LOWE'S REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2026 SALES AND EARNINGS RESULTS

By PR Newswire | August 19, 2026, 6:00 AM

— Diluted EPS of $4.27; Adjusted Diluted EPS1 of $4.40 —

— Comparable Sales Increased 0.2% —

— Updates Full Year 2026 Outlook —

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today reported net earnings of $2.4 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.27 for the quarter ended July 31, 2026, compared to diluted EPS of $4.27 in the second quarter of 2025. During the second quarter ended July 31, 2026, the company recognized $96 million in pre-tax expenses associated with the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials (FBM) and Artisan Design Group (ADG). Excluding these expenses, second quarter 2026 adjusted diluted EPS1 increased 1.6% to $4.40 compared to the prior-year adjusted diluted EPS. Both diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS1 include an $0.11 benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Lowe's Companies, Inc.)

Total sales for the quarter were $26.0 billion, compared to $24.0 billion in the prior-year quarter. Comparable sales for the quarter increased 0.2%, driven by strong performance in Pro and home services sales, as well as a 15.7% increase in online sales, partially offset by persistent DIY macro pressures.

"Sustained growth in Pro, Online and Home Services led to our fifth consecutive quarter of positive comp sales, despite pressure in discretionary DIY spending," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO. "While the near-term remains dynamic, our teams are executing at a high level, advancing our Total Home strategy and investing to drive growth and profitability. I would like to thank all of our frontline associates for their hard work and dedication to our customers."

As of July 31, 2026, Lowe's operated 1,761 stores, representing 196.0 million square feet of retail selling space.

Capital Allocation

The company remains committed to generating sustainable shareholder value through a disciplined focus on its capital allocation program. During the quarter, the company paid $673 million in dividends.

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.





Lowe's Business Outlook                                                                                                                             

The company is updating its outlook for fiscal year 2026 to reflect operational results for the first half of the year as well as current demand trends.

Fiscal year 2026 outlook also includes tariff refunds recognized during the second quarter and excludes any potential additional tariff refunds in the second half of the year.

Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook

  • Total sales of $92.0 billion (previously $92.0 to 94.0 billion)
  • Comparable sales expected to be flat as compared to prior year (previously flat to up 2%)
  • Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) of 11.2% (previously 11.2% to 11.4%)
  • Adjusted1 operating income as a percentage of sales (adjusted operating margin) of 11.6%

    (previously 11.6% to 11.8%)
  • Net interest expense of approximately $1.6 billion
  • Effective income tax rate of approximately 24.5%
  • Diluted earnings per share of approximately $11.75 (previously $11.75 to $12.25)
  • Adjusted1 diluted earnings per share of approximately $12.25 (previously $12.25 to $12.75)
  • Capital expenditures of up to $2.5 billion

A conference call to discuss second quarter 2026 operating results is scheduled for today, Wednesday, August 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 Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call Webcast. Supplemental slides will be available 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® 100 home improvement company with total fiscal year 2025 sales of more than $86 billion. Lowe's employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,750 home improvement stores, 540 branches and 120 distribution centers. Lowe's is a core value S&P 500 equity stock and a dividend aristocrat. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. 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, trade policy changes and additional tariffs and tariff refunds, 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

Contacts:           

Investor Inquiries:



Media Inquiries:



Shelly Hubbard



Steve Salazar



704-775-3856



steve.j.salazar@lowes.com 



shelly.hubbard@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



Six Months Ended



July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025



July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025

Current Earnings

Amount



% Sales



Amount



% Sales



Amount



% Sales



Amount



% Sales

Net sales

$ 25,956



100.00



$ 23,959



100.00



$ 49,034



100.00



$ 44,888



100.00

Cost of sales

17,379



66.96



15,858



66.19



32,914



67.13



29,800



66.39

Gross margin

8,577



33.04



8,101



33.81



16,120



32.87



15,088



33.61

Expenses:































Selling, general and administrative

4,456



17.17



4,175



17.42



8,879



18.10



8,222



18.31

Depreciation and amortization

572



2.20



457



1.91



1,138



2.32



902



2.01

Operating income

3,549



13.67



3,469



14.48



6,103



12.45



5,964



13.29

Interest – net

374



1.44



313



1.31



773



1.58



650



1.45

Pre-tax earnings

3,175



12.23



3,156



13.17



5,330



10.87



5,314



11.84

Income tax provision

776



2.99



758



3.16



1,303



2.66



1,276



2.84

Net earnings

$   2,399



9.24



$    2,398



10.01



$    4,027



8.21



$    4,038



9.00

































































Weighted average common shares

     outstanding – basic

559







559







559







559





Basic earnings per common share (1)

$     4.28







$      4.28







$      7.18







$      7.21





Weighted average common shares

     outstanding – diluted

560







560







560







560





Diluted earnings per common share (1)     

$     4.27







$      4.27







$      7.17







$      7.19





Cash dividends per share

$     1.25







$      1.20







$      2.45







$      2.35





































Accumulated Deficit































Balance at beginning of period

$  (9,884)







$ (13,833)







$ (10,839)







$ (14,799)





Net earnings

2,399







2,398







4,027







4,038





Cash dividends declared

(702)







(673)







(1,375)







(1,317)





Share repurchases



















(30)





Balance at end of period

$  (8,187)







$ (12,108)







$   (8,187)







$ (12,108)









(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 $2,392 million and for the three months ended July 31, 2026, and $2,391 million for the three months ended August 1, 2025.  Net earnings allocable to common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation were $4,016 million for the six months ended July 31, 2026, and $4,027 million for the six months ended August 1, 2025.

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

In Millions, Except Percentage Data





Three Months Ended



Six Months Ended



July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025



July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025



Amount



% Sales



Amount



% Sales



Amount



% Sales



Amount



% Sales

Net earnings

$   2,399



9.24



$   2,398



10.01



$   4,027



8.21



$   4,038



9.00

Cash flow hedges – net of tax     

(3)



(0.01)



(4)



(0.01)



(7)



(0.02)



(7)



(0.02)

Other

(1)





(1)



(0.01)



(2)







Other comprehensive loss

(4)



(0.01)



(5)



(0.02)



(9)



(0.02)



(7)



(0.02)

Comprehensive income

$   2,395



9.23



$   2,393



9.99



$   4,018



8.19



$   4,031



8.98

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

In Millions, Except Par Value Data

















July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025

Assets









Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents



$               3,172



$               4,860

Short-term investments



235



396

Receivables - net



1,238



320

Merchandise inventory - net



17,737



16,342

Other current assets



960



721

Total current assets



23,342



22,639

Property, less accumulated depreciation



18,276



17,708

Operating lease right-of-use assets



4,071



3,887

Long-term investments



179



273

Deferred income taxes - net





140

Intangible assets - net



5,709



976

Goodwill



3,957



691

Other assets



347



300

Total assets



$             55,881



$             46,614











Liabilities and shareholders' deficit









Current liabilities:









Current maturities of long-term debt



$               2,352



$               4,175

Current operating lease liabilities



733



536

Accounts payable



11,076



9,513

Accrued compensation and employee benefits



1,168



1,098

Deferred revenue



1,609



1,558

Other current liabilities



4,194



4,742

Total current liabilities



21,132



21,622

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities



35,204



30,548

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities



3,734



3,801

Deferred income taxes - net



1,201



Deferred revenue - Lowe's protection plans



1,253



1,283

Other liabilities



794



760

Total liabilities



63,318



58,014











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 -     

     561 million and 561 million, respectively



281



280

Capital in excess of par value



207



147

Accumulated deficit



(8,187)



(12,108)

Accumulated other comprehensive income



262



281

Total shareholders' deficit



(7,437)



(11,400)

Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit



$             55,881



$             46,614

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

In Millions





Six Months Ended



July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025

Cash flows from operating activities:







  Net earnings

$               4,027



$               4,038

  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:     







     Depreciation and amortization

1,292



1,022

     Noncash lease expense

338



267

     Deferred income taxes

165



70

Loss on property and other assets - net

15



30

     Share-based payment expense

132



117

     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:







Receivables - net

(157)



(22)

       Merchandise inventory – net

(436)



1,173

       Other operating assets

236



20

       Accounts payable

1,313



150

       Other operating liabilities

84



745

     Net cash provided by operating activities

7,009



7,610









Cash flows from investing activities:







     Purchases of investments

(808)



(845)

     Proceeds from sale/maturity of investments

1,079



827

     Capital expenditures

(1,063)



(1,013)

     Proceeds from sale of property and other long-term assets

8



7

     Acquisition of business - net

(5)



(1,314)

     Other – net

28



(5)

     Net cash used in investing activities

(761)



(2,343)









Cash flows from financing activities:







     Repayment of debt

(2,397)



(796)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based payment plans

71



70

     Cash dividend payments

(1,346)



(1,290)

     Repurchases of common stock

(366)



(113)

     Other – net

(20)



(39)

     Net cash used in financing activities

(4,058)



(2,168)









Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

2,190



3,099

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

982



1,761

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$               3,172



$               4,860

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 July 31, 2026 and August 1, 2025.  This measure excludes the impact of certain items, further described below, to assist analysts and investors in understanding operational performance for the second quarter of fiscal 2026.

Fiscal 2026 Impacts

During fiscal 2026, the Company recognized financial impacts from the following:

  • In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company recognized pre-tax expenses of $96 million consisting of intangible asset amortization related to the acquisitions of Artisan Design Group and Foundation Building Materials (Acquisitions of businesses).

Fiscal 2025 Impacts

During fiscal 2025, the Company recognized financial impacts from the following:

  • In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company recognized pre-tax expenses of $43 million consisting of transaction costs, purchase accounting adjustments, and intangible asset amortization related to the acquisition of Artisan Design Group (Acquisitions of businesses).

In addition, the Company has presented full year fiscal 2026 guidance of the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which exclude the impact of intangible asset amortization, and related tax effects if applicable, related to the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group. When evaluated with our GAAP results, we believe these non-GAAP measures provide investors with meaningful measures of comparable performance.

Adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful indicator of, the Company's operating margin or 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



July 31, 2026



August 1, 2025

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

Pre-Tax

Earnings

Tax 1

Net

Earnings



Pre-Tax

Earnings

Tax 1

Net

Earnings

Diluted Earnings Per Share, As Reported





$    4.27







$    4.27

Acquisitions of businesses

0.17

(0.04)

0.13



0.08

(0.02)

0.06

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share





$    4.40







$    4.33





1   

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

Our adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance for fiscal 2026 excludes an expected 40 basis points and $0.50 after tax impact, respectively, from intangible asset amortization.

Cision
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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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