LOWE'S REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2022 SALES AND EARNINGS RESULTS

Rhea-AI Summary

Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) reported net earnings of $2.3 billion for Q1 2022, matching the previous year, with diluted EPS of $3.51, up from $3.21 in Q1 2021. Total sales decreased to $23.7 billion from $24.4 billion, with U.S. comparable sales down 3.8%. However, pro customer sales rose by 20%. The company remains optimistic about future sales, particularly as weather improves. For FY 2022, Lowe's affirms a sales outlook of $97 to $99 billion, with EPS guidance of $13.10 to $13.60. Capital allocation included $4.1 billion for share repurchases and $537 million in dividends.

Positive

• Diluted EPS increased to $3.51 from $3.21 year-over-year.
• Pro customer sales surged by 20%.
• Operating margin improved by over 65 basis points.
• Affirmed favorable full-year 2022 sales outlook of $97 to $99 billion.

Negative

• Consolidated comparable sales decreased by 4.0%.
• U.S. comparable sales declined by 3.8%.

— Consolidated Comparable Sales Decreased 4.0%; U.S. Comparable Sales Decreased 3.8% —
— Represents U.S. Comparable Sales Increase on a Two-Year Basis of 19.7% —
— First Quarter Diluted EPS of $3.51 —
— Affirms Fiscal 2022 Outlook —

MOORESVILLE, N.C., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today reported net earnings of $2.3 billion, in line with prior-year results, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.51 for the quarter ended April 29, 2022, compared to diluted EPS of $3.21 in the first quarter of 2021. 

Total sales for the first quarter were $23.7 billion compared to $24.4 billion in the first quarter of 2021, and comparable sales decreased 4.0%.  Comparable sales for the U.S. home improvement business decreased 3.8% for the first quarter.  Pro customer sales increased 20%.

"Our sales this quarter were in line with our expectations, excluding our outdoor seasonal categories that were impacted by unseasonably cold temperatures in April.  Because 75% of our customer base is DIY, our Q1 sales were disproportionately impacted by the cooler spring temperatures.  Now that spring has finally arrived, we are pleased with the improved sales trends we are seeing in May,"  commented Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO.  "This quarter we delivered over 65 basis points of operating margin improvement, driven by our Total Home strategy and the execution of our Perpetual Productivity Improvement or PPI initiatives.  Despite some increased uncertainty in the macro environment, we remain confident in the outlook for the home improvement market and our ability to deliver operating margin expansion in 2022.  I would like to thank our front-line associates for their ongoing commitment to our customers and our communities."

Capital Allocation

The company continues to execute a disciplined capital allocation strategy to deliver long-term, sustainable shareholder value. During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 19 million shares for $4.1 billion, and it paid $537 million in dividends.

Lowe's Business Outlook

The company is affirming its outlook for the operating results of Full Year 2022.

Full Year 2022 Outlook -- a 53-week Year (comparisons to full year 2021 -- a 52-week year)

• Total sales of $97 billion to $99 billion, including the 53rd week
• 53rd week expected to increase total sales by approximately $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion
• Comparable sales expected to range from a decline of 1% to an increase of 1%
• Gross margin rate up slightly compared to prior year
• Depreciation and amortization of approximately $1.75 billion
• Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) of 12.8% to 13.0%
• Interest expense of $1.0 to $1.1 billion
• Effective income tax rate of approximately 25%
• Diluted earnings per share of $13.10 to $13.60
• Total share repurchases of approximately $12 billion
• ROIC¹ of over 36%
• Capital expenditures of approximately $2 billion

A conference call to discuss first quarter 2022 operating results is scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 18, at 9:00 am ET.  The conference call will be available by webcast and can be accessed by visiting Lowe's website at ir.lowes.com and clicking on Lowe's First Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call Webcast.  Supplemental slides will be available approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call.  A replay of the call will be archived at ir.lowes.com.

As of April 29, 2022, Lowe's operated 1,971 home improvement and hardware stores in the United States and Canada representing 208 million square feet of retail selling space, and it serviced approximately 230 dealer-owned stores.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements including words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "desire", "project", "estimate", "intend", "will", "should", "could", "would", "may", "strategy", "potential", "opportunity", "outlook", "scenario", "guidance", and similar expressions are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements involve, among other things, expectations, projections, and assumptions about future financial and operating results, objectives, business outlook, priorities, sales growth, shareholder value, capital expenditures, cash flows, the housing market, the home improvement industry, demand for products and services, share repurchases, Lowe's strategic initiatives, including those relating to acquisitions and dispositions and the impact of such transactions on our strategic and operational plans and financial results.  Such statements involve risks and uncertainties and we can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.  Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.

A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, such as volatility and/or lack of liquidity from time to time in U.S. and world financial markets and the consequent reduced availability and/or higher cost of borrowing to Lowe's and its customers, slower rates of growth in real disposable personal income that could affect the rate of growth in consumer spending, inflation and its impacts on discretionary spending and on our costs, shortages, and other disruptions in the labor supply, interest rate and currency fluctuations, home price appreciation or decreasing housing turnover, the availability of consumer credit and of mortgage financing, trade policy changes or additional tariffs, outbreaks of pandemics, fluctuations in fuel and energy costs, inflation or deflation of commodity prices, natural disasters, armed conflicts, acts of both domestic and international terrorism, and other factors that can negatively affect our customers.

Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties, risks and potential events including, but not limited to, those described in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be updated from time to time in Item 1A in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or other subsequent filings with the SEC. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements other than as required by law. 

LOW-IR

Contacts:	Shareholder/Analyst Inquiries:		Media Inquiries:
	Kate Pearlman		Steve Salazar
	704-775-3856		704-758-4345
	kate.pearlman@lowes.com		steve.j.salazar@lowes.com

 

¹ Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is calculated using a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort.

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Current Earnings and (Accumulated Deficit)/Retained Earnings (Unaudited)
In Millions, Except Per Share and Percentage Data
	Three Months Ended
	April 29, 2022				April 30, 2021
Current Earnings	Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales
Net sales	$       23,659		100.00		$       24,422		100.00
Cost of sales	15,609		65.97		16,292		66.71
Gross margin	8,050		34.03		8,130		33.29
Expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	4,303		18.19		4,494		18.40
Depreciation and amortization	445		1.88		391		1.60
Operating income	3,302		13.96		3,245		13.29
Interest – net	243		1.03		211		0.87
Pre-tax earnings	3,059		12.93		3,034		12.42
Income tax provision	726		3.07		713		2.92
Net earnings	$         2,333		9.86		$         2,321		9.50
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	660				718
Basic earnings per common share (1)	$           3.52				$           3.22
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	662				720
Diluted earnings per common share (1)	$           3.51				$           3.21
Cash dividends per share	$           0.80				$           0.60
(Accumulated Deficit)/Retained Earnings
Balance at beginning of period	$       (5,115)				$         1,117
Net earnings	2,333				2,321
Cash dividends declared	(524)				(430)
Share repurchases	(4,061)				(2,910)
Balance at end of period	$       (7,367)				$              98

(1)

Under the two-class method, earnings per share is calculated using net earnings allocable to common shares, which is derived by reducing net earnings by the earnings allocable to participating securities. Net earnings allocable to common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation were $2,325 million for the three months ended April 29, 2022, and $2,312 million for the three months ended April 30, 2021.

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
In Millions, Except Percentage Data
	Three Months Ended
	April 29, 2022				April 30, 2021
	Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales
Net earnings	$         2,333		9.86		$         2,321		9.50
Foreign currency translation adjustments – net of tax	(17)		(0.07)		102		0.41
Cash flow hedges – net of tax	219		0.93		24		0.10
Other	(2)		(0.01)		(1)		—
Other comprehensive income	200		0.85		125		0.51
Comprehensive income	$         2,533		10.71		$         2,446		10.01

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
In Millions, Except Par Value Data
		April 29, 2022		April 30, 2021		January 28, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$                    3,414		$                    6,692		$                    1,133
Short-term investments		368		454		271
Merchandise inventory – net		20,239		18,382		17,605
Other current assets		1,590		1,288		1,051
Total current assets		25,611		26,816		20,060
Property, less accumulated depreciation		18,890		19,059		19,071
Operating lease right-of-use assets		4,131		3,886		4,108
Long-term investments		76		197		199
Deferred income taxes – net		33		213		164
Other assets		984		1,029		1,038
Total assets		$                  49,725		$                  51,200		$                  44,640
Liabilities and shareholders' (deficit)/equity
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt		$                       121		$                    1,338		$                       868
Current operating lease liabilities		639		551		636
Accounts payable		13,831		13,964		11,354
Accrued compensation and employee benefits		1,190		1,312		1,561
Deferred revenue		2,094		2,022		1,914
Other current liabilities		3,956		3,705		3,335
Total current liabilities		21,831		22,892		19,668
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		28,776		21,906		23,859
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		4,061		3,925		4,021
Deferred revenue – Lowe's protection plans		1,137		1,050		1,127
Other liabilities		797		982		781
Total liabilities		56,602		50,755		49,456
Shareholders' (deficit)/equity:
Preferred stock, $5 par value: Authorized – 5.0 million shares; Issued and      outstanding – none		—		—		—
Common stock, $0.50 par value: Authorized – 5.6 billion shares; Issued      and outstanding – 652 million, 715 million, and 670 million shares,            respectively		326		358		335
Capital in excess of par value		—		—		—
(Accumulated deficit)/retained earnings		(7,367)		98		(5,115)
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)		164		(11)		(36)
Total shareholders' (deficit)/equity		(6,877)		445		(4,816)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit)/equity		$                  49,725		$                  51,200		$                  44,640

 

 

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
In Millions
	Three Months Ended
	April 29, 2022		April 30, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$                        2,333		$                        2,321
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	503		443
Noncash lease expense	135		124
Deferred income taxes	59		110
Loss/(gain) on property and other assets – net	4		(15)
Share-based payment expense	50		54
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventory – net	(2,646)		(2,123)
Other operating assets	(212)		(343)
Accounts payable	2,479		3,058
Deferred revenue	191		442
Other operating liabilities	81		421
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,977		4,492
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(109)		(293)
Proceeds from sale/maturity of investments	132		347
Capital expenditures	(343)		(461)
Proceeds from sale of property and other long-term assets	10		64
Other – net	—		(134)
Net cash used in investing activities	(310)		(477)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	4,964		1,988
Repayment of debt	(773)		(543)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based payment plans	1		9
Cash dividend payments	(537)		(440)
Repurchases of common stock	(4,037)		(3,038)
Other – net	(4)		4
Net cash used in financing activities	(386)		(2,020)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—		7
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,281		2,002
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,133		4,690
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$                        3,414		$                        6,692

 

 

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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

FAQ

What were Lowe's earnings results for Q1 2022?

Lowe's reported net earnings of $2.3 billion with diluted EPS of $3.51 for Q1 2022.

What is Lowe's sales outlook for FY 2022?

Lowe's expects total sales to range from $97 billion to $99 billion for FY 2022.

How did Lowe's comparable sales perform in Q1 2022?

Lowe's consolidated comparable sales decreased by 4.0%, with U.S. comparable sales down 3.8%.

What was the impact of weather on Lowe's Q1 sales?

Sales were negatively impacted by unseasonably cold temperatures affecting outdoor seasonal categories.