Lowe's Companies Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call
What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 lowered, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Sales rose to $26.0 billion: Total sales were $26.0 billion against $24.0 billion a year earlier; net sales were $25,956 million against $23,959 million. Source
- Comparable sales rose 0.2%: Comparable sales increased 0.2%, with the company citing Pro and home services and online sales as drivers, partly offset by DIY pressure. Source
- Adjusted EPS rose 1.6%: Diluted EPS was $4.27, equal to the prior-year quarter; adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.6% to $4.40 from $4.33 after excluding $96 million of pre-tax acquisition expense. Source
- Tariff refunds added $0.11 per share: Diluted and adjusted EPS each include an $0.11 benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds recognized in the quarter. Source
- Online sales rose 15.7%: Online sales grew 15.7% in the quarter, a figure management reported alongside its Pro and home services results. Source
- Gross margin rate fell: Gross margin was 33.04% of sales against 33.81% a year earlier, with cost of sales at 66.96% of sales. Source
- Operating margin fell to 13.67%: Operating income was $3,549 million, 13.67% of sales, against $3,469 million or 14.48% a year earlier. Source
- Sales range narrowed to $92.0 billion: Full-year total sales is now $92.0 billion, against the previous $92.0 to $94.0 billion range. Source
- Diluted EPS range lowered: Full-year diluted EPS is about $11.75 and adjusted diluted EPS about $12.25, previously $11.75 to $12.25 and $12.25 to $12.75. Source
- DIY spending under pressure: Management said discretionary DIY spending remained under pressure, even as Pro, online and home services grew. Source
- Acquisition expense tied to FBM and ADG: The company recognized $96 million of pre-tax expense in the quarter from the FBM and ADG acquisitions, which is intangible asset amortization. Source
- Total Home strategy advancing: Management said it is advancing the Total Home strategy while investing to drive growth and profitability. Source
“Sustained growth in Pro, Online and Home Services led to our fifth consecutive quarter of positive comp sales, despite pressure in discretionary DIY spending,”
Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe’s chairman, president and CEO
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total sales Source | fiscal year 2026 | $92.0 billion | Lowered from $92.0 to 94.0 billion |
| Comparable sales Source | fiscal year 2026 | flat | Lowered from flat to up 2% |
| Operating margin Source | fiscal year 2026 | 11.2% | Lowered from 11.2% to 11.4% |
| Adjusted operating margin Source | fiscal year 2026 | 11.6% | Lowered from 11.6% to 11.8% |
| Net interest expense Source | fiscal year 2026 | approximately $1.6 billion | Kept |
| Effective income tax rate Source | fiscal year 2026 | approximately 24.5% | Kept |
| Diluted EPS Source | fiscal year 2026 | approximately $11.75 | Lowered from $11.75 to $12.25 |
| Adjusted diluted EPS Source | fiscal year 2026 | approximately $12.25 | Lowered from $12.25 to $12.75 |
| Capital expenditures Source | fiscal year 2026 | up to $2.5 billion | Kept |
| Intangible asset amortization excluded from adjusted measures Source | fiscal year 2026 | 40 basis points of operating margin and $0.50 after tax per share | Kept |
What changed from last quarter
- Guidance lowered: Full-year comparable sales expectation moved to flat from flat to up 2%. Source
- Guidance lowered: Full-year operating margin range was narrowed to 11.2% from 11.2% to 11.4%. Source
- Guidance lowered: Full-year adjusted operating margin range was narrowed to 11.6% from 11.6% to 11.8%. Source
- Guidance lowered: Full-year diluted EPS was reduced to approximately $11.75 from $11.75 to $12.25. Source
- Guidance lowered: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS was reduced to approximately $12.25 from $12.25 to $12.75. Source
- Guidance kept: Net interest expense, tax rate and capital expenditures guidance were unchanged from the prior release. Source
Quarter results and growth drivers
- Sales rose to $26.0 billion: Total sales were $26.0 billion against $24.0 billion a year earlier; net sales were $25,956 million against $23,959 million. Source
- Comparable sales rose 0.2%: Comparable sales increased 0.2%, with the company citing Pro and home services and online sales as drivers, partly offset by DIY pressure. Source
- Adjusted EPS rose 1.6%: Diluted EPS was $4.27, equal to the prior-year quarter; adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.6% to $4.40 from $4.33 after excluding $96 million of pre-tax acquisition expense. Source
- Tariff refunds added $0.11 per share: Diluted and adjusted EPS each include an $0.11 benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds recognized in the quarter. Source
- Net earnings held at $2.4 billion: Net earnings were $2,399 million against $2,398 million a year earlier; comprehensive income was $2,395 million. Source
Pro, online and home services
- Pro and home services drove comps: Management named Pro and home services sales among the drivers of the quarter's comparable sales growth. Source
- Online sales rose 15.7%: Online sales grew 15.7% in the quarter, a figure management reported alongside its Pro and home services results. Source
“While the near-term remains dynamic, our teams are executing at a high level, advancing our Total Home strategy and investing to drive growth and profitability.”
Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe’s chairman, president and CEO
Margins and cost lines
- Gross margin rate fell: Gross margin was 33.04% of sales against 33.81% a year earlier, with cost of sales at 66.96% of sales. Source
- SG&A ratio improved: SG&A was $4,456 million, or 17.17% of sales, against $4,175 million or 17.42% in the prior-year quarter. Source
- Depreciation and amortization rose: Depreciation and amortization rose to $572 million, or 2.20% of sales, from $457 million or 1.91% a year earlier. Source
- Operating margin fell to 13.67%: Operating income was $3,549 million, 13.67% of sales, against $3,469 million or 14.48% a year earlier. Source
- Net interest expense increased: Net interest was $374 million, 1.44% of sales, up from $313 million; the income tax provision was $776 million. Source
Full-year guidance update
- Sales range narrowed to $92.0 billion: Full-year total sales is now $92.0 billion, against the previous $92.0 to $94.0 billion range. Source
- Comparable sales now flat: Full-year comparable sales are now expected flat, previously flat to up 2%. Source
- Diluted EPS range lowered: Full-year diluted EPS is about $11.75 and adjusted diluted EPS about $12.25, previously $11.75 to $12.25 and $12.25 to $12.75. Source
- Margin ranges narrowed: Operating margin is 11.2% and adjusted operating margin 11.6%, previously 11.2% to 11.4% and 11.6% to 11.8%. Source
- Interest, tax and capex unchanged: Net interest of about $1.6 billion, a 24.5% tax rate and capital expenditures up to $2.5 billion were unchanged from the prior release. Source
“The company is updating its outlook for fiscal year 2026 to reflect operational results for the first half of the year as well as current demand trends.”
Lowe's Companies Inc., press release
Demand and DIY spending
- DIY spending under pressure: Management said discretionary DIY spending remained under pressure, even as Pro, online and home services grew. Source
- Housing macro described as challenging: In the prior release, management described a challenging housing macro, a context it did not describe as changed in this release.
Cash, capital and shareholder returns
- Dividends paid $673 million: The company paid $673 million in dividends in the quarter, with dividends per share of $1.25 against $1.20 a year earlier. Source
- Operating cash flow lower over six months: Net cash from operating activities was $7,009 million for six months, against $7,610 million a year earlier. Source
- Buybacks and debt repayment rose: Six-month share repurchases were $366 million against $113 million; debt repayments were $2,397 million against $796 million. Source
- Capital spending slightly higher: Capital expenditures were $1,063 million for six months, against $1,013 million a year earlier. Source
- Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $3,172 million at July 31, 2026, against $4,860 million a year earlier. Source
Balance sheet and acquisitions
- Acquisition expense tied to FBM and ADG: The company recognized $96 million of pre-tax expense in the quarter from the FBM and ADG acquisitions, which is intangible asset amortization. Source
- Intangibles and goodwill higher: Intangible assets were $5,709 million and goodwill $3,957 million, against $976 million and $691 million a year earlier. Source
- Inventory higher year on year: Merchandise inventory was $17,737 million at July 31, 2026, against $16,342 million a year earlier. Source
- Long-term debt higher: Long-term debt excluding current maturities was $35,204 million, against $30,548 million; current maturities fell to $2,352 million from $4,175 million. Source
Strategy and store base
- Total Home strategy advancing: Management said it is advancing the Total Home strategy while investing to drive growth and profitability. Source
- Store base at 1,761 stores: The company operated 1,761 stores with 196.0 million square feet of retail selling space at July 31, 2026, up from 1,759 stores at May 1, 2026. Source
Coming up, as management said on 19 August 2026
- Second-half tariff refunds excluded: Full-year figures exclude any potential additional tariff refunds in the second half of the year. Source
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Comparable sales Source | +0.2% |
| Online sales growth Source | 15.7% |
| Inventory Source | $17,737 million |
| Store count Source | 1,761 stores |
| Gross margin Source | 33.04% of sales |
Risks management discussed
- Demand: Management named persistent DIY macro pressures as a partial offset to comparable sales growth in the quarter. Source
- Demand: Management described the near-term environment as dynamic. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Not stated: Management said it remains committed to generating sustainable shareholder value through a disciplined capital allocation program. Source
- Not stated: In the prior release, management said it remained focused on advancing the Total Home strategy for customers.
Other quarters
Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.