LOWES COMPANIES INC
For the period ended Jul 31, 2026. Filed Aug 27, 2026.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Jul 31, 2026 · Filed Aug 27, 2026
Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.
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Operations
The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of each line item of the consolidated statements of earnings (unaudited), as well as the percentage change in dollar amounts from the prior period. This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis and the consolidated financial statements (unaudited), including the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
| Three Months Ended · Basis Point Increase/(Decrease) in Percentage of Net Sales · Six Months Ended · Basis Point Increase/(Decrease) in Percentage of Net Sales | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31,2026 · August 1,2025 · July 31,2026 · August 1,2025 | ||||||
| Net sales | 100.00% | 100.00% | N/A | 100.00% | 100.00% | N/A |
| Gross margin | 33.04 | 33.81 | (77) | 32.87 | 33.61 | (74) |
| Expenses: | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 17.17 | 17.42 | (25) | 18.10 | 18.31 | (21) |
| Depreciation and amortization | 2.20 | 1.91 | 29 | 2.32 | 2.01 | 31 |
| Operating income | 13.67 | 14.48 | (81) | 12.45 | 13.29 | (84) |
| Interest – net | 1.44 | 1.31 | 13 | 1.58 | 1.45 | 13 |
| Pre-tax earnings | 12.23 | 13.17 | (94) | 10.87 | 11.84 | (97) |
| Income tax provision | 2.99 | 3.16 | (17) | 2.66 | 2.84 | (18) |
| Net earnings | 9.24% | 10.01% | (77) | 8.21% | 9.00% | (79) |
The following table sets forth key metrics utilized by management in assessing business performance. This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis and the consolidated financial statements (unaudited), including the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Metrics | July 31, 2026 | August 1, 2025 | July 31, 2026 | August 1, 2025 |
| Comparable sales increase/(decrease) 1 | 0.2% | 1.1% | 0.4% | (0.3)% |
| Customer transactions (in millions) 2 | 219 | 225 | 416 | 424 |
| Average ticket 2 | $107.90 | $105.49 | $107.78 | $105.74 |
| At end of period: | ||||
| Number of retail stores | 1,761 | 1,753 | ||
| Sales floor square feet (in millions) | 196 | 196 | ||
| Average retail store size selling square feet (in thousands) 3 | 111 | 112 | ||
| Net earnings to average debt and shareholders’ deficit | 21.3% | 25.3% | ||
| Return on invested capital 4 | 25.5% | 29.5% | ||
1 A comparable location is a retail location that has been open longer than 13 months. A location that is identified for relocation is no longer considered comparable in the month of its relocation. A location we decide to close is no longer considered comparable as of the beginning of the month in which we announce its closing. Comparable sales include online sales, which positively impacted second quarter fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025 comparable sales by approximately 195 basis points and 85 basis points, respectively, and year-to-date fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025 comparable sales by approximately 190 basis points and 75 basis points, respectively. Acquisitions are typically included in comparable sales after they have been owned for more than 12 months.
2 Customer transactions and average ticket represent metrics used by management to evaluate performance of our retail locations.
3 Average store size selling square feet is defined as sales floor square feet divided by the number of stores open at the end of the period.
4 Return on invested capital is calculated using a non-GAAP financial measure. See below for additional information and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
Adjusted diluted earnings per share is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful insight for analysts and investors in understanding the comparison of operational performance for fiscal 2026. Adjusted diluted earnings per share excludes the impact of certain items, further described below.
Fiscal 2026 Impacts
During fiscal 2026, the Company recognized financial impacts from the following:
In the first 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).
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).
Adjusted diluted earnings per share should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful indicator of, the Company’s diluted earnings per common 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.
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 · August 1, 2025 | ||||||||
| Pre-Tax Earnings · Tax1 · Net Earnings · Pre-Tax Earnings · Tax1 · Net Earnings | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share, as reported | $4.27 | $4.27 | ||||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments – per share impacts | ||||||||
| Acquisitions of businesses | 0.17 | (0.04) | 0.13 | 0.08 | (0.02) | 0.06 | ||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | $4.40 | $4.33 | ||||||
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 · August 1, 2025 | ||||||||
| Pre-Tax Earnings · Tax1 · Net Earnings · Pre-Tax Earnings · Tax1 · Net Earnings | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share, as reported | $7.17 | $7.19 | ||||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments – per share impacts | ||||||||
| Acquisitions of businesses | 0.34 | (0.09) | 0.25 | 0.08 | (0.02) | 0.06 | ||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | $7.42 | $7.25 | ||||||
1 Represents the corresponding tax benefit or expense specifically related to the item excluded from adjusted diluted earnings per share.
Return on Invested Capital
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is calculated using a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes ROIC is a meaningful metric for analysts and investors as a measure of how effectively the Company is using capital to generate financial returns. Although ROIC is a common financial metric, numerous methods exist for calculating ROIC. Accordingly, the method used by our management may differ from the methods used by other companies. We encourage you to understand the methods used by another company to calculate ROIC before comparing its ROIC to ours.
We define ROIC as the rolling 12 months’ lease adjusted net operating profit after tax (Lease adjusted NOPAT) divided by the average of current year and prior year ending debt and shareholders’ deficit. Lease adjusted NOPAT is a non-GAAP financial measure, and net earnings is considered to be the most comparable GAAP financial measure. The calculation of ROIC, together with a reconciliation of net earnings to Lease adjusted NOPAT, is as follows:
| Four Quarters Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| (In millions, except percentage data) | July 31, 2026 | August 1, 2025 |
| Calculation of Return on Invested Capital | ||
| Numerator | ||
| Net Earnings | $6,642 | $6,858 |
| Plus: | ||
| Interest expense – net | 1,528 | 1,295 |
| Operating lease interest | 178 | 176 |
| Provision for income taxes | 2,121 | 2,177 |
| Lease adjusted net operating profit | 10,469 | 10,506 |
| Less: | ||
| Income tax adjustment1 | 2,534 | 2,531 |
| Lease adjusted net operating profit after tax | $7,935 | $7,975 |
| Denominator | ||
| Average debt and shareholders’ deficit2 | $31,123 | $27,069 |
| Net earnings to average debt and shareholders’ deficit | 21.3% | 25.3% |
| Return on invested capital | 25.5% | 29.5% |
1 Income tax adjustment is defined as lease adjusted net operating profit multiplied by the effective tax rate, which was 24.2% and 24.1% for the periods ended July 31, 2026, and August 1, 2025, respectively.
2 Average debt and shareholders’ deficit is defined as average current year and prior year ending debt, including current maturities, short-term borrowings, and operating lease liabilities, plus the average current year and prior year ending total shareholders’ deficit.
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