Lowe's raises full-year forecast as home improvement demand holds steady
Lowe's also said it expects its annual gross profit margins to be up slightly from last year
US retail sales surge 3.8% in January
National Retail Federation CEO Matt Shay discusses the surge in retail sales and weighs in on inflation and labor shortages.
U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc lifted its full-year sales and profit forecast on Wednesday, as home improvement retailers benefit from resilient demand for tools and building materials.
Lowe's shares, which fell nearly 4% on Tuesday following the profit margin warning from larger rival Home Depot, rose 2.6% in premarket trading.
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The surge in spending on do-it-yourself home projects seen during the early stages of the pandemic has so far held up better than feared even as restrictions ease, while builders and handymen are upgrading their toolkits to complete a backlog of delayed projects.
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Lowe's same-store sales rose 5% in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, compared to analysts' estimates of a 3.1% increase, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. In comparison, Home Depot reported an 8.1% rise in same-store sales on Tuesday.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | LOWE'S COMPANIES INC. | 231.42 | -0.28 | -0.12% |
| HD | THE HOME DEPOT INC. | 340.67 | -1.61 | -0.47% |
Lowe's also said it expects its annual gross profit margins to be up slightly from last year, a more optimistic forecast than its outlook in December when it forecast 2022 margins to be roughly flat.
Margins are at top of investors' minds this earnings season as runaway inflation and labor costs threaten to dent Corporate America's profits.
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Home Depot on Tuesday indicated that it expects gross profit margins to remain under pressure through the year.
Lowe's said it expects fiscal year 2022 total sales of $97 billion to $99 billion, compared to a previous forecast of $94 billion to $97 billion.
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The company forecast full-year earnings per share of $13.10 to $13.60, above its previous outlook of $12.25 to $13.
(Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)