As Lowes Cos (LOW) Stock Price Rose, Holder Melvin Capital Management LP Trimmed Its Holding by $30.00 Million; Gagnon Securities Raised Navigator Holdings LTD (NVGS) Stake by $2.15 Million; Market Value Declined

December 30, 2017 - By Richard Conner

Melvin Capital Management Lp decreased its stake in Lowes Cos Inc (LOW) by 29.67% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. Melvin Capital Management Lp sold 379,700 shares as the company’s stock rose 10.23% with the market. The institutional investor held 900,000 shares of the consumer services company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $71.95 million, down from 1.28 million at the end of the previous reported quarter. Melvin Capital Management Lp who had been investing in Lowes Cos Inc for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $77.12B market cap company. The stock increased 0.09% or $0.08 during the last trading session, reaching $92.94. About 3.37 million shares traded. Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has risen 5.92% since December 30, 2016 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 10.78% the S&P500.

Gagnon Securities Llc increased its stake in Navigator Holdings Ltd (NVGS) by 33.72% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. Gagnon Securities Llc bought 195,181 shares as the company’s stock declined 23.64% while stock markets rallied. The institutional investor held 774,072 shares of the marine transportation company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $8.59M, up from 578,891 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Gagnon Securities Llc who had been investing in Navigator Holdings Ltd for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $546.99M market cap company. The stock increased 0.51% or $0.05 during the last trading session, reaching $9.85. About 205,964 shares traded or 29.27% up from the average. Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) has declined 42.82% since December 30, 2016 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 59.52% the S&P500.

Gagnon Securities Llc, which manages about $353.18M and $269.01M US Long portfolio, decreased its stake in Red Hat Inc (NYSE:RHT) by 7,607 shares to 124,731 shares, valued at $13.83M in 2017Q3, according to the filing. It also reduced its holding in Zogenix Inc by 31,564 shares in the quarter, leaving it with 103,765 shares, and cut its stake in Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (NYSE:LL).

Among 4 analysts covering Navigator Holdings (NYSE:NVGS), 3 have Buy rating, 1 Sell and 0 Hold. Therefore 75% are positive. Navigator Holdings had 17 analyst reports since October 23, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The rating was maintained by Jefferies on Monday, August 28 with “Buy”. Stifel Nicolaus maintained Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) rating on Thursday, July 13. Stifel Nicolaus has “Buy” rating and $1600 target. The stock has “Buy” rating by Stifel Nicolaus on Friday, July 22. The stock of Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) has “Buy” rating given on Wednesday, July 27 by Jefferies. Jefferies maintained Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) rating on Monday, July 17. Jefferies has “Buy” rating and $1800 target. The stock has “Buy” rating by Jefferies on Monday, October 30. The company was initiated on Monday, December 18 by Jefferies. As per Friday, May 5, the company rating was maintained by Maxim Group. As per Thursday, August 25, the company rating was downgraded by Morgan Stanley. The firm earned “Buy” rating on Tuesday, August 8 by Maxim Group.

Melvin Capital Management Lp, which manages about $8.31 billion US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Laureate Education Inc by 1.25M shares to 4.50 million shares, valued at $65.48 million in 2017Q3, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in Yandex N V (NASDAQ:YNDX) by 1.13 million shares in the quarter, for a total of 2.00 million shares, and has risen its stake in Carvana Co.

Among 32 analysts covering Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE:LOW), 18 have Buy rating, 1 Sell and 13 Hold. Therefore 56% are positive. Lowe’s Companies Inc. had 74 analyst reports since August 19, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The firm has “Hold” rating by Jefferies given on Thursday, September 28. Zelman upgraded the stock to “Buy” rating in Thursday, November 19 report. Atlantic Securities upgraded it to “Overweight” rating and $94 target in Tuesday, November 24 report. The rating was maintained by RBC Capital Markets on Monday, October 30 with “Buy”. Robert W. Baird maintained the stock with “Buy” rating in Thursday, September 28 report. Cleveland downgraded the stock to “Neutral” rating in Thursday, October 6 report. Bernstein initiated the stock with “Underperform” rating in Monday, February 6 report. Wedbush downgraded Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) on Wednesday, October 26 to “Neutral” rating. The stock of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has “Buy” rating given on Tuesday, August 2 by Stifel Nicolaus. RBC Capital Markets maintained the shares of LOW in report on Thursday, November 19 with “Outperform” rating.

Investors sentiment increased to 1.04 in Q3 2017. Its up 0.01, from 1.03 in 2017Q2. It is positive, as 76 investors sold LOW shares while 406 reduced holdings. 115 funds opened positions while 384 raised stakes. 589.78 million shares or 2.68% less from 606.01 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Credit Agricole S A holds 0.09% or 329,552 shares in its portfolio. Arcadia Mgmt Mi holds 0.05% or 1,993 shares in its portfolio. Horizon Investments Ltd Liability Company reported 23,259 shares. Moreover, Leisure Capital has 0.21% invested in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW). Webster Bank & Trust N A holds 5,891 shares or 0.07% of its portfolio. Carnegie Asset Mngmt holds 0.43% or 45,487 shares in its portfolio. 691,021 were accumulated by Stifel Corp. Nbt Comml Bank N A Ny reported 113,620 shares stake. Segall Bryant & Hamill Ltd Liability Company invested in 44,039 shares. Menta Capital holds 0.13% or 10,887 shares. Bahl And Gaynor Inc stated it has 0.06% of its portfolio in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW). Manufacturers Life Com The reported 0.23% stake. Moreover, Texan Cap Mgmt has 1.56% invested in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) for 29,428 shares. Newman Dignan Sheerar owns 19,458 shares. Ferguson Wellman Management Incorporated holds 0.01% of its portfolio in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) for 4,234 shares.

Since September 19, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 2 selling transactions for $778,532 activity. 7,853 shares valued at $614,857 were sold by Hollifield Matthew V on Friday, September 22.