A Lowe’s retailer in Harmony, California, US, on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Photos
Lowe’s topped Wall Avenue’s quarterly income and earnings expectations on Wednesday, because the retailer’s gross sales grew greater than 10% yr over yr at the same time as the house enchancment market’s struggles confirmed few indicators of ending.
On Lowe’s earnings name, CEO Marvin Ellison mentioned the backdrop stays difficult for dwelling enchancment resulting from a mixture of larger inflation, financial uncertainty and elevated mortgage charges.
“A persistent lock-in impact stays in place, maintaining housing turnover and new dwelling begins underneath strain, main us to count on enchancment in each the housing and residential enchancment markets to be gradual,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, he mentioned the corporate’s technique is resonating with its do-it-yourself clients and residential professionals, because it supply extra versatile supply choices, higher digital experiences and extra set up companies.
And, he added, its latest acquisitions of two dwelling professional-focused corporations means Lowe’s is “effectively positioned to take part within the anticipated restoration in housing as we begin the yr.”
The corporate mentioned it expects whole gross sales for the total present fiscal yr to vary between $92 billion and $94 billion, which might be a roughly 7% to 9% enhance over the prior yr. It mentioned it initiatives adjusted earnings per share to be between $12.25 and $12.75 for the total yr. Lowe’s mentioned it expects comparable gross sales, a metric that takes out one-time elements, to be roughly flat to up 2%.
Shares of Lowe’s fell greater than 3% in early buying and selling on Wednesday as the corporate’s earnings per share projections for the yr fell in need of analysts’ consensus expectations of $12.95, in accordance with LSEG.
This is what Lowe’s reported for the fiscal fourth quarter in contrast with Wall Avenue’s estimates, in accordance with a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $1.98 adjusted vs. $1.94 anticipated
- Income: $20.58 billion vs. $20.34 billion anticipated
Lowe’s internet earnings for the three-month interval that ended Jan. 30 dropped to $999 million, or $1.78 per share, from $1.13 billion, or $1.99 per share, within the year-ago quarter. Excluding one-time elements, together with bills related to latest acquisitions, Lowe’s reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.98.
Income rose from $18.55 billion within the year-ago interval.
Comparable gross sales for the quarter climbed 1.3%, larger than the 0.2% that analysts have been anticipating, in accordance with StreetAccount. The corporate mentioned in a information launch that progress was pushed by its features with dwelling professionals, on-line gross sales and residential companies, together with a robust vacation season.
Lowe’s posted progress in 9 of its 14 merchandising classes, mentioned Invoice Boltz, govt vice chairman of merchandising, on the corporate’s earnings name. Among the classes and objects that offered effectively are extra carefully tied to execs, equivalent to gross sales of plumbing provides like water heaters and millwork for home windows and doorways, Boltz mentioned. But the corporate additionally noticed power with paint gross sales, as clients purchased inside and exterior paint, primer and stains, he mentioned.
Pinched by a tricky housing backdrop
Lowe’s outcomes reinforce the housing market’s struggles a day after rival Dwelling Depot mentioned it’s nonetheless seeing comparable reluctance to tackle massive housing initiatives.
Dwelling Depot on Tuesday beat Wall Avenue’s earnings and income expectations, however caught by conservative full-year steering. Its quarterly outcomes mirrored that dwelling enchancment demand stays tepid, as U.S. shoppers proceed to place off massive initiatives due to excessive borrowing prices and housing costs in addition to financial considerations.
Like Dwelling Depot, Lowe’s has felt pinched by a harder backdrop for the trade. Each have acquired corporations that cater to contractors and different professionals, which are usually a steadier supply of enterprise.
Final yr, Lowe’s acquired Basis Constructing Supplies, a distributor of drywall, insulation and different inside constructing merchandise for big residential and industrial professionals, for about $8.8 billion. It additionally purchased Artisan Design Group, which supplies design companies and set up of flooring, cupboards and counter tops for homebuilders and property managers, for about $1.33 billion.
Lowe’s has additionally made its personal strikes to achieve clients who’re delaying dwelling purchases, equivalent to launching a third-party market to develop its mixture of merchandise, tapping influencers to lift its visibility on social media and reaching out to younger households by relaunching its children’ program.
But Lowe’s and Dwelling Depot are nonetheless ready for indicators that U.S. shoppers are prepared to leap again in to purchasing, promoting and fixing up their houses at a extra typical price.
Ellison mentioned on the corporate’s earnings name that Lowe’s nonetheless expects “comparatively flat” demand within the dwelling enchancment trade this yr. Its personal full-year gross sales forecast is predicated on expectations that it’ll outperform the market, he mentioned.
He mentioned the corporate is carefully watching if there is a shift towards extra pricier discretionary purchases.
“After we begin to see a sustained variety of discretionary big-ticket purchases from the DIY [do-it-yourself shopper], that is going to provide us a sign that the patron is getting more healthy they usually’re extra assured in making these purchases,” he mentioned.
As of Tuesday’s shut, Lowe’s shares are up almost 16% yr so far, surpassing the S&P 500’s roughly 1% features throughout the identical interval. Its inventory has risen about 15% over the previous yr, virtually matching the S&P 500’s roughly 16% features over that point.
