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Side-by-side financial comparison of Lowe's (LOW) and Sysco (SYY). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Lowe's is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($20.8B vs $20.8B, roughly 1.0× Sysco). Lowe's runs the higher net margin — 7.8% vs 1.9%, a 5.9% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Lowe's posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (3.2% vs 3.0%). Sysco produced more free cash flow last quarter ($385.0M vs $90.0M). Over the past eight quarters, Sysco's revenue compounded faster (3.5% CAGR vs -8.7%).
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is an American retail company specializing in home improvement. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, the company operates a chain of retail stores in the United States. As of October 28, 2022, Lowe's and its related businesses operated 2,181 home improvement and hardware stores in North America.
Sysco is an American multinational corporation that sells, markets, and distributes food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, sports stadiums, and other venues that serve food. It also sells foodservice supplies and equipment. The company is headquartered in the Energy Corridor district of Houston, Texas.
LOW vs SYY — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q3 FY2026 vs Q2 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $20.8B | $20.8B |
| Net Profit | $1.6B | $389.0M |
| Gross Margin | 34.2% | 18.3% |
| Operating Margin | 11.9% | 3.3% |
| Net Margin | 7.8% | 1.9% |
| Revenue YoY | 3.2% | 3.0% |
| Net Profit YoY | -4.7% | -4.2% |
| EPS (diluted) | $2.88 | $0.81 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q4 25 | $20.8B | $20.8B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $21.1B | ||
| Q2 25 | $20.9B | $21.1B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $19.6B | ||
| Q4 24 | $20.2B | $20.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $23.6B | $20.5B | ||
| Q2 24 | $21.4B | $20.6B | ||
| Q1 24 | $18.6B | $19.4B |
| Q4 25 | $1.6B | $389.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $476.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.6B | $531.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $401.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.7B | $406.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.4B | $490.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.8B | $611.7M | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.0B | $424.7M |
| Q4 25 | 34.2% | 18.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 18.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 33.4% | 18.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 18.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 33.7% | 18.1% | ||
| Q3 24 | 33.5% | 18.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 33.2% | 18.7% | ||
| Q1 24 | 32.4% | 18.6% |
| Q4 25 | 11.9% | 3.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 3.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 11.9% | 4.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 3.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 12.6% | 3.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 14.6% | 3.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 12.4% | 4.7% | ||
| Q1 24 | 9.1% | 3.7% |
| Q4 25 | 7.8% | 1.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 2.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 7.8% | 2.5% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 2.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 8.4% | 2.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 10.1% | 2.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 8.2% | 3.0% | ||
| Q1 24 | 5.5% | 2.2% |
| Q4 25 | $2.88 | $0.81 | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $0.99 | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.92 | $1.10 | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $0.82 | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.99 | $0.82 | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.17 | $0.99 | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.06 | $1.23 | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.81 | $0.85 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $1.0B | $1.2B |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $37.5B | $12.4B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $-10.4B | $2.3B |
| Total Assets | $53.5B | $27.2B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | 5.45× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $1.0B | $1.2B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $844.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.4B | $1.1B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $1.5B | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.6B | $793.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.7B | $733.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.5B | $696.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.2B | $598.3M |
| Q4 25 | $37.5B | $12.4B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $11.5B | ||
| Q2 25 | $30.5B | $12.4B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $12.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $32.9B | $11.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $34.7B | $11.9B | ||
| Q2 24 | $34.6B | $11.5B | ||
| Q1 24 | $35.4B | $12.1B |
| Q4 25 | $-10.4B | $2.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $2.1B | ||
| Q2 25 | $-13.3B | $1.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $1.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $-13.4B | $2.0B | ||
| Q3 24 | $-13.8B | $2.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $-14.6B | $1.9B | ||
| Q1 24 | $-15.1B | $2.1B |
| Q4 25 | $53.5B | $27.2B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $27.0B | ||
| Q2 25 | $45.4B | $26.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $26.3B | ||
| Q4 24 | $44.7B | $25.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $44.9B | $25.9B | ||
| Q2 24 | $45.4B | $24.9B | ||
| Q1 24 | $41.8B | $24.7B |
| Q4 25 | — | 5.45× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 5.54× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 6.75× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 6.37× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 5.66× | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 5.38× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 6.19× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 5.77× |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $687.0M | $525.0M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $90.0M | $385.0M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 0.4% | 1.9% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 2.9% | 0.7% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 0.43× | 1.35× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $6.4B | $1.8B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $687.0M | $525.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $86.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.4B | $1.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $819.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.3B | $445.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.2B | $53.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.3B | $1.6B | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.1B | $517.3M |
| Q4 25 | $90.0M | $385.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $-74.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.9B | $819.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $620.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $728.0M | $234.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.7B | $-69.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.9B | $1.3B | ||
| Q1 24 | $488.0M | $333.9M |
| Q4 25 | 0.4% | 1.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | -0.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 13.7% | 3.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 3.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.6% | 1.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | 11.6% | -0.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 18.2% | 6.4% | ||
| Q1 24 | 2.6% | 1.7% |
| Q4 25 | 2.9% | 0.7% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 0.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.5% | 1.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 1.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.8% | 1.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.8% | 0.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.8% | 1.5% | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.3% | 0.9% |
| Q4 25 | 0.43× | 1.35× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 0.18× | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.06× | 2.25× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 2.04× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.77× | 1.10× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.32× | 0.11× | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.43× | 2.64× | ||
| Q1 24 | 1.09× | 1.22× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
LOW
| Home Decor | $7.8B | 37% |
| Building Products | $6.9B | 33% |
| Hardlines | $5.1B | 25% |
| Services | $753.0M | 4% |
| Other | $384.0M | 2% |
SYY
| International Foodservice Operations | $4.0B | 19% |
| Fresh And Frozen Meats1 | $3.0B | 14% |
| Canned And Dry Products1 | $2.7B | 13% |
| Sygma Segment | $2.1B | 10% |
| Frozen Fruits Vegetables Bakery And Other1 | $2.1B | 10% |
| Dairy Products1 | $1.5B | 7% |
| Poultry1 | $1.3B | 6% |
| Fresh Produce1 | $1.3B | 6% |
| Paper And Disposables1 | $1.0B | 5% |
| Seafood1 | $542.0M | 3% |
| Beverage Products1 | $390.0M | 2% |
| Other Products | $289.0M | 1% |
| Equipment And Smallwares | $286.0M | 1% |
