Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) stock surged 5.20% in pre-market trading on Wednesday following the release of its third-quarter earnings report, which exceeded analysts' expectations. The home improvement retailer demonstrated resilience in a challenging market, posting better-than-anticipated results and maintaining a positive outlook for the full year.

For the third quarter ended October 31, 2025, Lowe's reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.06, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.97. This represents a 5.88% increase from the $2.89 per share earned in the same period last year. The company's total sales for the quarter reached $20.813 billion, slightly below the expected $20.817 billion but still showing a 3.19% year-over-year growth. Notably, Lowe's achieved a modest comparable sales growth of 0.4%, indicating steady performance across its existing store base.

Investors were particularly encouraged by Lowe's updated full-year 2025 outlook. The company now projects adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $12.25, which, while slightly below the FactSet consensus estimate of $12.28, still suggests confidence in its business model and operational efficiency. Additionally, Lowe's anticipates full-year sales of $86 billion, reflecting the company's ability to navigate the current economic landscape. The positive reception of these results stands in stark contrast to the recent performance of its major competitor, Home Depot, which saw its shares tumble 6% on Tuesday after missing earnings expectations and reducing its full-year outlook.