COVINGTON, La., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pool Corporation (Nasdaq:POOL) announced today that Melanie M. Hart, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the Oppenheimer 20th Annual Industrial Growth Conference on Monday, May 5, 2025. Conference participation will be virtual and consist of investor meetings and a fireside chat. Pool Corporation is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products. POOLCORP operates approximately 445 ...

Core Insights - Lowe's is launching the Lowe's Style Studio™, an immersive 3D experience designed for Apple Vision Pro, allowing customers to visualize kitchen renovations in real time starting April 26, 2025 [1][4] - The service is available for free appointments at five locations in Northern California, enabling customers to explore design options without financial commitment [7] Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company with over 1,700 stores and approximately 300,000 employees, serving around 16 million customer transactions weekly [7] - The company reported total sales exceeding $83 billion for the fiscal year 2024 [7] Product Features - Lowe's Style Studio™ allows customers to focus on specific kitchen elements or redesign the entire space, providing a full-scale visualization of countertops, backsplashes, and appliances [2][4] - The experience utilizes spatial computing to blend digital content with physical spaces, enhancing customer interaction through intuitive controls [5] Customer Engagement - Customers are encouraged to bring family or professionals to their sessions, which can be mirrored on an iPad for collaborative design [6] - At the end of the session, customers can save and share their design choices digitally, with options to store selections in their Lowe's account for future reference [6] Market Positioning - The introduction of Lowe's Style Studio™ reflects a trend towards personalized, immersive retail experiences powered by technology, aiming to enhance customer confidence in home renovation decisions [4][5]

Company Overview - Costco and Home Depot are two of the largest retailers globally, with a combined market cap of $770 billion as of April 21 [1] - Costco focuses on general merchandise, while Home Depot specializes in DIY and professional home improvement products [1] Costco Performance - In fiscal Q2 2025, Costco reported a 6.8% year-over-year increase in same-store sales, driven by increased foot traffic and strong growth in categories like home furnishings, gold and jewelry, and appliances [3] - Costco's membership model has resulted in a loyal customer base, with 78.4 million households contributing to $1.2 billion in membership fee income [4] - The company has a consistent profit generation capability, offering regular dividends and special one-time payouts, the latest being $15 per share in January 2024 [5] Home Depot Performance - Home Depot generated $159.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024, significantly outperforming competitors like Lowe's [6] - The company is facing challenges, with same-store sales expected to rise only 1% this fiscal year after a decline of 1.8% in fiscal 2024 [7] - Home Depot's long-term prospects are supported by the aging U.S. housing stock and significant untapped home equity for upgrades [8] Comparative Analysis - Costco is viewed as a more resilient business compared to Home Depot, as its demand is less sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, while Home Depot's performance is closely tied to the housing market [9] - Despite Costco's perceived strength, Home Depot is considered a better investment based on valuation, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.2 compared to Costco's 55.9 [10] - Some investors may prioritize owning high-quality businesses regardless of valuation, suggesting a dollar-cost averaging strategy for purchasing shares [11]

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's Companies Inc. announced the acquisition of Artisan Design Group for $1.325 billion, expected to close by the end of the current calendar quarter, ahead of its earnings report on May 20, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of ADG is an all-cash deal aimed at enhancing Lowe's position in the professional contractor market, similar to Home Depot's recent acquisition of SRS Distribution [2][3]. - ADG specializes in design, distribution, and installation services for interior surface finishes, which aligns with Lowe's strategy to target the professional segment [2][4]. Group 2: Market Context - Both Lowe's and Home Depot have experienced stock price declines of over 11% and 8% respectively, reflecting challenges in the home improvement sector [3]. - The housing sector's weakness has impacted Lowe's stock performance, but the company anticipates increased spending in the professional contractor business [3][4]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In its last earnings report, Lowe's reported revenue of $18.6 billion, with a return to growth in comparable store sales driven by high single-digit growth in the Pro category [5]. - The acquisition of ADG is expected to expand Lowe's total addressable market by approximately $50 billion, capitalizing on the anticipated growth in new home construction [4]. Group 4: Stock Valuation - Lowe's stock has a P/E ratio of around 18.6, which is below its three-year average of 19.25, indicating it may not be overvalued compared to other sectors [8]. - Analysts have a Moderate Buy rating on Lowe's stock with a consensus price target of $278.74, suggesting a potential gain of 24.4% [9].

Highlights COVINGTON, La., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pool Corporation (Nasdaq/GSM:POOL) today reported results for the first quarter of 2025. "Execution of our long-term strategic initiatives and organic growth investments contributed positively to our performance this quarter, and our team generated over $1.0 billion in net sales, highlighting the strength and resiliency of our business. During the quarter, we continued to expand our sales center network by adding two greenfield locations, optimiz ...

The stock market dropped sharply on Monday as tariff concerns, a falling dollar, and rising yields hit the stock market. Consumer goods companies look like they're facing a very uncertain year. The most notable moves on Monday came in home improvement retail, consumer retail, and fashion. Home Depot (HD -2.22%) dropped 3.6% on Monday, Lowe's Companies (LOW -2.83%) was down 2.8%, Boot Barn Holdings (BOOT -2.23%) fell 2.6%, and Deckers Outdoor (DECK -1.93%) had dropped 2% by market close. The bond market is e ...

The home improvement retail sector in the United States is dominated by two giants — The Home Depot Inc. (HD) and Lowe’s Companies Inc. (LOW) . As the top players in the industry, both companies serve millions of homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and professional contractors (Pro) across North America. While these companies share a similar customer base and product assortment, their strategic approaches, market positions and financial performances set them apart. With the housing market in flux and consumer spend ...

MOORESVILLE, N.C. and DALLAS, TEXAS, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Artisan Design Group ("ADG") for $1.325 billion. ADG is a leading nationwide provider of design, distribution and installation services for interior surface finishes, including flooring, cabinets and countertops, to national, regional and local homebuilders and property managers. Through a combination of organic growth and a series of ta ...

Culmination of Six Year Period of Growth and Strategic Expansion in Partnership with Sterling HOUSTON, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group ("Sterling"), a middle market private equity firm, announced today that it has agreed to sell Artisan Design Group ("ADG" or the "Company") to Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) for $1.325 billion. ADG is a leading nationwide provider of design, distribution and installation services for interior surface finishes, including flooring, cabinets and countertop ...

Lowe's will show up uniquely in each game with branding across multiple gameplay experiences. In EA SPORTS College Football 26, Lowe's will be featured on the broadcast overlay of the popular Stadium Pulse placement. The Stadium Pulse dynamically showcases and builds crowd excitement as gameplay improves, drawing meaningful parallels to the passion homeowners feel when enhancing their own spaces with Lowe's. Additionally, fans of EA SPORTS FC™ and Madden NFL will be able to engage more deeply with the brand ...