Lowe's made big strides in the Great White North last year thanks to the completion of its acquisition of Canadian retailer RONA. The deal helped the home improvement chain boost sales 10%. Lowe's is trying to entice customers through an army of experts who will meet with customers in their homes to help with DIY projects. The company has benefited from the housing rebound, but not to the same extent as bigger rival Home Depot; in November it cut its profit forecast for the year on soft store traffic. Lowe's also has not been immune to the forces turning the retail world upside down as more consumers make their purchases digitally. Last year it improved its website and in January shifted around employees' jobs to better respond to customer needs.
Company Info
| CEO | Robert A. Niblock |
| CEO Title | Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer |
| Sector | Retailing |
| Industry | Specialty Retailers: Other |
| HQ Location | Mooresville, NC |
| Website | www.lowes.com |
| Years on Fortune 500 List | 23 |
| Employees | 240,000 |
Key Financials (Last Fiscal Year)
| Revenues ($M) | $65,017 |
| Profits ($M) | $3,093 |
| Assets ($M) | $34,408 |
| Total Stockholder Equity ($M) | $6,434 |
| Market Value — as of March 31, 2017 ($M) | $70,481 |
Profit Ratios
| Profit as % of Revenues | 4.8% |
| Profits as % of Assets | 9% |
| Profits as % of Stockholder Equity | 48.1% |
Earnings Per Share (Last Fiscal Year)
| Earnings Per Share ($) | 3 |
| EPS % Change (from 2015) | 27.1% |
| EPS % Change (5 year annual rate) | 19.4% |
| EPS % Change (10 year annual rate) | 5.7% |
Total Return
| Total Return to Investors (2016) | -4.8% |
| Total Return to Investors (5 year, annualized) | 25% |
| Total Return to Investors (10 year, annualized) | 10.4% |
