Lowe's Companies, Inc. is an American retail company specializing in home improvement. Founded in 1921 by Lucius Lowe as a small hardware store in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, it has grown to become the second-largest home improvement retailer in the United States, behind Home Depot. Lowe's offers products and services for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and decorating, targeting both do-it-yourself customers and professional contractors. As of January 31, 2025, Lowe's operated 1,748 stores and employed approximately 300,000 associates in the US. The company also has a presence in Canada.
Lowe's is led by Marvin R. Ellison, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2018 and Chairman of the Board since May 2021. Ellison has over 35 years of retail leadership experience, including prior roles at J.C. Penney and The Home Depot. Recent news includes Lowe's announcement on February 13, 2026, that it would be cutting 600 corporate and support roles nationwide, representing about 1% of its workforce, to shift resources towards store operations and customer-facing employees. Despite these layoffs, Bernstein recently raised its price recommendation on Lowe's to $313 from $284, reiterating an Outperform rating on the stock. As of February 2026, Lowe's has a market capitalization of $157.26 billion. The company's shares have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1979.
