Shares of Lowe's Company Inc. (
LOW
) are trading up roughly 0.04 percent Friday ahead of the release
of its fourth-quarter results before the opening bell on February
27th.
The Wall Street quarterly consensus for Lowe's Company is $0.24 per
share in earnings on $11.34 billion in revenue. During the fourth
quarter of last year, the company reported earnings of $0.21 per
share on $10.48 billion in total sales. The company's guidance
calls for earnings to be between $0.20 and $0.23.
For the full year 2011, analysts on the Street are currently
estimating earning of $1.62 per share on $49.91 billion in total
sales. The company's guidance calls for earnings to be between
$1.57 and $1.60.
The fourth quarter conference call is scheduled for 9:00 am ET on
February 27, 2012.
According to data from Bloomberg, shares of Lowe's Company have 13
Buy ratings, 13 Hold ratings and 2 Sell rating. The average price
target on shares of LOW is $28.50 with a range from $24 to $34.
Analyst Comments:
- Goldman Sachs encourages investors to purchase shares of LOW
ahead of the release. The firm notes the consensus is barely
above the company's guidance, which was released well ahead of
the unexpected warmer weather. Goldman also highlights Lowe's has
been most likely experiencing stronger sales as almost nothing
but positive news has been coming out of the housing sector.
Goldman is reaffirming its Buy rating and $29 price target on the
stock ahead of the release.
- Despite the warmer weather, JPMorgan anticipates earnings
will fall inline with expectations as comps rise 1.5 percent. The
firm also forecasts gross margin will decline by 40 basis points
as a result of EDLC initiatives.
An analyst at JPMorgan comments, "In the scenario that the
economy doesn't fulfill its hope, we'd be particularly worried
for LOW, which has benefitted from numerous discrete catalysts
from September to December (Ackman pitch, store closures,
increased leverage, and new remerchandising strategy)."
JPMorgan is maintaining its Neutral rating and $30 price target
on the company going into the quarterly results.
- Deutsche Bank predicts the company's earnings will miss
expectations by $0.01 as comps fall flat and sales only increase
by 8 percent. The firm believes management used heavy promotions
during the quarter to drive sales.
Deutsche Bank is reiterating its Buy rating and $31 price target
on the stock ahead of the release.