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LOWNeutralEarningsShort Term
High materiality7/10

LOWE'S REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2026 SALES AND EARNINGS RESULTS

StockNews.AIAug 19, 6:00 AM EDT2 sources
Trading thesisImportance 7/10

Neutral to mildly bullish near-term; watch impact of acquisitions and tariff refunds on margins.

AI summary

What happened and why it matters

Lowe's reported Q2 2026 net earnings of $2.4B with GAAP EPS of $4.27 and adjusted EPS of $4.40, up 1.6% excluding $96M in acquisitions costs for FBM and ADG. Total sales were $26.0B, with comps up 0.2% and online sales up 15.7%. The company kept its FY2026 outlook but lowered the sales range to $92B and reiterated flat comps with margins around 11.2% (GAAP) and 11.6% (adjusted), signaling profitability gains from Pro/Online growth against DIY headwinds.

  • FY2026 sales guidance updated to $92.0B; comps projected flat, limiting upside.
  • Acquisitions FBM/ADG incurred $96M pretax costs; integration risk to margins.
  • Tariff refunds contributed about $0.11 per share to Q2 results; policy risk remains.

Sentiment rationale

Adjusted EPS beat via ex-items; however, guidance shows flat comps and slightly lower sales range, limiting upside. Tariff refunds provide a one-off uplift, but ongoing DIY weakness and integration costs from acquisitions temper the longer-term floor. Similar past moves: when large retailers beat on adj EPS but guide flat, equities trade modestly in a narrow range until clear catalysts (cost synergies, demand rebound) emerge.

Key facts

  1. 01

    Q2 2026 net earnings $2.4B; GAAP EPS $4.27; adjusted EPS $4.40.

  2. 02

    Adjusted EPS up 1.6% ex acquisitions; $96M pretax acquisitional costs.

  3. 03

    Total sales $26.0B; comps +0.2%; online sales +15.7%.

  4. 04

    FY2026 outlook updated: sales $92.0B; comps flat; margins ~11.2% GAAP / 11.6% adjusted.

Earnings

Category: Earnings. The release centers on quarterly results, acquisitions, and updated FY guidance, illustrating how near-term profitability hinges on mix shifts (Pro/Online), integration costs from FBM/ADG, and tariff-related windfalls.