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LOW vs WSM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Lowe's (LOW) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- LOW reported second-quarter 2026 results with comparable sales up 0.2% and adjusted diluted EPS of $4.40, though the company lowered its full-year 2026 sales outlook to the lower end of prior ranges amid softer DIY demand.
- WSM delivered strong first-quarter 2026 results with comparable brand revenue growth of 4.8% and diluted EPS of $1.93, with its second-quarter earnings scheduled for release on August 26, 2026.
- WSM has outperformed LOW on a year-to-date basis, with returns exceeding 34% compared to LOW's approximately 9% gain.
- LOW benefits from scale in the home improvement sector with strength in Pro and online channels, while WSM operates as a specialty retailer focused on premium home furnishings across multiple brands.
- Recent analyst actions include multiple price target reductions for LOW, reflecting cautious sentiment around macro pressures in discretionary home spending.
- Both stocks operate in the consumer discretionary sector but exhibit differing momentum profiles, with WSM showing more consistent recent outperformance relative to broader market indices.
Introduction
This comparison examines LOW and WSM to highlight differences in business models, recent operational results, and market positioning within the consumer discretionary sector. Both companies serve home-related markets but target distinct customer segments and operate with varying growth drivers and risk exposures. The analysis focuses on verifiable developments over recent weeks to assist traders and investors evaluating relative performance, sector exposure, and sentiment trends in the current environment. Professional and retail investors seeking data-driven insights into home improvement versus specialty home furnishings retailers may find this comparison relevant for portfolio construction or tactical allocation decisions.
LOW Overview and Recent Performance
Lowe's Companies, Inc. operates as a leading home improvement retailer with a network of stores and strong digital presence. In its second quarter ended July 31, 2026, the company reported net sales of $26.0 billion and comparable sales growth of 0.2%, supported by gains in Pro customer and home services segments along with a 15.7% increase in online sales. Adjusted diluted EPS reached $4.40. Persistent pressures in discretionary DIY categories contributed to a tempered full-year 2026 outlook set at the lower end of prior ranges, including total sales guidance of $92.0 billion. Recent market activity shows the stock trading near recent lows with year-to-date returns around 9%, accompanied by several analyst price target reductions amid broader caution on home improvement spending trends.
WSM Overview and Recent Performance
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer offering premium home furnishings and kitchenware through multiple brands and channels. The company reported robust first-quarter 2026 results with comparable brand revenue growth of 4.8%, an operating margin of 16.2%, and diluted EPS of $1.93. Strength across its brand portfolio and channels supported these outcomes. Second-quarter 2026 earnings are scheduled for release on August 26, 2026. In recent market activity, WSM has posted year-to-date returns exceeding 34%, significantly outpacing broader indices and reflecting sustained investor interest in its performance trajectory ahead of the upcoming report.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
LOW and WSM differ substantially in scale and focus: LOW emphasizes broad home improvement categories with significant exposure to professional contractors and online fulfillment, whereas WSM concentrates on higher-margin specialty home products. Recent momentum favors WSM, which has delivered stronger year-to-date returns amid consistent brand-level growth, while LOW has navigated softer DIY demand and guidance adjustments. Risk factors for LOW include macro sensitivity in discretionary spending and acquisition-related costs, contrasted with WSM's more concentrated brand portfolio that may exhibit different cyclical responses. Sector exposure overlaps in consumer discretionary but WSM benefits from premium positioning that has supported outperformance in recent periods relative to LOW's broader market sensitivity.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency and relative positioning in recent market activity, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a higher probabilistic weighting toward WSM due to its stronger year-to-date performance and positive first-quarter momentum ahead of the scheduled earnings release. LOW presents a more balanced profile with scale advantages but faces nearer-term headwinds from guidance revisions and sector pressures. This assessment reflects data-driven pattern recognition rather than forecasts and remains subject to new information such as upcoming quarterly results.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is LOW is a Hold and WSM is a StrongBuy.
| LOW | WSM | LOW / WSM | |
| Capitalization | 110B | 26.6B | 414% |
| EBITDA | 12.8B | 1.77B | 724% |
| Gain YTD | -17.117 | 28.007 | -61% |
| P/E Ratio | 16.64 | 23.20 | 72% |
| Revenue | 90.4B | 8.01B | 1,129% |
| Total Cash | 3.17B | 1.03B | 308% |
| Total Debt | 42B | 1.53B | 2,749% |
LOW | WSM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 56 | 14 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 5 Undervalued | 93 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 81 | 21 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 6 | 20 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 63 | 51 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 73 | 36 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
LOW's Valuation (5) in the Home Improvement Chains industry is significantly better than the same rating for WSM (93) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that LOW’s stock grew significantly faster than WSM’s over the last 12 months.
WSM's Profit vs Risk Rating (21) in the Specialty Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for LOW (81) in the Home Improvement Chains industry. This means that WSM’s stock grew somewhat faster than LOW’s over the last 12 months.
LOW's SMR Rating (6) in the Home Improvement Chains industry is in the same range as WSM (20) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that LOW’s stock grew similarly to WSM’s over the last 12 months.
WSM's Price Growth Rating (51) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as LOW (63) in the Home Improvement Chains industry. This means that WSM’s stock grew similarly to LOW’s over the last 12 months.
WSM's P/E Growth Rating (36) in the Specialty Stores industry is somewhat better than the same rating for LOW (73) in the Home Improvement Chains industry. This means that WSM’s stock grew somewhat faster than LOW’s over the last 12 months.
| LOW | WSM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 2 days ago 83% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 81% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 74% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 66% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 73% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 58% | 5 days ago 75% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 66% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 78% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 65% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
LOW’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green while WSM’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- LOW’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- WSM’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
LOW’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WSM’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LOW’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- WSM’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
LOW (@Home Improvement Chains) experienced а -3.73% price change this week, while WSM (@Specialty Stores) price change was -0.52% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Home Improvement Chains industry was -4.65%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -12.42%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.08%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Specialty Stores industry was -4.09%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -7.27%, and the average quarterly price growth was -0.74%.
Reported Earning Dates
LOW is expected to report earnings on Nov 18, 2026.
WSM is expected to report earnings on Nov 12, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Home Improvement Chains (-4.65% weekly)The home improvement chains industry sells home improvement merchandise and do-it-yourself repair and building goods. Customers include individual contractors or construction managers on one hand; on the other hand, there are retail consumers who’d either buy raw materials/items from the store to do a project on their own, or pay extra for installation services. Products sold include fencing supplies, lumber materials, hardware, lighting fixtures, plumbing supplies, home decor items, bathroom remodel items, roofing materials, tools and wallboard to name a few. The Home Depot Inc., Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. are some of the biggest home improvement retailing companies in the U.S. Allowing all types of customers the flexibility to choose or buy products both offline and online and then having the products shipped to the respective sites/homes are some of the potential drivers of a home improvement chain’s popularity. Many big-box home improvement chains are looking to expand their overseas presence. Supply-chain efficiency and distribution management are some of the key ingredients to grow/make profit in this industry.
@Specialty Stores (-4.09% weekly)The specialty stores sector includes companies dedicated to the sale of retail products focused on a single product category, such as clothing, carpet, books, or office supplies. A specialty store could face intense competition from big-box departmental chains, and therefore offering an adequate collection of the product type it specializes in is key in maintaining/growing its market.
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LOW and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, LOW has been closely correlated with HD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 88% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if LOW jumps, then HD could also see price increases.
WSM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WSM has been loosely correlated with FND. These tickers have moved in lockstep 65% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if WSM jumps, then FND could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To WSM | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSM | 100% | +1.11% | ||
| FND - WSM | 65% Loosely correlated | +1.00% | ||
| CPRT - WSM | 62% Loosely correlated | -2.60% | ||
| RH - WSM | 61% Loosely correlated | +0.04% | ||
| ARHS - WSM | 59% Loosely correlated | +2.02% | ||
| LOW - WSM | 58% Loosely correlated | +0.12% | ||
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