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BBY vs. LOW: Best Buy vs. Lowe's Stock Comparison

How do Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though BBY is classified under Computer & Electronics Retail while LOW falls under Home Improvement Retail.

Company profile comparison for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
Profile ItemBBYLOW
NameBest Buy Co., Inc.Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryComputer & Electronics RetailHome Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization20.90 billion USD125.98 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 18, 1985March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BBY
LOW
GSPC
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
Total Return (1Y)41.84%1.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.12%9.02%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)0.22%1.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BBY
LOW
GSPC
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)39.78%30.08%
Beta (5Y)1.140.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)-52.60%-36.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.37M3.23M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BBY and LOW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.94-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.61-0.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Best Buy (BBY) earns 43.13% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's (LOW) has no ROE this period.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

43.13%

Max
62.17%
BBY
43.13%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
LOW
--
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; BBY is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Best Buy (BBY) at 3.01% and Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.01%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
BBY
3.01%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.35%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
LOW
7.35%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 13.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Best Buy (BBY) at 3.90%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.90%

Max
21.45%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
BBY
3.90%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max
21.45%
LOW
13.37%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
ROE (TTM)43.13%--
ROA (TTM)7.25%12.52%
Net Margin (TTM)3.01%7.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.90%13.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.60%32.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Best Buy (BBY) at 0.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Best Buy (BBY) at 17.76% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BBY.

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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.39%3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.43%-3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)17.76%-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.12%5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Best Buy (BBY) at 1.12 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.12

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
BBY
1.12
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
LOW
1.11
Q1
1.00
Min
0.48
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Best Buy (BBY) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30 against its industry range, while Lowe's (LOW) reports no figure this period.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.30

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
BBY
1.30
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
LOW
--
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; BBY is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.121.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.30--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.663.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Best Buy (BBY) at 3.84% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Lowe's (LOW) at 2.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BBY the richer one.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.84%

Max
5.84%
BBY
3.84%
Q3
2.50%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.13%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
LOW
2.13%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Best Buy (BBY) at 63.56% and Lowe's (LOW) at 41.00% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

63.56%

Max
72.73%
BBY
63.56%
Q3
32.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max
72.73%
LOW
41.00%
Q3
32.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.84%2.13%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)63.56%41.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Best Buy (BBY) at 16.58 and Lowe's (LOW) at 18.98 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

16.58

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
BBY
16.58
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.98

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
LOW
18.98
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Best Buy (BBY) at 0.50 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.39 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.50

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
BBY
0.50
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.39

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
LOW
1.39
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -16.94, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Best Buy (BBY) reports 6.59, ranking against industry peers normally.

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.59

Max
10.96
BBY
6.59
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-16.94

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
LOW
-16.94
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Best Buy (BBY) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Best Buy (BBY) and Lowe's (LOW)
MetricBBYLOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.5818.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.501.39
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.59-16.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.72%3.66%