Stock Analysis on Net
Stock Analysis on Net

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Common-Size Income Statement 
Quarterly Data

Lowe’s Cos. Inc., common-size consolidated income statement (quarterly data)

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3 months ended: Jan 30, 2026 Oct 31, 2025 Aug 1, 2025 May 2, 2025 Jan 31, 2025 Nov 1, 2024 Aug 2, 2024 May 3, 2024 Feb 2, 2024 Nov 3, 2023 Aug 4, 2023 May 5, 2023 Feb 3, 2023 Oct 28, 2022 Jul 29, 2022 Apr 29, 2022 Jan 28, 2022 Oct 29, 2021 Jul 30, 2021 Apr 30, 2021 Jan 29, 2021 Oct 30, 2020 Jul 31, 2020 May 1, 2020
Net sales 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Cost of sales -67.54 -65.81 -66.19 -66.62 -67.14 -66.31 -66.53 -66.81 -67.60 -66.34 -66.34 -66.32 -67.67 -66.70 -66.76 -65.97 -67.07 -66.90 -66.22 -66.71 -68.22 -67.28 -65.92 -66.90
Gross margin 32.46% 34.19% 33.81% 33.38% 32.86% 33.69% 33.47% 33.19% 32.40% 33.66% 33.66% 33.68% 32.33% 33.30% 33.24% 34.03% 32.93% 33.10% 33.78% 33.29% 31.78% 32.72% 34.08% 33.10%
Selling, general and administrative -21.42 -19.99 -17.43 -19.33 -20.59 -18.97 -17.07 -18.77 -20.96 -18.37 -16.37 -17.11 -22.86 -27.44 -16.21 -18.19 -22.22 -19.08 -17.02 -18.40 -22.35 -21.38 -18.39 -21.33
Depreciation and amortization -2.74 -2.28 -1.91 -2.13 -2.40 -2.15 -1.79 -2.00 -2.37 -2.12 -1.71 -1.86 -1.88 -1.92 -1.63 -1.88 -2.05 -1.85 -1.48 -1.60 -1.93 -1.59 -1.20 -1.66
Expenses -24.16% -22.27% -19.33% -21.46% -22.99% -21.12% -18.86% -20.77% -23.33% -20.49% -18.08% -18.97% -24.74% -29.36% -17.85% -20.07% -24.26% -20.94% -18.51% -20.00% -24.28% -22.97% -19.58% -22.98%
Operating income 8.30% 11.92% 14.48% 11.92% 9.86% 12.57% 14.61% 12.42% 9.07% 13.17% 15.57% 14.71% 7.59% 3.94% 15.39% 13.96% 8.66% 12.17% 15.27% 13.29% 7.50% 9.75% 14.49% 10.12%
Interest, net -1.96 -1.69 -1.31 -1.61 -1.76 -1.57 -1.34 -1.65 -1.87 -1.69 -1.37 -1.56 -1.43 -1.26 -0.96 -1.03 -1.10 -0.97 -0.78 -0.86 -1.00 -0.99 -0.80 -1.04
Loss on extinguishment of debt 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -4.75 0.00 0.00
Pre-tax earnings 6.34% 10.23% 13.17% 10.31% 8.10% 11.00% 13.27% 10.77% 7.20% 11.48% 14.21% 13.15% 6.16% 2.68% 14.43% 12.93% 7.56% 11.20% 14.49% 12.42% 6.50% 4.01% 13.69% 9.08%
Income tax provision -1.49 -2.46 -3.16 -2.47 -2.04 -2.60 -3.17 -2.56 -1.72 -2.82 -3.49 -3.04 -1.89 -2.02 -3.54 -3.07 -1.91 -2.92 -3.54 -2.92 -1.69 -0.91 -3.33 -2.28
Net earnings 4.85% 7.76% 10.01% 7.84% 6.06% 8.40% 10.10% 8.21% 5.48% 8.66% 10.71% 10.11% 4.27% 0.66% 10.89% 9.86% 5.66% 8.27% 10.95% 9.50% 4.82% 3.10% 10.36% 6.80%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2026-01-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-10-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-08-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-05-02), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-01-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-11-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-08-02), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-05-03), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-02-02), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-11-03), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-08-04), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-05-05), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-02-03), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-10-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-07-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-04-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-01-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-10-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-07-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-04-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-01-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-10-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-07-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-05-01).

The common-size income statement reveals several noteworthy trends over the observed period. Net sales are consistently represented as 100% by definition, allowing for a clear view of the proportional changes in other income statement items. Cost of sales generally fluctuates between 65.81% and 68.22% of net sales, indicating a relatively stable cost structure. Gross margin demonstrates variability, ranging from a low of 31.78% to a high of 34.19%, suggesting sensitivity to changes in cost of sales or pricing strategies.

Operating Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses, alongside depreciation and amortization, collectively represent a significant portion of net sales, typically between 18.51% and 29.36%. A notable spike in selling, general, and administrative expenses is observed in the October 28, 2022 period, reaching 27.44% of net sales, which significantly impacted operating income. Depreciation and amortization also show a gradual increasing trend over time, peaking at 2.74% in November 2023.

Operating income exhibits substantial fluctuation, ranging from a low of 3.94% to a high of 15.57%. This variability is directly influenced by the interplay between gross margin and operating expenses. Interest expense, net, remains relatively consistent as a percentage of net sales, generally between 0.78% and 1.87%. A one-time loss on extinguishment of debt impacted results in the October 30, 2020 period, reducing pre-tax earnings by 4.75% of net sales.

Profitability
Pre-tax earnings follow a similar pattern to operating income, with a range of 4.01% to 14.49%. The income tax provision consistently represents between 1.31% and 3.54% of net sales. Consequently, net earnings demonstrate considerable variation, ranging from 0.66% to 10.95%. The period ending February 3, 2023, shows a particularly low net earnings margin of 0.66%, while July 30, 2021, exhibits the highest at 10.95%. A general trend suggests a decline in net earnings margin towards the end of the observed period, with values falling below 8% in the most recent quarters.

Overall, the company’s profitability appears sensitive to fluctuations in cost of sales and operating expenses. While gross margin shows some resilience, the impact of expense management is clearly visible in the variability of operating and net income margins. The recent trend of declining net earnings margin warrants further investigation to determine the underlying causes and potential mitigation strategies.

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