LOWES COMPANIES INC (LOW)

Item 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting our consolidated operating results, liquidity and capital resources during the three and six months ended July 31, 2026, and August 1, 2025. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2026 (the Annual Report), as well as the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) and notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) contained in this report. Unless otherwise specified, all comparisons made are to the corresponding period of fiscal 2025. This discussion and analysis is presented in four sections:

•Executive Overview

•Operations

•Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

•Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

The following table highlights our financial results:

1    Repurchases of common stock on a trade-date basis.

Net sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 improved 8.3% to $26.0 billion compared to net sales of $24.0 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Comparable sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 0.2%, consisting of an increase in comparable average ticket of 2.3%, partially offset by a decrease of 2.1% in comparable customer transactions.

Net earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 remained consistent with the second quarter of fiscal 2025 at $2.4 billion. Diluted earnings per common share of $4.27 were recognized for both the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025. Included in the second quarter of 2026 results are pre-tax expenses of $96 million consisting of intangible asset amortization related to the acquisitions of FBM and ADG. Excluding the impact of this item, adjusted diluted earnings per common share were $4.40 in the second quarter of 2026 (see the non-GAAP financial measures discussion).

For the first six months of fiscal 2026, cash flows from operating activities were approximately $7.0 billion, with $1.1 billion used for capital expenditures. Continuing to deliver on our commitment to return cash to shareholders, we paid $1.3 billion in dividends and repaid $2.4 billion of bond maturities as we continued to progress toward our deleveraging commitment.

The second quarter continued to reflect a dynamic home improvement environment, including persistent pressure in discretionary DIY demand, periods of challenging weather, elevated fuel prices and broader economic uncertainty. Customers remained cautious in their spending and prioritized repair, maintenance and smaller projects.

Despite these conditions, we delivered sales growth and continued to advance our Total Home strategy. We drove growth in Pro, Online and Home Services through continued investments in differentiated assortment, strong in-stock positions, fulfillment capabilities, digital tools and loyalty programs. We also continued to advance the integration of FBM and ADG, which we believe will strengthen our ability to serve larger Pro customers and capture more planned Pro spend over the long term.

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Our Perpetual Productivity Improvement initiatives continued to support disciplined cost management and strategic investments. During the quarter, we progressed initiatives to simplify store and field communications, improve replenishment and inventory accuracy, enhance merchandising execution and enable associates to spend more time serving customers.

Looking ahead, we remain focused on delivering compelling value, serving customers across Pro, Online and Home Services, managing expenses with discipline and investing in the initiatives that position the Company for long-term growth. We believe our continued focus on execution, productivity and strategic investment positions us to strengthen our business and create long-term shareholder value as market conditions improve.

Tariffs

Beginning in 2025, the United States enacted significant changes to its trade policy and imposed a series of new tariffs on most imported goods. For 2026, the tariff environment remains dynamic and subject to ongoing modification, including court rulings, changes to existing tariffs and potential for additional tariffs this year. We continue to monitor and comply with these changes and evaluate potential impacts, including possible adjustments to our merchandise assortment, pricing, and global supply chain strategies. The Company is the importer of record for certain imported products and pays tariffs directly. The Supreme Court declared on February 20, 2026 that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were invalid. In the second quarter, we recognized approximately $80 million pre-tax of tariff refunds. However, uncertainty remains as to the amount and timing of future IEEPA refund collections.

OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of each line item of the consolidated statements of earnings (unaudited), as well as the percentage change in dollar amounts from the prior period. This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis and the consolidated financial statements (unaudited), including the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

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The following table sets forth key metrics utilized by management in assessing business performance. This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis and the consolidated financial statements (unaudited), including the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

1    A comparable location is a retail location that has been open longer than 13 months. A location that is identified for relocation is no longer considered comparable in the month of its relocation. A location we decide to close is no longer considered comparable as of the beginning of the month in which we announce its closing. Comparable sales include online sales, which positively impacted second quarter fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025 comparable sales by approximately 195 basis points and 85 basis points, respectively, and year-to-date fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025 comparable sales by approximately 190 basis points and 75 basis points, respectively. Acquisitions are typically included in comparable sales after they have been owned for more than 12 months.

2 Customer transactions and average ticket represent metrics used by management to evaluate performance of our retail locations.

3    Average store size selling square feet is defined as sales floor square feet divided by the number of stores open at the end of the period.

4    Return on invested capital is calculated using a non-GAAP financial measure. See below for additional information and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

Adjusted diluted earnings per share is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful insight for analysts and investors in understanding the comparison of operational performance for fiscal 2026. Adjusted diluted earnings per share excludes the impact of certain items, further described below.

Fiscal 2026 Impacts

During fiscal 2026, the Company recognized financial impacts from the following:

•In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company recognized pre-tax expenses of $96 million consisting of intangible asset amortization related to the acquisitions of Artisan Design Group and Foundation Building Materials (Acquisitions of businesses).

•In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company recognized pre-tax expenses of $96 million consisting of intangible asset amortization related to the acquisitions of Artisan Design Group and Foundation Building Materials (Acquisitions of businesses).

Fiscal 2025 Impacts

During fiscal 2025, the Company recognized financial impacts from the following:

•In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company recognized pre-tax expenses of $43 million consisting of transaction costs, purchase accounting adjustments, and intangible asset amortization related to the acquisition of Artisan Design Group (Acquisitions of businesses).

Adjusted diluted earnings per share should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful indicator of, the Company’s diluted earnings per common share as prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s methods of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the method used by other companies and may not be comparable.

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Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting our consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources during the two-year period ended January 30, 2026 (our fiscal years 2025 and 2024). Unless otherwise noted, all references herein for the years 2025, 2024, and 2023 represent the fiscal years ended January 30, 2026, January 31, 2025, and February 2, 2024, respectively.  We intend for this discussion to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles affect our financial statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  This discussion and analysis is presented in four sections:

•Executive Overview

•Operations

•Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

•Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

The following table highlights our annual financial results:

1    Repurchases of common stock on a trade-date basis.

Net sales for fiscal 2025 increased 3.1% from fiscal 2024 to $86.3 billion. Comparable sales for fiscal 2025 increased 0.2%, consisting of a 3.0% increase in comparable average ticket, partially offset by a 2.8% decrease in comparable customer transactions. Net earnings for fiscal 2025 decreased 4.4% to $6.7 billion. Diluted earnings per common share decreased 3.1% in fiscal 2025 to $11.85 from $12.23 in fiscal 2024. Included in fiscal 2025 results are pre-tax expenses of $321 million consisting of transaction costs and intangible asset amortization related to the acquisition of ADG and FBM, which decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.43 in fiscal year 2025. Included in the fiscal 2024 results is $177 million of pre-tax income associated with the fiscal 2022 sale of the Canadian retail business, which increased diluted earnings per share by $0.24 in fiscal year 2024. Adjusting for these items, adjusted diluted earnings per common share increased 2.4% to $12.28 in 2025 from adjusted diluted earnings per common share of $11.99 in 2024 (see the non-GAAP financial measures discussion).

For fiscal 2025, cash flows from operating activities were $9.9 billion, with $2.2 billion used for capital expenditures. Continuing to deliver on our commitment to return excess cash to shareholders, the Company paid $2.6 billion in dividends during the year.

During 2025, we continued to drive progress across all five key initiatives of our Total Home strategy, which was reflected in the strength we delivered with our Pro customers, online, and home services. Our Total Home strategic initiatives have appealed to both the value-conscious homeowner and the busy Pro customer.

To expand our Pro customer market, we completed the acquisitions of FBM and ADG. We believe these acquisitions, along with our retail home improvement business, provide the large Pro customer with everything they need for the interior space of the home and position the Company to benefit when there is a recovery in the housing industry.

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In addition, we continued to deliver on our Perpetual Productivity Improvement (PPI) initiatives, including completing the rollout of our front-end transformation across our store portfolio, streamlining our Freight Flow process, and driving inventory productivity while also navigating dynamic trade policies and tariffs.

Given the persistent volatility in the housing macro environment, heading into 2026 we continue our focus on our PPI initiatives and managing what is within our control. We are pleased with our current track record of disciplined execution and are confident we are making the right investments to continue to deliver long-term sales growth and sustainable shareholder value.

OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of each line item of the consolidated statements of earnings.  This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis and the consolidated financial statements, including the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

The following table sets forth key metrics utilized by management in assessing business performance. This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion and analysis and the consolidated financial statements, including the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

1     A comparable location is a retail location that has been open longer than 13 months. A location that is identified for relocation is no longer considered comparable in the month of its relocation.  The relocated location must then remain open longer than 13 months to be considered comparable.  A location we have decided to close is no longer considered comparable as of the beginning of the month in which we announce its closing. Comparable sales include online sales, which positively impacted comparable sales in fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024, and fiscal 2023 by approximately 105 basis points, 50 basis points, and 25 basis points, respectively. Acquisitions are typically included in comparable sales after they have been owned for more than 12 months.

2    In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company adjusted its customer transactions metric to exclude certain order modifications which were previously included as a separate transaction. The prior year periods have been adjusted to align with the current period presentation.

3    Customer transactions and average ticket represent metrics used by management to evaluate performance of our retail locations.

4 Average store size selling square feet is defined as sales floor square feet divided by the number of stores open at the end of the period.

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5    Return on invested capital is calculated using a non-GAAP financial measure. See below for additional information and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures.

Fiscal 2025 Compared to Fiscal 2024

Net Sales – Net sales increased 3.1% to $86.3 billion in fiscal 2025, driven by sales associated with new acquisitions during the year, and an increase in comparable sales of 0.2% over the same period. The increase in comparable sales was driven by a 3.0% increase in comparable average ticket, partially offset by a decline in comparable customer transactions of 2.8%. Comparable sales change during each quarter of the fiscal year, as reported, were a decline of 1.7% in the first quarter, an increase of 1.1% in the second quarter, an increase of 0.4% in the third quarter, and an increase of 1.3% in the fourth quarter.

During fiscal 2025, we had comparable sales increases in five of 14 product categories, including Rough Plumbing, Appliances, Building Materials, Lawn & Garden, and Paint. Strength in these categories reflects continued growth with our Pro customer and online, as well as our broad assortment of appliances available next-day to our customers in the majority of zip codes in the United States.

Gross Margin – Gross margin as a percentage of sales for fiscal 2025 increased 16 basis points compared to fiscal 2024. The gross margin increase for the year was primarily driven by favorability from credit revenue and improvements in inventory shrink, partially offset by the operational cost structure of acquisitions during 2025.

SG&A – SG&A expense for fiscal 2025 deleveraged 72 basis points as a percentage of sales compared to fiscal 2024. This was primarily driven by employee compensation and benefits, along with cycling prior year realized gains on contingent consideration associated with the 2022 sale of the Canadian retail business, partially offset by the operational cost structure of acquisitions during 2025.

Depreciation and Amortization – Depreciation and amortization expense deleveraged 18 basis points for fiscal 2025 as a percentage of sales compared to fiscal 2024, primarily due to amortization of intangible assets of acquired businesses in 2025.

Interest – Net – Net interest expense is comprised of the following:

Net interest expense in fiscal 2025 deleveraged six basis points.

Income Tax Provision – Our effective income tax rate was 23.9% in fiscal 2025 compared to 24.0% in fiscal 2024.

Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023

For a comparison of our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, and capital resources for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2025, and February 2, 2024, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2025.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

Adjusted dilute

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