LOWE'S REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2024 SALES AND EARNINGS RESULTS

Rhea-AI Summary

Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) reported third quarter 2024 results with net earnings of $1.7 billion and diluted EPS of $2.99. Total sales reached $20.2 billion, down from $20.5 billion in the prior year, with comparable sales declining 1.1%. The company recognized a $54 million pre-tax gain from the 2022 Canadian retail business sale, impacting EPS by $0.10. Excluding this gain, adjusted diluted EPS was $2.89.

Performance was driven by high-single-digit Pro sales growth and strong online sales, despite softness in DIY bigger-ticket discretionary demand. During the quarter, Lowe's repurchased 2.9 million shares for $758 million and paid $654 million in dividends.

Positive

• High-single-digit positive comparable sales growth in Pro segment
• Strong online sales performance
• Better-than-expected quarterly results
• $758 million in share repurchases
• $654 million paid in dividends

Negative

• Total sales decreased to $20.2 billion from $20.5 billion year-over-year
• Comparable sales declined 1.1%
• Continued softness in DIY bigger-ticket discretionary demand
• Diluted EPS decreased to $2.99 from $3.06 year-over-year

Insights

Financial Analyst

Lowe's Q3 results reveal concerning trends with -1.1% comparable sales decline and adjusted EPS of $2.89, down from $3.06 last year. The $20.2 billion revenue represents continued pressure on DIY discretionary spending, though partially offset by Pro segment growth and storm-related sales. The company's aggressive capital return program continues with $758 million in share repurchases and $654 million in dividends, demonstrating financial strength despite headwinds.

The Pro segment's high-single-digit growth is a bright spot, suggesting resilience in contractor-driven business. However, the softness in DIY bigger-ticket items signals consumer hesitation amid economic uncertainty. Storm-related sales provided a temporary boost but mask underlying weakness in core business segments. The updated outlook suggests management expects these challenges to persist through Q4.

— Diluted EPS of $2.99; Adjusted Diluted EPS¹ of $2.89 —

— Comparable Sales Decreased 1.1% —

— Updates Full Year 2024 Outlook —

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today reported net earnings of $1.7 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.99 for the quarter ended Nov. 1, 2024, compared to diluted EPS of $3.06 in the third quarter of 2023. During the third quarter, the company recognized a $54 million pre-tax gain associated with the 2022 sale of the Canadian retail business. This positively impacted third quarter diluted EPS by $0.10. Excluding this gain, third quarter 2024 adjusted diluted EPS¹ was $2.89.

Total sales for the quarter were $20.2 billion, compared to $20.5 billion in the prior-year quarter. Comparable sales for the quarter decreased 1.1%, driven by continued softness in DIY bigger-ticket discretionary demand, which was partly offset by storm-related sales and positive comparable sales in Pro and online.

"Our results this quarter were modestly better-than-expected, even excluding storm-related activity, driven by high-single-digit positive comps in Pro, strong online sales and smaller-ticket outdoor DIY projects," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO.  "I'd like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to those who suffered losses from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.  I would also like to express my appreciation for our associates, suppliers and first responders for their commitment to the impacted communities.  Next month at our Analyst and Investor Conference, I look forward to discussing our new growth and productivity initiatives, which underscore our confidence that we are well-positioned to capitalize on the expected recovery in home improvement."  

As of Nov. 1, 2024, Lowe's operated 1,747 stores representing 195.0 million square feet of retail selling space.

Capital Allocation
With a disciplined focus on its leading capital allocation program, the company continues to generate long-term shareholder value. During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares for $758 million, and it paid $654 million in dividends.

Lowe's Business Outlook

Based on third quarter results and anticipated modest storm-related demand in the fourth quarter, the company is updating its outlook for the operating results of full year 2024.

Adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted effective income tax rate and adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the gains associated with the 2022 sale of the Canadian retail business, recorded in the second and third quarter. 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 (which may be significant) without unreasonable effort, including timing of adjustments associated with the sale of the Canadian retail business.

Full Year 2024 Outlook

• Total sales of $83.0 to $83.5 billion (previously $82.7 to $83.2 billion)
• Comparable sales expected to be down -3.0 to -3.5%, as compared to prior year (previously down -3.5 to -4.0%)
• Adjusted operating income as a percentage of sales (adjusted operating margin) of 12.3 to 12.4% (previously 12.4 to 12.5%)
• Net interest expense of approximately $1.3 billion (previously $1.4 billion)
• Adjusted effective income tax rate of approximately 24.5%
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $11.80 to $11.90 (previously $11.70 to $11.90)
• Capital expenditures of approximately $2 billion

A conference call to discuss third quarter 2024 operating results is scheduled for today, Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m. 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 Third Quarter 2024 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.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week in the United States. With total fiscal year 2023 sales of more than $86 billion, Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 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 (including objectives related to environmental and social matters), business outlook, priorities, sales growth, shareholder value, capital expenditures, cash flows, the housing market, the home improvement industry, demand for products and services including customer acceptance of new offerings and initiatives, macroeconomic conditions and consumer spending, share repurchases, and 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, age of housing stock, 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, geopolitical or 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

__________

1 Adjusted diluted earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation" section of this release for additional information, as well as reconciliations between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial results.

 

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

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Current Earnings and Accumulated Deficit (Unaudited) In Millions, Except Per Share and Percentage Data
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	November 1, 2024				November 3, 2023				November 1, 2024				November 3, 2023
Current Earnings	Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales
Net sales	$  20,170		100.00		$  20,471		100.00		$  65,120		100.00		$  67,775		100.00
Cost of sales	13,374		66.31		13,580		66.34		43,340		66.55		44,958		66.33
Gross margin	6,796		33.69		6,891		33.66		21,780		33.45		22,817		33.67
Expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	3,827		18.97		3,761		18.37		11,860		18.22		11,673		17.23
Depreciation and amortization	433		2.15		434		2.12		1,284		1.97		1,275		1.88
Operating income	2,536		12.57		2,696		13.17		8,636		13.26		9,869		14.56
Interest – net	317		1.57		345		1.68		985		1.51		1,033		1.52
Pre-tax earnings	2,219		11.00		2,351		11.49		7,651		11.75		8,836		13.04
Income tax provision	524		2.59		578		2.83		1,818		2.79		2,130		3.14
Net earnings	$    1,695		8.41		$    1,773		8.66		$    5,833		8.96		$    6,706		9.90
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	565				576				568				585
Basic earnings per common share (1)	$      2.99				$      3.07				$    10.24				$    11.43
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	566				577				569				587
Diluted earnings per common share (1)	$      2.99				$      3.06				$    10.22				$    11.40
Cash dividends per share	$      1.15				$      1.10				$      3.40				$      3.25
Accumulated Deficit
Balance at beginning of period	$  (14,342)				$  (15,341)				$  (15,637)				$  (14,862)
Net earnings	1,695				1,773				5,833				6,706
Cash dividends declared	(650)				(633)				(1,933)				(1,898)
Share repurchases	(696)				(1,543)				(2,256)				(5,690)
Balance at end of period	$  (13,993)				$  (15,744)				$  (13,993)				$  (15,744)

(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 $1,691 million for the three months ended November 1, 2024, and $1,769 million for the three months ended November 3, 2023.  Net earnings allocable to common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation were $5,818 million for the nine months ended November 1, 2024, and $6,688 million for the nine months ended November 3, 2023.

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) In Millions, Except Percentage Data
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	November 1, 2024				November 3, 2023				November 1, 2024				November 3, 2023
	Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales		Amount		% Sales
Net earnings	$    1,695		8.41		$    1,773		8.66		$    5,833		8.96		$    6,706		9.90
Cash flow hedges – net of tax	(3)		(0.02)		(4)		(0.01)		(9)		(0.02)		(10)		(0.02)
Foreign currency translation adjustments – net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		—		5		0.01
Other	—		—		—		—		1		—		—		—
Other comprehensive loss	(3)		(0.02)		(4)		(0.01)		(8)		(0.02)		(5)		(0.01)
Comprehensive income	$    1,692		8.39		$    1,769		8.65		$    5,825		8.94		$    6,701		9.89

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) In Millions, Except Par Value Data
		November 1, 2024		November 3, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$                        3,271		$                        1,210
Short-term investments		335		321
Merchandise inventory – net		17,566		17,530
Other current assets		805		907
Total current assets		21,977		19,968
Property, less accumulated depreciation		17,586		17,527
Operating lease right-of-use assets		3,771		3,647
Long-term investments		312		238
Deferred income taxes – net		261		280
Other assets		836		859
Total assets		$                      44,743		$                      42,519
Liabilities and shareholders' deficit
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt		$                        2,576		$                           544
Current operating lease liabilities		497		533
Accounts payable		10,602		9,914
Accrued compensation and employee benefits		828		750
Deferred revenue		1,359		1,499
Other current liabilities		3,585		3,256
Total current liabilities		19,447		16,496
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		32,906		35,374
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		3,741		3,602
Deferred revenue – Lowe's protection plans		1,260		1,228
Other liabilities		808		966
Total liabilities		58,162		57,666
Shareholders' deficit:
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 – 565 million and 575 million, respectively		282		288
Capital in excess of par value		—		7
Accumulated deficit		(13,993)		(15,744)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		292		302
Total shareholders' deficit		(13,419)		(15,147)
Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit		$                      44,743		$                      42,519

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) In Millions
	Nine Months Ended
	November 1, 2024		November 3, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$                        5,833		$                        6,706
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,461		1,427
Noncash lease expense	392		370
Deferred income taxes	(10)		(27)
Loss on property and other assets – net	11		50
Gain on sale of business	(97)		(79)
Share-based payment expense	164		160
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventory – net	(672)		1,002
Other operating assets	114		236
Accounts payable	1,944		(610)
Other operating liabilities	(426)		(2,203)
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,714		7,032
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(999)		(1,283)
Proceeds from sale/maturity of investments	918		1,215
Capital expenditures	(1,379)		(1,344)
Proceeds from sale of property and other long-term assets	54		29
Proceeds from sale of business	97		100
Other – net	(11)		(23)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,320)		(1,306)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in commercial paper	—		(499)
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	—		2,983
Repayment of debt	(522)		(576)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based payment plans	95		79
Cash dividend payments	(1,916)		(1,899)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,681)		(5,937)
Other – net	(20)		(15)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,044)		(5,864)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,350		(138)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	921		1,348
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$                        3,271		$                        1,210

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliation (Unaudited)

To provide additional transparency, the Company has presented the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted diluted earnings per share for the three months ended November 1, 2024.  This measure excludes the impact of a certain item, further described below, not contemplated in Lowe's Business Outlook to assist analysts and investors in understanding operational performance for the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

Fiscal 2024 Impacts
During fiscal 2024, the Company recognized financial impacts from the following:

• In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recognized pre-tax income of $54 million consisting of a realized gain on the contingent consideration associated with the fiscal 2022 sale of the Canadian retail business (Canadian retail business transaction).

Adjusted diluted earnings per share should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful indicator of, the Company's diluted earnings per share as prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company's methods of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the method used by other companies and may not be comparable.

A reconciliation between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial results is shown below and available on the Company's website at ir.lowes.com.

	Three Months Ended
	November 1, 2024
	Pre-Tax Earnings		Tax1		Net Earnings
Diluted earnings per share, as reported					$       2.99
Non-GAAP adjustments – per share impacts
Canadian retail business transaction	(0.10)		—		(0.10)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share					$       2.89

1   Represents the corresponding tax benefit or expense specifically related to the item excluded from adjusted diluted earnings per share.

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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

FAQ

What was Lowe's (LOW) EPS for Q3 2024?

Lowe's reported diluted EPS of $2.99, or $2.89 adjusted excluding a $0.10 gain from the Canadian retail business sale.

What were Lowe's (LOW) comparable sales in Q3 2024?

Lowe's comparable sales decreased 1.1% in Q3 2024, affected by softness in DIY bigger-ticket discretionary demand.

How much did Lowe's (LOW) spend on share repurchases in Q3 2024?

Lowe's repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares for $758 million during Q3 2024.

What was Lowe's (LOW) total sales for Q3 2024?

Lowe's reported total sales of $20.2 billion for Q3 2024, compared to $20.5 billion in the prior-year quarter.