WallStSmart

Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW)vsNovartis AG ADR (NVS)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Lowe's Companies Inc generates 53% more annual revenue ($86.29B vs $56.58B). NVS leads profitability with a 23.9% profit margin vs 7.7%. LOW appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.40. NVS earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 51/100 (C-).

LOW

Hold

44

out of 100

Grade: D

Growth: 3.3Profit: 5.5Value: 4.0Quality: 7.0
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: 2.16

NVS

Buy

51

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 3.3Profit: 9.0Value: 3.3Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 1.96
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

LOWSignificantly Overvalued (-37.5%)

Margin of Safety

-37.5%

Fair Value

$167.88

Current Price

$229.20

$61.32 premium

UndervaluedFair: $167.88Overvalued
NVSSignificantly Overvalued (-51.8%)

Margin of Safety

-51.8%

Fair Value

$110.12

Current Price

$146.03

$35.91 premium

UndervaluedFair: $110.12Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

LOW2 strengths · Avg: 9.5/10
Debt/EquityHealth
-4.3110/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

Market CapQuality
$129.31B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

NVS5 strengths · Avg: 9.4/10
Market CapQuality
$277.42B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
34.9%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 35 in profit

Operating MarginProfitability
30.5%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 30.5%

Profit MarginProfitability
23.9%9/10

Keeps 24 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Free Cash FlowQuality
$2.87B8/10

Generating 2.9B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

LOW4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.404/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Return on EquityProfitability
0.0%3/10

ROE of 0.0% — below average capital efficiency

Profit MarginProfitability
7.7%3/10

7.7% margin — thin

EPS GrowthGrowth
-11.0%2/10

Earnings declined 11.0%

NVS4 concerns · Avg: 2.5/10
Altman Z-ScoreHealth
1.964/10

Grey zone — moderate risk

PEG RatioValuation
2.592/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Revenue GrowthGrowth
-0.7%2/10

Revenue declined 0.7%

EPS GrowthGrowth
-9.3%2/10

Earnings declined 9.3%

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : LOW

The strongest argument for LOW centers on Debt/Equity, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 10.9% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : NVS

The strongest argument for NVS centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 23.9% and operating margin at 30.5%.

Bear Case : LOW

The primary concerns for LOW are PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Profit Margin.

Bear Case : NVS

The primary concerns for NVS are Altman Z-Score, PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

LOW profiles as a value stock while NVS is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.

LOW carries more volatility with a beta of 0.90 — expect wider price swings.

LOW is growing revenue faster at 10.9% — sustainability is the question.

NVS generates stronger free cash flow (2.9B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

NVS scores higher overall (51/100 vs 44/100), backed by strong 23.9% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Lowe's Companies Inc

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAIL · USA

Lowe's Companies, Inc. is an American retail company specializing in home improvement. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, the company operates a chain of retail stores in the United States and Canada.

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Novartis AG ADR

HEALTHCARE · DRUG MANUFACTURERS - GENERAL · USA

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures and markets medical devices worldwide. The company is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

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