Stock Analysis on Net

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Cash Flow Statement 
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

Lowe’s Cos. Inc., consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
3 months ended: 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 Jan 31, 2020 Nov 1, 2019 Aug 2, 2019 May 3, 2019
Net earnings 1,616 2,397 1,641 1,124 1,696 2,382 1,755 1,020 1,773 2,673 2,260 958 154 2,992 2,333 1,207 1,895 3,019 2,321 978 692 2,828 1,337 510 1,049 1,676 1,046
Depreciation and amortization 535 515 507 511 494 481 486 496 486 476 465 472 502 504 503 494 481 464 443 442 405 374 373 381 345 347 337
Noncash lease expense 138 136 131 128 132 129 131 129 129 133 108 127 130 138 135 134 131 128 124 123 122 118 116 127 113 114 114
Deferred income taxes (46) (56) 126 19 (76) (69) 135 33 (50) (79) 102 13 (252) (59) 59 39 (14) 110 (113) 19 (60) 46 265 33 (15) (106)
(Gain) loss on property and other assets, net 15 10 20 (6) 15 3 (7) 33 27 12 11 5 2,081 28 4 9 24 16 (15) 25 34 63 17 24 55 40 (2)
(Gain) loss on sale of business (80) (54) (43) (12) (67) 421
Loss on extinguishment of debt 1,060
Share-based payment expense 60 59 58 57 54 55 55 50 47 54 59 58 55 60 50 61 54 61 54 48 43 37 27 23 24 9 42
Merchandise inventory, net (357) 2,099 (926) 158 (725) 1,383 (1,330) 635 (107) 2,099 (990) (286) (580) 918 (2,646) (967) 650 1,027 (2,123) (422) (1,871) 509 (1,183) 529 24 1,325 (2,478)
Other operating assets 28 104 (106) (21) (15) 215 (86) (54) 12 67 157 36 140 92 (212) 107 73 140 (343) 179 81 272 (206) (268) 8 171 (275)
Accounts payable 402 (1,795) 1,945 (1,311) 265 (1,354) 3,033 (1,210) (419) (1,552) 1,361 (1,470) (358) (1,200) 2,479 30 (679) (1,943) 3,058 (1,888) (160) 2,052 3,207 (1,160) (679) (1,997) 3,199
Other operating liabilities (1,704) 762 (17) 332 (487) (29) 90 (24) (822) (21) (1,360) 117 254 (438) 272 (180) (349) (491) 863 192 (692) 1,109 716 (246) (444) (224) 260
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (1,631) 1,170 896 (842) (962) 215 1,707 (653) (1,336) 593 (832) (1,603) (544) (628) (107) (1,010) (305) (1,267) 1,455 (1,939) (2,642) 3,942 2,534 (1,145) (1,091) (725) 706
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities (929) 1,834 1,738 (213) (397) 771 2,507 88 (709) 1,189 (154) (507) 1,972 43 644 (273) 371 (598) 2,171 (1,414) (959) 4,474 3,113 (325) (521) (230) 1,091
Net cash provided by operating activities 687 4,231 3,379 911 1,299 3,153 4,262 1,108 1,064 3,862 2,106 451 2,126 3,035 2,977 934 2,266 2,421 4,492 (436) (267) 7,302 4,450 185 528 1,446 2,137
Purchases of investments (445) (454) (391) (287) (371) (351) (277) (502) (405) (428) (450) (530) (329) (221) (109) (740) (690) (1,342) (293) (546) (1,416) (1,062) (70) (180) (318) (242) (3)
Proceeds from sale/maturity of investments 425 452 375 286 347 305 266 507 404 399 412 577 307 158 132 1,032 1,569 345 347 1,894 772 153 107 139 284 218 54
Capital expenditures (597) (495) (518) (548) (571) (426) (382) (620) (579) (385) (380) (739) (403) (344) (343) (597) (410) (385) (461) (619) (462) (382) (328) (557) (401) (321) (205)
Proceeds from sale of property and other long-term assets 18 5 2 51 32 7 15 24 12 9 8 8 18 9 10 19 16 14 64 30 14 21 25 92 29 18 24
Acquisitions of businesses, net (8,741) (1,314)
Proceeds from sale of business 80 54 43 (23) 123 491
Other, net (4) (4) (1) (11) (4) (6) (17) (1) 1 (1) (134) (1) (2) (22) 1 (1)
Net cash used in investing activities (9,344) (1,810) (533) (418) (520) (422) (378) (595) (591) (411) (304) (194) (406) (399) (310) (286) 485 (1,368) (477) 758 (1,092) (1,272) (288) (506) (405) (327) (131)
Net change in commercial paper (72) (427) 499 (941) 305 637 (722)
Net proceeds from issuance of debt 6,974 2,983 4,703 4,964 1,984 1,000 1,988 3,968 3,961 1,000 2,972
Repayment of debt (1,772) (18) (778) (23) (475) (25) (22) (25) (531) (23) (22) (36) (32) (26) (773) (1,523) (27) (25) (543) (36) (5,014) (25) (543) (21) (463) (13) (616)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based payment plans 12 68 2 64 11 69 15 62 3 71 5 65 14 71 1 60 9 54 9 50 19 79 4 40 6 40 32
Cash dividend payments (673) (645) (645) (650) (654) (629) (633) (632) (642) (624) (633) (643) (666) (524) (537) (551) (563) (430) (440) (452) (416) (416) (420) (423) (428) (382) (385)
Repurchases of common stock (98) (1) (112) (1,372) (751) (1,007) (923) (201) (1,581) (2,250) (2,106) (1,997) (3,999) (4,091) (4,037) (4,013) (2,825) (3,136) (3,038) (3,443) (562) (966) (664) (879) (1,944) (826)
Other, net (25) (19) (20) (22) 1 (16) (5) (6) (6) (9) (5) 2 2 (4) 402 (42) (370) 4 (6) (28) (1) (3) 6 2 (9)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 4,418 (615) (1,553) (2,003) (1,868) (1,608) (1,568) (802) (2,757) (2,907) (200) (2,117) 22 (4,568) (386) (5,625) (1,464) (2,907) (2,020) (3,887) (2,033) (363) 1,092 243 (1,127) (2,297) 446
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 16 (32) (11) (1) (3) 7 6 19 (15) 2 1 (2)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including cash classified within current assets held for sale (4,239) 1,806 1,293 (1,510) (1,089) 1,123 2,316 (289) (2,284) 544 1,602 (1,844) 1,710 (1,932) 2,281 (4,988) 1,286 (1,857) 2,002 (3,559) (3,392) 5,686 5,239 (78) (1,002) (1,177) 2,450
Net (increase) decrease in cash classified within current assets held for sale 12
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (4,239) 1,806 1,293 (1,510) (1,089) 1,123 2,316 (289) (2,284) 544 1,602 (1,844) 1,710 (1,932) 2,281 (4,988) 1,286 (1,857) 2,002 (3,559) (3,392) 5,686 5,239 (78) (1,002) (1,177) 2,462

Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-01-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-11-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-08-02), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-05-03).


Net Earnings
Net earnings demonstrate considerable volatility over the analyzed periods, with notable peaks around mid-2020 and mid-2021, reaching values above 2800 million USD. Subsequently, earnings show a declining trend with intermittent recoveries, notably around mid-2023. The lowest recorded earnings occur in early 2023, around 154 million USD, indicating substantial fluctuations in profitability.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses steadily increase throughout the periods, rising from approximately 337 million USD in early 2019 to over 535 million USD by late 2025. This gradual increase reflects ongoing investment in fixed assets and possibly expanded operational capacity.
Noncash Lease Expense
Noncash lease expense remains relatively stable with slight increases over time, fluctuating between 108 and 138 million USD. This stability suggests consistent lease obligations without significant new lease commitments or terminations.
Deferred Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes show significant variability with both positive and negative amounts. Early periods exhibit a general trend toward positive balances, while mid to late periods experience sharp negative adjustments. This pattern indicates changing tax positions and timing differences impacting tax liabilities or assets.
Gains and Losses on Assets and Businesses
There are sporadic gains and losses with some extraordinary items, including a significant gain of over 2080 million USD in late 2022 on property and other assets, and a large loss on extinguishment of debt of over 1060 million USD in late 2020. Gains and losses related to business sales appear intermittently, with marked gains in early 2023.
Share-Based Payment Expense
Share-based payment expense shows a gradual rise from 42 million USD to around 60 million USD over the periods, indicating a steady or increasing cost related to employee compensation plans.
Merchandise Inventory and Other Operating Assets/Liabilities
Merchandise inventory and other operating assets reveal highly variable changes, with alternating large positive and negative values across quarters. Such volatility may reflect seasonal inventory adjustments, supply chain dynamics, or changes in asset management. Accounts payable and other operating liabilities also fluctuate significantly, suggesting active management of payables and operational obligations.
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
Operating asset and liability changes exhibit considerable volatility, with large positive adjustments during mid-2020, followed by significant negative swings in subsequent periods. This variability underlines fluctuating working capital needs and operational cash flow impacts.
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Operating cash flow exhibits substantial volatility, peaking notably in mid-2020 at over 7300 million USD, corresponding with elevated net earnings and favorable adjustments. However, certain quarters experience negative cash flow from operations, reflecting temporary operational challenges or changes in working capital.
Investing Activities
Investing cash flows are consistently negative in most quarters, reflecting ongoing capital expenditures and acquisitions. Capital expenditures vary between approximately 200 and 700 million USD per quarter, aligning with depreciation trends. Notable acquisitions occur late in the analyzed timeframe with significant cash outflows. Proceeds from sales of investments and assets show intermittent spikes, partially offsetting outflows.
Financing Activities
Financing cash flows are highly variable, with periods of substantial inflows associated with debt issuance, particularly visible in mid and late periods where proceeds exceed several thousand million USD. Debt repayments are consistent but generally smaller in magnitude. Repurchases of common stock show a declining trend in absolute terms over time, although still significant, suggesting ongoing shareholder return activities. Dividend payments remain steady, typically around 400 to 670 million USD per quarter, indicating a stable dividend policy.
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
The net change in cash and equivalents fluctuates significantly, with periods of large increases, such as mid-2020 and mid-2023, followed by notable decreases during early 2022 and late 2024. These swings correlate with the volatile cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities, reflecting business cycles, investment activity, and capital structure management.