Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) appeals to the do-it-yourself spirit of some American homeowners. However, when the housing market is under pressure, renovation projects may be shelved -- and that's problematic for Lowe's.

This explains why Lowe's, although not directly considered a real estate company, is highly sensitive to interest rate policy. So, when the future path of mortgage rates is unclear and homeowners are reluctant to sell their homes, Lowe's takes on the traits of a fixer-upper that might be off-putting to investors.

For the past two years, Lowe's stock has had opportunities to break through the stubborn $250 level, but it failed. The company's recently announced quarterly results evidently weren't enough to put the Lowe's share price over the top.

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Source Fool.com