Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) has been a fantastic stock to own, with its price rising by 133% over the past five years (as of May 16). The S&P 500, by comparison, generated a total return of 67% during that same time. But so far, in 2023, Lowe's has been underperforming the broader market, which is up 7%. 

With the business set to report fiscal 2023 first-quarter financials soon, is Lowe's stock a buy, sell, or hold right now? Let's consider the bullish and bearish arguments for this home-improvement giant to help come to a worthwhile conclusion. 

An obvious reason to buy the stock is that Lowe's is making inroads into the lucrative professional segment, an area long dominated by Home Depot (NYSE: HD). In fact, under Marvin Ellison's leadership, a greater share of Lowe's sales (about 25%) is now derived from contractors, electricians, and the like. This is important for Lowe's because these customers tend to spend and visit more compared to DIYers, meaning that it can be a boon for profitability.

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Source Fool.com