Lowes (LOW $25.68 -2.80) reported first quarter earnings of $0.44 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.03 better than the Capital IQ Consensus Estimate of $0.41. Revenues rose 7.9% year over year to $13.15 billion versus the $12.96 billion consensus. The company issued mixed guidance for fiscal year 2013, seeing EPS of $1.73-1.83, excluding non-recurring items, versus the $1.86 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. Fiscal year 2013 revenues are expected to rise 1-2% year over year to $50.7-51.2 billion versus the $50.89 billion Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 2.6%, while comparable store sales for the U.S. business increased 2.7% .






