Chefs' WarehousevsLowe's Companies

CHEF and LOW stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.

Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) has a market value of $4.6B and Lowe's Companies (LOW) $128B. Over the last year, with dividends, CHEF moved +72.7% and LOW -0.8%. The P/E is 45.3 for CHEF and 19.3 for LOW. Dividend yield: CHEF none, LOW 2.15%.

At a glance

The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.

  • Market value

    CHEF$4.6B

    LOW$128B

    LOW is 28 times CHEF

  • Revenue, 12 months

    CHEF$4.5B

    LOW$90.4B

    LOW is 20 times CHEF

  • Net income, 12 months

    CHEF$102M

    LOW$6.6B

    LOW is 65 times CHEF

  • Operating margin

    CHEF4.1%

    LOW11.4%

    7.3 points apart

  • ROIC

    CHEF9.5%

    LOW27.6%

    18.1 points apart

  • P/E

    CHEF45.3

    LOW19.3

    CHEF is 2.4 times LOW

  • Dividend yield

    CHEF0.0%

    LOW2.2%

    2.2 points apart

  • 5-year return

    CHEF+215.6%

    LOW+6.4%

    209.2 points apart

A fainter bar means a negative number. The 5-year return includes dividends.

The price over time

Both start at 100 at the beginning of the period, so the lines show how much each changed. With dividends means each dividend buys more shares.

CHEF+215.6%

LOW+6.4%

10020030020222023202420252026
Returns by period
PeriodCHEFWith dividendsLOWWith dividends
1 year since November 12, 2025+72.7%Price +72.7%-0.8%Price -3.0%
3 years since November 13, 2023+346.6%+64.7% a yearPrice +346.6%+24.8%+7.7% a yearPrice +17.5%
5 years since November 12, 2021+215.6%+25.8% a yearPrice +215.6%+6.4%+1.3% a yearPrice -3.6%
10 years since November 15, 2016+730.0%+23.6% a yearPrice +730.0%+298.4%+14.8% a yearPrice +229.8%

Each cell: the total return with dividends, its yearly rate, and the price change alone. Before taxes and costs. Past returns do not predict future ones.

Every figure

As on each company's page. A description, not a recommendation: no one figure says which is better.

CHEFChefs' WarehouseLOWLowe's Companies

Valuation

CHEFLOW
Valuation
Price$106.66$227.73
Market value$4.6B$128B
Enterprise value (EV)$5.2B$162B
P/E45.319.3
P/E, 5-year median37.421.2
P/B6.8–
EV/EBIT27.915.7
Free cash flow yield3.9%5.5%

Results and growth

CHEFLOW
Results and growth
Revenue, 12 months$4.5B$90.4B
Net income, 12 months$102M$6.6B
Free cash flow, 12 months$182M$7.0B
Earnings per share, 12 months$2.33$11.83
Revenue growth, year on year9.4%3.1%
Revenue growth a year, past+30.1%over 5 years-0.8%over 5 years
EPS growth a year, past–+8.9%over 5 years

Margins and returns on capital

CHEFLOW
Margins and returns on capital
Gross margin24.7%33.1%
Operating margin4.1%11.4%
Net margin2.3%7.3%
ROIC9.5%27.6%
ROE16.4%–

Balance sheet

CHEFLOW
Balance sheet
Cash$165M$3.4B
Total debt$946M$42.0B
Net debt / EBITDA2.42.7
Interest cover4.8×–

Dividends and buybacks

CHEFLOW
Dividends and buybacks
Dividend yield–2.2%
Dividend per share, 12 months–$4.90
Dividend growth a year, past–+15.6%over 5 years
Buyback yield0.3%0.2%
Shareholder yield0.3%2.3%

Last 12 months from the latest 10-Q and 10-K. Value, P/E and yields at today's price. A dash means the figure does not exist or did not pass our checks.

Questions: CHEF or LOW

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Ask us
Which is bigger, Chefs' Warehouse or Lowe's Companies?

By market value, Lowe's Companies ($128B) is about 27.5 times Chefs' Warehouse ($4.6B), at today's prices.

How did CHEF and LOW stock do over the last 10 years?

Since November 15, 2016, CHEF's price moved +730.0% and LOW's +229.8%. With dividends: CHEF +730.0% (+23.6% a year), LOW +298.4% (+14.8% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.

Which pays the higher dividend, CHEF or LOW?

The dividend yield at today's price is none for Chefs' Warehouse and 2.15% for Lowe's Companies. Over the last twelve months they paid – and $4.90 per share.

What is the P/E of CHEF and LOW?

At today's price, the P/E is 45.3 for CHEF and 19.3 for LOW. The median of the last five years was 37.4 and 21.2, which shows where each stands against its own past.

Which has the higher profit margins, Chefs' Warehouse or Lowe's Companies?

Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 2.3% for Chefs' Warehouse and 7.3% for Lowe's Companies, and the operating margin 4.1% and 11.4%. Revenue was $4.5B and $90.4B.

Which is the better investment, Chefs' Warehouse or Lowe's Companies?

The page does not answer that and does not suggest buying or selling. It puts the two companies' numbers side by side, from their SEC filings, for you to read and form your own view. The decision depends on your goals and situation.

Other comparisons

With each of the two, and with the largest in its sector.

Related pages

The other pages on US stocks, free to read. On the company pages, the last three fiscal years are open to everyone, five with a free account, and every year with Ploutos Investor.

Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.