Home Improvement Retail

Goldman Sachs reiterates its Buy rating on Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL) and raises its price target to $21 from $19 on signs of a firmer end market. Goldman Sachs notes, "The latest monthly government data on the flooring industry suggests an uptick in demand. Government personal expenditures on...

The MBA Mortgage Applications Survey tracks new home mortgage applications and resembles a current indicator for the U.S. housing market. The Survey increased 4.5% versus the prior week. This is essentially bullish for the U.S. housing market. MBA Mortgage Applications measures the change in the...

Acuity Brand (NYSE: AYI) released its first quarter 2012 results Monday morning, which beat analysts' estimates. The lighting solutions company reported first quarter earnings per share of $0.74 on revenues of $474.3 million. The general consensus estimate for earnings were $0.67 on revenues of $...

The MBA Mortgage Applications Survey tracks new home mortgage applications and resembles a current indicator for the U.S. housing market. The Survey decreased 4.1% versus the prior week. This is essentially bearish for the U.S. housing market. (NYSE: XHB) MBA Mortgage Applications measures the...

Shares of Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) are higher on the session by 1.36%, currently trading at $25.40. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past three months and is currently trading above the 50-day moving average. Options traders are focusing on puts today. The strike seeing the heaviest...

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) announced today the acquisition of ATG Stores, an online retailer of home improvement and lifestyle products based in Kirkland, Wash. The acquisition underscores Lowe's commitment to providing an endless aisle of products. The acquisition allows Lowe's and ATG...

Gabelli & Co. reiterates its Buy rating on Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) as the leading home improvement retailer is seen as well-positioned to benefit from a housing recovery. Gabelli & Co. says, "Housing starts have increased from 551,000 to 685,000 over the past year and we expect the upward...

The Dow and the S&P 500 closed up less than 1% yesterday after being lower most of the day. But big-box retailers Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) again reached new multiyear highs -- of $42.05 and $59.66 per share, respectively -- during the trading session. Home Depot has been...

International Stragtegy & Investment Group reiterated a hold rating and $25 price target on Lowe's (NYSE: LOW), the second-largest U.S. home improvement retailer. The price target implies limited upside from where Lowe's currently resides. ISI called Lowe's “modestly cheaper” than rival Home...

Jefferies & Company has published a research report on Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) and has raised the price target from $20 to $22. In the report, Jefferies writes, "New end caps, refreshed TV ads and a nominal reallocation of customer facing hours are all steps in the right direction. However, we see...

Goldman Sachs maintains its Buy rating and $28 target price on Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) as company moves to address its underperformance. Goldman says, “Management's financial targets look aggressive (10% EBIT margin in 2015, up from 7.3% today and $3.66 in EPS, up from $1.56 today) but...

Citigroup maintains it Neutral rating and $24 target price on Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) as the company keeps improving by but upside is limited by lack of business inflation. Citi says, “We were encouraged to see an improved outlook for EPS growth (+23.8% average annual growth vs. last...

JP Morgan maintains its Neutral rating and $26 target price on Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) as sales accelerated through a wet and cool spring but macro improvement is necessary for stock to move higher. JPM says, “the company is taking a more aggressive stance on controlling their...

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) will discuss progress made on its mission to deliver better customer experiences and provide further details of its strategy designed to drive long-term sales growth, increased profitability and enhanced shareholder value when the company meets with analysts and...

This is your Benzinga news summary and traders' summary for Friday, December 2, 2011, covering headlines from Friday's trading session. Today at market close, the Dow Jones Index traded down about 0.68 points or 0.01%, the S&P 500 traded 0.02% lower, the Nasdaq Composite Index traded up 0.03...