Lowe's Reports First Quarter Sales and Earnings Results

Lowe's Reports First Quarter Sales and Earnings Results

MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYS: LOW) , the world's second largest home improvement retailer, today reported net earnings of $540 million for the quarter ended May 3, 2013, a 2.5 percent increase over the same period a year ago. Diluted earnings per share increased 14.0 percent to $0.49 from $0.43 in the first quarter of 2012.

Sales for the quarter decreased 0.5 percent to $13.1 billion from $13.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012, while comparable sales for the quarter decreased 0.7 percent.

"Results for indoor categories were solid for the quarter, a testament to the team's continued focus on improving our core business through cross-functional collaboration and consistent execution in stores and across other selling channels," commented Robert A. Niblock, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO.

"Cooler than normal temperatures and greater precipitation resulted in a delayed spring selling season which impacted our results in exterior categories," Niblock added. "While overall performance in the month of March was particularly soft, April improved significantly and we have maintained that positive momentum through the first few weeks of May."

Delivering on the commitment to return excess cash to shareholders, the company repurchased $1.0 billion of stock and paid $178 million in dividends in the first quarter of 2013.

As of May 3, 2013, Lowe's operated 1,755 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico, representing 197.5 million square feet of retail selling space.

A conference call to discuss first quarter 2013 operating results is scheduled for today (Wednesday, May 22) at 9:00 am ET. The conference call will be available through a webcast and can be accessed by visiting Lowe's website at www.Lowes.com/investor and clicking on Lowe's First Quarter 2013 Earnings Conference Call Webcast. Supplemental slides will be available fifteen minutes prior to the start of the conference call. A replay of the call will be archived on Lowes.com/investor until August 20, 2013.

Lowe's Business Outlook

Fiscal Year 2013 (comparisons to fiscal year 2012; based on U.S. GAAP unless otherwise noted)

• Total sales are expected increase approximately 4 percent.

• Comparable sales are expected to increase approximately 3.5 percent.

• The company expects to open approximately 10 stores in fiscal year 2013.

• Earnings before interest and taxes as a percentage of sales (operating margin) are expected to increase approximately 60 basis points.

• The effective income tax rate is expected to be approximately 38.1%.

• Diluted earnings per share of approximately $2.05 are expected for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2014.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Statements of the company's expectations for sales growth, comparable store sales, earnings and performance, shareholder value, capital expenditures, cash flows, the housing market, the home improvement industry, demand for services, share repurchases, the Company's strategic initiatives and any statement of an assumption underlying any of the foregoing, constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Act. Although we believe that the expectations, opinions, projections, and comments reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, such as continued high rates of unemployment, interest rate and currency fluctuations, higher fuel and other energy costs, slower growth in personal income, changes in consumer spending, changes in the rate of housing turnover, the availability and increasing regulation of consumer credit and of mortgage financing, inflation or deflation of commodity prices, and other factors which can negatively affect our customers, as well as our ability to: (i) respond to adverse trends in the housing industry, such as the psychological effects of lower home prices, and in the level of repairs, remodeling, and additions to existing homes, as well as a general reduction in commercial building activity; (ii) secure, develop, and otherwise implement new technologies and processes designed to enhance our efficiency and competitiveness; (iii) attract, train, and retain highly-qualified associates; (iv) manage our business effectively as we adapt our traditional operating model to meet the changing expectations of our customers; (v) to maintain, improve, upgrade and protect our critical information systems; (vi) respond to fluctuations in the prices and availability of services, supplies, and products; (vii) respond to the growth and impact of competition; (viii) address changes in existing or new laws or regulations that affect consumer credit, employment/labor, trade, product safety, transportation/logistics, energy costs, health care, tax or environmental issues; and (ix) respond to unanticipated weather conditions that could adversely affect sales. In addition, we could experience additional impairment losses if the actual results of our operating stores are not consistent with the assumptions and judgments we have made in estimating future cash flows and determining asset fair values. For more information about these and other risks and uncertainties that we are exposed to, you should read the "Risk Factors" and "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the description of material changes therein or updated version thereof, if any, included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon data available as of the date of this release or other specified date and speak only as of such date. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf about any of the matters covered in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and the "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K to the SEC and the description of material changes, if any, therein included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, change in circumstances, future events, or otherwise.

With fiscal year 2012 sales of $50.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE^® 100 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,750 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.