Lowe’s Companies Inc. is the second largest home improvement chain in the united States. It offers products to help with repair, maintenance, remodeling, property maintenance and home decorating. Lowe’s also supplies installation services for air conditioners etc. The company has approximately 1,744 stores in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The company also markets through its website, Lowes.com, and through electronic catalogs.

After tough times in the housing market, with a big dip in revenues and net income in 2009, Lowe’s 2010 profits have risen and it looks like the housing repair market is improving. Additionally, in 2007, Lowe’s decided to enter the Canadian market and it now has 20 stores there and will be opening more. Recently, Lowe’s also announced that it plans to enter the Australian market with 150 new stores.

Lowe’s stock price has gone up 4 out of the last 5 weeks. This, together with improved profits last year, is an encouraging sign that consumers are starting to spend more money to repair and improve their houses.

some of the executive managers at Lowe’s are: Joyce L. Vonada, Richard D. Maltsbarger, Robert Ihrie Jr.,  Michael K. Menser, Stephen J. Szilagyi, James M. Frasso, and Gary E. Wyatt.