LOW vs. TSCO: Lowe's vs. Tractor Supply Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO) 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though LOW is classified under Home Improvement Retail while TSCO falls under Other Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Profile Item	LOW	TSCO
Name	Lowe's Companies, Inc.	Tractor Supply Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Home Improvement Retail	Other Specialty Retail
Market Capitalization	125.98 billion USD	18.85 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	February 17, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LOW

TSCO

GSPC

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO), 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
Total Return (1Y)	1.84%	-28.95%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	9.02%	0.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.87%	-1.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LOW

TSCO

GSPC

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO), 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.08%	34.78%
Beta (5Y)	0.78	0.45
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.85%	-52.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.23M	11.58M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LOW and TSCO 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	-0.96
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.13	-1.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Tractor Supply (TSCO) earns 37.35% 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: --

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

37.35%

Max: 62.17%
TSCO: 37.35%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; TSCO is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35% and Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 6.13% 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%

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.13%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
TSCO: 6.13%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 7.87%, 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%

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.87%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
TSCO: 7.87%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
ROE (TTM)	--	37.35%
ROA (TTM)	12.52%	7.50%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.35%	6.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.37%	7.87%
Gross Margin (TTM)	32.99%	36.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12% and Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 4.31% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11% and Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 0.98% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.12%	4.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-3.85%	3.00%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.11%	0.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.23%	1.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 and Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.38

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
TSCO: 1.38
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): 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: Tractor Supply (TSCO) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53 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: --

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.53

Max: 3.93
TSCO: 2.53
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; TSCO is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	1.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	2.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.05	3.42

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 2.59% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Lowe's (LOW) at 2.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, TSCO 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%

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.59%

Max: 5.84%
TSCO: 2.59%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 51.08% 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%

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

51.08%

Max: 72.73%
TSCO: 51.08%
Q3: 32.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lowe's (LOW) and Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.13%	2.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	41.00%	51.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Lowe's (LOW) at 18.98 and Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 19.54 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

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

19.54

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
TSCO: 19.54
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO) at 1.18 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

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.18

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
TSCO: 1.18
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO) reports 7.10, 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

TSCO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.10

Max: 10.96
TSCO: 7.10
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

Lowe's (LOW) vs. Tractor Supply (TSCO): 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 Tractor Supply (TSCO)
Metric	LOW	TSCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	18.98	19.54
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.39	1.18
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-16.94	7.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.66%	0.67%