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]

Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. has a market cap of $150.6 billion and operates as a home improvement retailer, providing a variety of products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and home décor through multiple channels including stores, website, and mobile apps [1] Financial Performance - Analysts expect Lowe's to report an adjusted EPS of $1.95 for fiscal Q4 2025, reflecting a 1% increase from $1.93 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the anticipated adjusted EPS is $12.26, representing a 2.2% increase from $12 in fiscal 2024, with further growth expected to over 6% year-over-year to $13 in fiscal 2026 [3] Recent Developments - Following the release of stronger-than-expected Q3 2025 results, Lowe's shares rose over 4%, reporting total sales of $20.8 billion and an adjusted EPS of $3.06. The company also raised its full-year 2025 sales projection to $86 billion while maintaining an adjusted EPS target of approximately $12.25 [5] - The company experienced strong online sales growth of 11.4%, double-digit growth in home services, and continued expansion in Pro sales, which contributed to positive investor sentiment [5] Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - Over the past 52 weeks, Lowe's shares have gained 2.8%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 13.3% rise and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF's 3.9% return [4] - The consensus view among analysts is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating. Out of 29 analysts, 19 recommend "Strong Buy," one suggests "Moderate Buy," eight indicate "Hold," and one gives "Strong Sell." The average price target for Lowe's is $281.79, indicating a potential upside of nearly 5% from current levels [6]

Group 1 - Truist Securities raised the target price for Lowe's from $269 to $295 [1] - Truist Securities increased the target price for Home Depot from $390 to $405 [1]

Group 1: Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is one of the largest home improvement retailers, offering products across construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and decorating [5] Group 2: Financial Performance and Projections - Truist raised its price target on Lowe's from $269 to $295, maintaining a Buy rating, based on positive sales trends and expectations for retail sales due to a rise in tax refunds [2] - Lowe's has a payout ratio of around 38%, indicating room for continued dividend growth that should align with improvements in net income [3] Group 3: Strategic Acquisitions - Lowe's acquired Artisan Design Group and Foundation Building Materials for over $10 billion combined, aiming to enhance distribution capabilities and expand into the professional customer segment [4]

Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is a home improvement retailer that offers tools, appliances, building materials, and decor for various projects, including repairs and remodels. The company also provides installation, repair, and design services [2]. Recent Performance - Lowe's reached its 52-week high, outperforming competitors like Home Depot. This achievement was noted by Jim Cramer, who acknowledged the challenging market environment [1]. - The company reported a modest beat on both top and bottom lines, although same-store sales were slightly below expectations. In contrast to Home Depot, Lowe's raised its full-year sales forecast while lowering its same-store sales outlook and adjusting earnings guidance downwards [2]. Inventory Management - Lowe's has effectively managed its inventory, reporting a significant reduction in inventory levels, which is viewed positively in the current market context [2].

Core Insights - The U.S. retail sales report for November shows a month-over-month increase of 0.6% and a year-over-year increase of 3.1%, indicating strong consumer spending trends [1] Winners - Nonstore retailers, including e-commerce giant Amazon, experienced a sales increase of 7.2% in November, suggesting continued positive momentum for the company [2] - Amazon's growth is further supported by its expanding sponsored ad business, operational efficiencies from robotics and AI, and accelerating growth in its cloud computing unit, AWS [4] - Sporting goods stores saw a notable sales increase of 7.8%, with Nike showing signs of a turnaround, bolstered by significant insider buying from CEO Elliot Hill and Apple CEO Tim Cook [5][7] - Dick's Sporting Goods is also positioned as a potential winner, focusing on experiential retail to attract customers while managing its recent acquisition of Foot Locker [8] - E.l.f. Beauty benefited from a 6.7% year-over-year sales increase in health and personal care stores, supported by its market share growth and the acquisition of Rhode [9][10] - The food services and drinking places category saw a 4.9% sales increase, which is expected to benefit restaurant software provider Toast as it expands its customer base [11] Losers - Furniture stores and building material and garden supply dealers faced negative sales growth, with declines of 1.4% and 2.8%, respectively, impacting companies like RH, which is navigating a challenging market [12] - Home improvement retailers Home Depot and Lowe's have struggled with same-store sales growth, although both have had strong starts in 2026 [14]

Core Insights - Inter Miami CF has renewed and expanded its partnership with Lowe's, elevating Lowe's to a Main Partner status, coinciding with the club's recent success in winning the 2025 MLS Cup and the upcoming opening of Miami Freedom Park in 2026 [1][2][6] Partnership Details - Lowe's will serve as the Official Jersey Sleeve Partner for Inter Miami CF's First Team, MLS Next Pro team, and Academy teams, enhancing its visibility across the club's player pathway [2] - As a Founding Partner of Miami Freedom Park, Lowe's will support construction efforts, providing home improvement resources for various development needs, including the stadium and surrounding areas [3] Community Engagement - Lowe's is the presenting partner of the Dreams Cup, a youth fútbol event, emphasizing its commitment to supporting young athletes and community initiatives [4] - The partnership will continue to include community events, on-site activations, and digital integrations to engage fans and the South Florida community [5] Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company with over $83 billion in sales for fiscal year 2024, serving approximately 16 million customer transactions weekly [8][9] - The company operates more than 1,700 home improvement stores and is committed to community support through various programs [9] Inter Miami CF Overview - Inter Miami CF is a professional fútbol club that has won four major titles in six seasons, including the 2025 MLS Cup, and is preparing for its seventh season in 2026 with the opening of Miami Freedom Park [10] - Miami Freedom Park is a significant mixed-use development spanning 131 acres, featuring a 25,000-seat stadium and various amenities, set to open in phases starting in 2026 [11]

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's Companies (LOW) shares have experienced a positive trend, marking seven consecutive sessions of gains, with a slight increase of 0.3% to $275.06 on Wednesday [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock gained 11.3% over the preceding six sessions [1] - Year-to-date, the stock has dropped over 2% [1]

Core Insights - Two stocks in the consumer discretionary sector are showing signs of being overbought, which may concern momentum-focused investors [1] Group 1: Momentum Indicators - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a key momentum indicator that compares a stock's performance on up days versus down days, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions [2] - Toyota Motor Corp has an RSI value of 72.5, indicating it is overbought [4] - Lowe's Companies Inc has an RSI value of 77.7, also indicating it is overbought [4] Group 2: Company Performance - Toyota Motor North America reported year-end 2025 U.S. sales of 2,518,071 vehicles, with the stock gaining approximately 7% over the past five days and reaching a 52-week high of $231.16 [4] - Shares of Toyota Motor traded at $228.63, reflecting a 2.7% increase on a recent Tuesday [4] - Lowe's Companies was upgraded from Hold to Buy by analyst Chuck Grom, with a price target of $325, and the stock gained around 10% over the past month, reaching a 52-week high of $274.98 [4] - Shares of Lowe's traded at $272.95, showing a 0.8% increase on a recent Tuesday [4]