Lowes and Walmart are both retail giants in the United States. Both have a huge presence in the country and are known for offering low prices and a wide variety of merchandise. It’s easy to assume that because Walmart owns so many brands, it might also own Lowe’s. Below we discern the truth.
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Are Walmart and Lowe’s Affiliated?
Walmart doesn’t have any affiliations with Lowe’s. The two companies are entirely separate, and they don’t have any ownership stake in each other. However, both companies are large retailers.
While Lowe’s centers its services to home improvement, Walmart focuses on general retail, but also has a home improvement department
In 2013, Walmart and Lowe’s, alongside other large employers, announced they had joined the Pacific Group on Health and Negotiating Alliance (PBGH-NA). This alliance launched the National Employer Centers of Excellence Network.
This affiliation wasn’t an ownership stake, but rather an agreement to establish a healthcare solution that’d be more efficient and cost-effective for companies and their employees.
Does Walmart Fully Own Lowe’s?
Walmart doesn’t have any stake in Lowe’s, so it doesn’t own the company. For a company to have a full ownership stake in another company, it would need to own more than 50% of its shares outstanding and consolidate 100% of its assets and liabilities on its balance sheet.
That’s not the case with Walmart and Lowe’s. The two companies are completely separate, with different shareholders owning their respective stocks. Not to mention, their businesses are entirely separate as well.
Does Walmart Own Part of Lowe’s?
For a company to own part of another company, it’d need to have a shareholding stake. Some companies choose to invest in other companies without having any influence over their management or operations.
Are Walmart and Lowe’s Owned by the Same Company?
Walmart and Lowe’s aren’t owned by the same company. Both trade publicly on the stock market, but their stocks aren’t interchangeable. If there were a company that owned both Walmart and Lowe’s, it’d have to be a holding company with a majority stake. However, no such holding company exists, and Walmart and Lowe’s are independent companies.
Who Currently Owns Lowe’s?
As a publicly-traded company, Lowe’s doesn’t have a single owner. Instead, it has many shareholders who own its stock. The Vanguard Group is currently the majority shareholder with 8.92% of Lowe’s stock.
However, it doesn’t own 50%+1 of the company’s stock, so it doesn’t have full ownership. The second-largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc., which owns 7.3% of Lowe’s common stock. The company has a board of directors chaired by Marvin R. Ellison, the current CEO.
Lowe’s Company Profile
Lowe’s is a home improvement and hardware retailer founded in 1921 by L.S. Lowe. It’s headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and operates about 2,200 stores across the United States and Canada. Lowe’s is the second-largest hardware chain in the United States behind Home Depot.
The company offers a wide range of home improvement products categorized under Appliances, Lawn and Garden, Millwork, Flooring, Rough Plumbing, Decor, Lighting, Building Materials, Electrical, Kitchens and Bath, Paint, Lumber Hardware, Tools, Seasonal and Outdoor living, and Flooring.
Alongside its subsidiaries, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has over 300,000 employees. The current C.E.O. and chairman of the board is Marvin R. Ellison. Its executive vice president is Seemantini Godbole.
Lowe’s is a publicly-traded company and a component of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. As of May 2022, the company had a market capitalization of $128.78 billion.
Was Lowe’s Ever Owned by Walmart?
Lowe’s has never been owned by Walmart. No records reveal Walmart ever owning any stake in Lowe’s, and the two companies have always operated as separate entities. To date, Walmart hasn’t made any announcements regarding acquiring Lowe’s.
Some people may mistakenly believe that Walmart owns Lowe’s because of their similar business models. It could also be because most stores operate under the same building.
The companies share the same buildings because, in most cases, commercial real estate developers pitch to both companies to close a deal with at least one. However, the developers usually build the space with both companies in mind, resulting in a building that can accommodate both stores.
What Company Does Walmart Own?
Walmart is one of the largest corporations in the world with an interest in various companies. It operates a chain of departmental stores, a grocery chain, and hypermarkets. Apart from these, it also has stakes in e-commerce, logistics, and technology.
In 2018, Walmart acquired Flipkart Internet Pvt for a record $16 billion. In a bid to penetrate the e-commerce market of India, this was Walmart’s largest acquisition and its entry into the Indian market. The previous year Walmart had acquired ModCloth, Moosejaw, and Bonobos.
Below is a list of companies owned by Walmart
- Vudu
- Sam’s Club
- Jet.com
- ModCloth
- Asda Store’s, Ltd
- Art.com
- Seiyu Group
- Flipkart
- Bonobos
- Bare Necessities
- ELOQUIL
- Massmart
- Shoes.com
- Lider
- Amigo
- Heyneedle
- Aspectiva
- Parcel
- CARHO
- BestPrice Modern Wholesale
These companies operate under Walmart’s umbrella and help grow its revenue. In 2021, Walmart’s total sales amounted to $96 billion. The continued expansion of Walmart’s business has made it a retail behemoth.
Similarities and Differences
Below are similarities and differences that make these companies unique in their ways.
Similarities
- Both are publicly traded companies.
- Both operate a chain of stores across the United States and Canada.
- Both are retail giants with an international presence
- Both have a workforce of over 300,000 employees.
- Both have a strong online presence.
- Both sell home improvement products.
Differences
- Lowe’s main focus is on home improvement, while Walmart’s is on general merchandise.
- Lowe’s was founded in 1921, while Walmart was founded in 1962.
- Walmart operates 10,593 retail units, whereas Lowe’s operates 2,200 stores.
- Walmart operates in 24 countries, while Lowe’s is only present in the United States and Canada.
- Lowe’s has about 300,000 employees, while Walmart has 2.3 million employees.
- Lowe’s doesn’t have a controlling shareholder. Walton family members own about 50% of Walmart.
While one can assume Lowe’s and Walmart are related, they aren’t. Both are top retailers in the United States, but they operate independently. They all offer a plethora of goods and services to their customers and continue to serve them diligently.
