5]. Group 2: Financial Performance - TD Cowen raised its price target for Lowe's from $250 to $295 while maintaining a Hold rating, indicating a positive outlook within the broader hardlines sector [2]. - The company has increased its dividend by over 300% in the past decade, showcasing its commitment to returning value to shareholders [3]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Concerns regarding a housing slowdown may be exaggerated, as tight housing supply often leads homeowners to invest in home improvement rather than purchasing new homes, which can sustain demand for renovation projects [4].

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's background in analytics and accounting, highlighting over 10 years of experience in the investment sector, progressing from an analyst to a management role [1]. Group 1 - The author holds a master's degree in Analytics from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in Accounting [1]. - The author has a personal interest in dividend investing and aims to share insights with the Seeking Alpha community [1]. Group 2 - The author has disclosed a beneficial long position in several companies, including ABBV, ADP, HRL, JNJ, LOW, PEP, and SPGI, through various financial instruments [2]. - The article emphasizes that the author's opinions are personal and not influenced by compensation from any company mentioned [2].

Core Insights - Ace Hardware and Menards outperform big-box retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's in customer service, according to the Market Force 2025 Home Improvement Panel Study [4][6] - The study indicates that customer experience, including helpful staff and store cleanliness, significantly influences customer loyalty and satisfaction [5][6] Customer Experience - Ace Hardware scored 58.0 and Menards scored 57.7 in customer experience, surpassing Home Depot and Lowe's [4] - The survey included over 1,000 U.S. consumers, with a significant portion identifying as DIY enthusiasts [5] Customer Loyalty - Nearly 70% of survey participants reported household incomes over $50,000, indicating a demographic that values quality service [5] - Ace Hardware emphasizes that customer loyalty is driven by consistently positive shopping experiences rather than just rewards programs [7]

Frozen pipes and roof repairs are expected to drive unexpected volume for Tractor Supply, Home Depot, and Lowe's. ...

Market Overview - Stocks are showing gains after two weeks of decline, with the Dow up about 320 points or 0.67% [1] - The NASDAQ Composite is up over 0.5%, while the S&P 500 is performing similarly [2] - The Russell 2000, which had a record 14-day outperformance, is down approximately 0.3% [3] Bond Market and Currency - Yields in the bond market are down, with the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.21%, down three basis points [3] - The US dollar index has decreased by 0.5% amid potential currency intervention by the Bank of Japan [4] Sector Performance - Technology is leading the large-cap sectors, with notable performances from companies like Apple and Broadcom [4][5] - Consumer stocks are facing challenges, particularly in large-cap, with Nvidia down 0.7% and AMD down 3% [6] - Utilities and communication services are outperforming the S&P 500, while consumer discretionary and energy sectors are slightly in the red [5][6] Commodities - Natural gas prices have surged by 25% today, rising from $3 to $6.50 per unit due to increased heating demand [7][8] - Gold futures are above $5,000 an ounce, with Goldman Sachs raising their price target for gold [9] Corporate Developments - Microsoft has announced its new AI chip, the Maya 200, aimed at competing with Google and Amazon's chips, and reducing reliance on Nvidia [29][30] - GameStop's stock is seeing a boost after investor Michael Burry disclosed his bullish stance on the company [58][60] - CoreWeave has received a $2 billion investment from Nvidia to expand its AI cloud capabilities [63] Economic Outlook - Analysts expect a potential hit to US GDP in Q1, estimating a decrease of 0.5% to 1.5% [13] - The Fed is anticipated to maintain interest rates steady, with no cuts expected until at least June [92][94] CEO Responses to Social Issues - CEOs from major companies are publicly calling for de-escalation in response to unrest in Minneapolis, marking a rare moment of corporate intervention [39][40]

Well, let's get to the other big story of the day and this weekend, and that would be the massive winter storm. Americans across the country are preparing for what could be an historic weather event with freezing temperatures, ice, and heavy snow. Our next guest says the impact on businesses could last well past the weekend.Let's bring in Paul Walsh, publisher at G2 Weather Intelligence. Paul, great to have you with us. Um, and what I learned from from a meteorologist in the last hour is that it's not snow, ...

Core Insights - Lowe's is implementing strategies to attract younger consumers, particularly millennial and Gen Z parents, as part of a broader effort to increase engagement and sales in a sluggish housing market [4][5][6] Group 1: Marketing Strategies - The relaunch of Lowe's Kids Club program aims to engage children and their parents, encouraging store visits and purchases [4][7] - The company is expanding its product offerings and leveraging social media influencers to appeal to younger shoppers [5][9][27] - Lowe's is enhancing its loyalty program, My Lowe's Rewards, to incentivize frequent visits and purchases, with over 30 million members [6][22] Group 2: Market Conditions - The U.S. housing market remains sluggish, with the median age of first-time homebuyers now at 40 years, leading to postponed home improvement projects [10][11] - Lowe's expects total sales of $86 billion this year, a slight increase from $83.7 billion the previous year, but lower than pre-pandemic levels [11] - The company relies heavily on DIY shoppers, with approximately 70% of sales coming from this segment, contrasting with competitors like Home Depot [12] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Both Lowe's and Home Depot are experiencing lower demand for big-ticket items due to economic uncertainty and slower housing turnover [13] - Lowe's has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its professional-focused offerings, including Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group [15] - The competition includes independent home improvement shops and major retailers like Walmart and Amazon, which also sell similar products [30] Group 4: Consumer Sentiment - Recent surveys indicate a growing willingness among consumers to purchase homes at higher mortgage rates, with 35% expressing readiness at rates of 5.5% to 6% [17] - The average 30-year mortgage rate has slightly decreased, which may encourage more DIY projects among consumers [18] - Lowe's stock has seen a 22% increase over the past six months, reflecting some optimism about future performance [19]

With a market cap of $150.6 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW)  is a U.S.-based home improvement retailer offering a wide range of products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and home décor through its stores, website, and mobile apps. It serves both professional customers and homeowners with brand-name and private-label products, along with installation and repair services. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based company is expected to announce its fiscal Q4 2025  results soon. Ahead of ...

Truist Securities将劳氏的目标价从269美元上调至295美元，将家得宝的目标价从390美元上调至405美 元。(格隆汇) ...