Better Buy: General Electric vs. Lowe's

In leading two iconic companies that are restructuring and potentially face challenges in the coming years, the CEOs of General Electric (NYSE: GE) and Lowe's  (NYSE: LOW) certainly have their work cut out for them. Comparing the two might seem academic, but it reveals a lot about the task ahead for both, so let's take a look at which stock is a better buy.

Like so many other parts of the retail world, the biggest structural challenge facing Lowe's is the threat of online competition eating into its revenue. It's easy to dismiss the threat due to the notion that home improvement stores sell bulky items and DIY customers often need help when buying products. However, Lowe's own online sales rose 16% in the first quarter, and its rival The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) increased its online sales by 23% in the same period. As such, there's little doubt that e-commerce is highly useful for selling home improvement products.

Image source: Getty Images.

Continue reading


Source Fool.com