Lowe's in brief
- Rank: #73 of 100 in America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #6 of 9 in Retail & E-Commerce.
- WCRC Power Score: 70.68 out of 100.
- Founded: 1921, by Lucius Smith Lowe.
- Owner: Lowe's Companies, Inc., Mooresville, North Carolina.
- Leadership: Marvin Ellison, Chairman, President and CEO.
- Latest revenue: $86.3bn revenue (FY2025, year to Jan 2026, +3.1%), as per company filings.
What makes Lowe's powerful
Lowe's power comes from its reach into American homes. It runs more than 1,750 home improvement stores, and it serves both do-it-yourself homeowners and building professionals. Its digital business is growing fast: online sales rose 15.7% in the second quarter of 2026.
The brand is also pushing deeper into the Pro market. In October 2025 Lowe's completed its $8.8 billion purchase of Foundation Building Materials, a building products distributor with more than 370 locations in the US and Canada that serves professional contractors. It also bought Artisan Design Group, an interior finishes distributor for home builders, for about $1.3 billion. Lowe's now also runs about 540 branches alongside its stores, aimed at larger Pro customers and home builders.
Lowe's paid $8.8 billion for Foundation Building Materials, a building products distributor with more than 370 locations in the US and Canada.
Why Lowe's ranks #73
Lowe's sits at #73 with a WCRC Power Score of 70.68, just behind Intuit and FedEx and just ahead of Coach and Morgan Stanley. Its store network and familiar name earn solid marks for positioning and recall and for consumer trust. Flat store sales hold back its financial strength against the brands above. Its fast-growing online and Pro business keeps it narrowly ahead of Coach and Morgan Stanley in a tight group.
The Achilles' heel
Lowe's Achilles' heel is weak demand for big home projects. In the second quarter of 2026 its comparable sales rose just 0.2%. On 19 August it cut its full-year outlook to the bottom of its earlier range and now expects flat comparable sales for the year, against an earlier range of flat to up 2%. Until spending on homes picks up, growth in its stores will stay slow.
The 2026 story
Lowe's 2026 story is about building a bigger Pro business while store sales grow slowly. On 19 August it reported its fifth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales, up 0.2%, helped by Pro, online and home services. Online sales rose 15.7%. The quarter included $96 million of pre-tax costs tied to its FBM and ADG acquisitions, and tariff refunds also helped. Lowe's also trimmed its full-year outlook and now expects adjusted earnings of about $12.25 a share. "Sustained growth in Pro, online and home services led to our fifth consecutive quarter of positive comp sales," chief executive Marvin Ellison said.
Pillar profile
Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is Lowe's in WCRC's America's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
Lowe's ranks #73 of 100 in WCRC's America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 70.68 out of 100.
What makes Lowe's powerful?
Lowe's is trusted by DIY homeowners and is building its Pro business.
What is Lowe's's revenue?
$86.3bn revenue (FY2025, year to Jan 2026, +3.1%), as per company filings.
Who founded and owns Lowe's?
Lowe's was founded in 1921 by Lucius Smith Lowe. It is owned by Lowe's Companies, Inc. and based in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Who leads Lowe's?
Marvin Ellison, Chairman, President and CEO.
What is Lowe's's biggest challenge?
Housing market slowdowns and competition from Home Depot.
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Key facts
| Brand | Lowe's |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | Lowe's Companies, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Mooresville, North Carolina, United States |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Founder(s) | Lucius Smith Lowe |
| Leadership | Marvin Ellison, Chairman, President and CEO |
| Latest revenue | $86.3bn revenue (FY2025, year to Jan 2026, +3.1%), as per company filings |
| Sector | Retail & E-Commerce |
| Website | lowes.com |
| Country of origin | United States |
Sources
- Annual report (Form 10-K) and financial results of Lowe's Companies, Inc. filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
