** Shares of retailers Lowe's LOW.N up ~2% at $251.18, Wayfair W.N up ~1% at $110.97

** Barclays upgrades stocks to "overweight" from "equalweight", positive on U.S. home improvement and furnishing sector going into 2026

** Brokerage sees gradual improvements in discretionary goods demand over staples retail with potential for modest bump from consumer tax savings, rate cuts ahead

** However, Barclays says recovery in home improvement segment remains painfully slow, with affordability major issue and no reason to expect big change yet

** Raises PT on LOW to $285 from $259, sees potential upside from weather, including normal hurricane season helping drive sales in 2026

** Raises PT on W to $123 from $104, sees greater confidence in W's market share performance and exposure to middle income consumers should also position it to benefit from tax refunds this year

** LOW was down 2.3%, while W was up 126.6% in 2025

(Reporting by Koyena Das in Bengaluru)

((koyena.das@thomsonreuters.com))