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Lowe’s Reports 1st Quarter 2021 Results

MOORESVILLE, N.C., May 19, 2021 — Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today reported net earnings of $2.3 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.21 for the quarter ended April 30, 2021 compared to net earnings of $1.3 billion and diluted EPS of $1.76 in the first quarter of 2020.  Excluding charges in the prior-year period related to the strategic review of certain operations, first quarter diluted EPS of $3.21 increased 81% from adjusted diluted EPS of $1.77 in the first quarter of 20201.

Total sales for the first quarter were $24.4 billion compared to $19.7 billion in the first quarter of 2020, and comparable sales increased 25.9%.  Comparable sales for the U.S. home improvement business increased 24.4% for the first quarter.

For the fifth consecutive quarter, 100% of Lowe’s stores earned a Winning Together profit-sharing bonus. This payout to front-line hourly associates totals a record $152 million, which is $70 million above the target level.

“Our outstanding performance continued this quarter, as we delivered strong sales growth and operating margin expansion.  We delivered over 30% growth in Pro, over 18% growth in all 15 U.S. regions, and growth in Canada that outpaced the U.S.,” commented Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe’s president and CEO.  “I would like to thank our front-line associates for their hard work and commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.  Looking forward, I remain confident in our ability to accelerate our market share gains while driving further improvement in operating margin.” 

Capital Allocation
The Company continues to execute a disciplined capital allocation program to deliver long-term, sustainable shareholder value.  During the quarter, the Company repurchased 16.8 million shares for $3.1 billion, and it paid $440 million in dividends.  

As of April 30, 2021, Lowe’s operated 1,972 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.

A conference call to discuss first quarter 2021 operating results is scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 19, 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 2021 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 Business Outlook
The Company delivered very strong financial results in the first quarter of 2021, with sales momentum continuing into May.  The Company is currently tracking ahead of the Robust Market scenario provided at its December 9, 2020 Investor Update, which assumed fiscal 2021 sales of $86 billion.  Better-than-expected year-to-date results and a supportive macroeconomic backdrop build the Company’s confidence in its ability to deliver strong results for the fiscal year, including continued market share gains and the achievement of a 12% operating margin.  Additionally, the Company continues to plan for $9 billion in share repurchases and $2 billion in capital expenditures in fiscal 2021.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 20 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2020 sales of $89.6 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 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 the rate of unemployment, interest rate and currency fluctuations, fuel and other energy costs, slower growth in personal income, changes in consumer spending, changes in the rate of housing turnover, the availability of consumer credit and of mortgage financing, changes in commodity prices, trade policy changes or additional tariffs, outbreaks of public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, availability and cost of goods from suppliers, 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. 

From the Lowe’s website as first published on /PRNewswire/

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