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LOW vs. PAG: Lowe's vs. Penske Automotive Stock Comparison

How do Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG) 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

Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though LOW is classified under Home Improvement Retail while PAG falls under Automotive Retail.

Company profile comparison for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Profile ItemLOWPAG
NameLowe's Companies, Inc.Penske Automotive Group Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustrySpecialty RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryHome Improvement RetailAutomotive Retail
Market Capitalization125.98 billion USD13.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 23, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LOW
PAG
GSPC
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG), 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 Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
Total Return (1Y)1.84%39.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.02%16.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.87%16.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LOW
PAG
GSPC
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG), 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 Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.08%27.55%
Beta (5Y)0.780.90
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.85%-24.03%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.23M450.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LOW and PAG 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 Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.081.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.132.27

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Penske Automotive (PAG) earns 15.47% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's (LOW) has no ROE this period.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

15.47%

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
Median
15.69%
PAG
15.47%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PAG is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.77% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.77%

Max
16.94%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
PAG
2.77%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) at 3.60%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.60%

Max
21.45%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
PAG
3.60%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
ROE (TTM)--15.47%
ROA (TTM)12.52%4.25%
Net Margin (TTM)7.35%2.77%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.37%3.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)32.99%16.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at -0.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.84% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.12%-0.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.85%4.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.11%2.84%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.23%-8.67%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAG.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.98

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
PAG
0.98
Min
0.48
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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: Penske Automotive (PAG) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53 against its industry range, while Lowe's (LOW) reports no figure this period.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
LOW
--

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.53

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
PAG
1.53
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
Min
0.01
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; PAG is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.110.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--1.53
Net Debt / EBITDA3.056.53

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.70% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Lowe's (LOW) at 2.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PAG the richer one.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.70%

Max
5.84%
PAG
2.70%
Q3
2.50%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 41.00% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 41.11% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.11%

Max
72.73%
PAG
41.11%
Q3
32.44%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.13%2.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)41.00%41.11%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 18.98 and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 14.80 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.80

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
Median
19.23
PAG
14.80
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Lowe's (LOW) at 1.39 and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.43

Max
4.32
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
PAG
0.43
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) reports 2.35, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.35

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
PAG
2.35
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45
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Lowe's (LOW) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
MetricLOWPAG
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.9814.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.390.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-16.942.35
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.66%0.69%