Lowe's profit tops analysts" estimates Lowe's Cos Inc."s quarterly profit beat analysts" estimates as rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Sandy and the retailer's own product selection improvements helped sales. The world's second-largest home improvement retailer said its net earnings were $288-million, or 26 cents a share, in the fourth quarter ended on Feb. 1, compared with $322-million, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts on average were looking for a profit of 23 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Sales fell 5 per cent to $11.05-billion, but exceeded the analysts" average estimate of $10.84-billion. Sandy made landfall five days before the start of Lowe's fourth quarter. Sales at Lowe's stores open at least a year rose 1.9 per cent both globally and in the United States.