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<title>8-k Press Release</title>
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<font face="Times New Roman" size="5"><b>UNITED STATES </b></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="5"><b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </b>
</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><b>Washington, D.C. 20549 </b></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="5"><b>FORM 8-K </b></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<hr width="17%" color="#000000" noShade SIZE="1">
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><b>Current Report </b></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><b>Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
</b></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><b>Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </b>
</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div align="center">
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  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-width: 0" bordercolor="#111111" width="53%" id="AutoNumber2">
    <tr>
      <td width="71%" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font size="2">Date of Report (Date of
      earliest event reported)</font></b></td>
      <td width="29%" style="border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top: medium none #111111; border-bottom: medium none #111111">
      <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<b><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">January 28</font></b><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>,
2005 </b></font></td>
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<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<img border="0" src="lowesgraphic.gif" width="106" height="50"></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<b>LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.</b><font face="Times New Roman" size="6"><b> </b></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" align="center">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><b>(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter) </b></font></p>
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<hr width="17%" color="#000000" noShade SIZE="1">
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
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      <td width="204" valign="top" style="width:153.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b>North
      Carolina</b></td>
      <td width="30" valign="top" style="width:22.5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></td>
      <td width="192" valign="top" style="width:2.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b>1-7898</b></td>
      <td width="30" valign="top" style="width:22.5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></td>
      <td width="181" valign="top" style="width:135.9pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b>
      56-0578072</b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="204" valign="top" style="width:153.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">
      <font size="2">(State or
      other jurisdiction <br>
      of incorporation)</font></td>
      <td width="30" valign="top" style="width:22.5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">&nbsp;</td>
      <td width="192" valign="top" style="width:2.0in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">
      <font size="2">(Commission
      File <br>
      Number)</font></td>
      <td width="30" valign="top" style="width:22.5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">&nbsp;</td>
      <td width="181" valign="top" style="width:135.9pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
      <p align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">
      <font size="2">(IRS
      Employer<br>
      &nbsp;Identification No.)</font></td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  </center>
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    <tr>
      <td valign="top" style="width:324;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b>1000
      Lowe's Blvd., Mooresville, NC</b></td>
      <td valign="top" style="width:101;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b>
      28117</b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" style="width:324;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
      <font size="2">(Address of principal executive offices)</font></td>
      <td valign="top" style="width:101;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">
      <font size="2">(Zip Code)</font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" style="width:324;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      &nbsp;</td>
      <td valign="top" style="width:101;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      &nbsp;</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" style="width:324;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      &nbsp;</td>
      <td valign="top" style="width:101;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      &nbsp;</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" style="width:324;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      <font size="2">Registrant's telephone number, including area code</font></td>
      <td valign="top" style="width:101;padding-left:5.4pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-top:0in; padding-bottom:0in" align="center">
      <b>(704) 758-1000</b></td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  </center>
</div>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px">&nbsp;</p>
<hr width="17%" color="#000000" noShade SIZE="1">
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px">
<font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions (<i>see </i>General
Instruction A.2. below): </font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="4%">
    <font face="Wingdings" size="2">o</font></td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Written
    communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425) </font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="4%">
    <font face="Wingdings" size="2">o</font></td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">
    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12) </font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
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  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="4%">
    <font face="Wingdings" size="2">o</font></td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">
    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -6px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="4%">
    <font face="Wingdings" size="2">o</font></td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">
    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><font size="1">&nbsp;</font></p>
<hr align="left" color="#000000" noShade SIZE="3">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="759" border="0" height="48">
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font size="2">ITEM </font></b>
    <font size="2"><b>8.01</b></font></td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b>
    <font face="Times New Roman" size="2">OTHER EVENTS</font></b></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
      <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2">On January 28, 2005, Lowe's Companies,
      Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) issued a press release, furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and
      incorporated herein by reference, announcing the approval of a $1 billion
      share repurchase program.</font></p>
      <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2">The information contained in this Current Report on
      Form 8-K, including the exhibit attached hereto, is being furnished and
      shall not be deemed to be &quot;filed&quot; for the purposes of Section 18 of the
      Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to
      the liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained in
      this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by
      reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant
      to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. </font> </p>
      </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    <b><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">ITEM 9.01</font></b></td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    <b><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS</font></b></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    <font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(c) EXHIBITS.</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="66" height="16">
    </td>
    <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="693" height="16">
    <font face="Times New Roman" size="2">99.1 </font><font size="2">Press
    release dated January 28, 2005, announcing the approval of a $1 billion
    share repurchase program.</font></td>
  </tr>
  </table>

<hr>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="CG Times" size="2"><b>SIGNATURE</b></p>
                      </font>
<font face="CG Times" size="3">
    <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
                      </font>
<font face="CG Times" size="2">
    <p align="justify">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
    behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. </p>
                      </font>
<font face="CG Times" size="3">
    <table width="864" height="164">
      <tr>
        <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
        <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
        <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
        <tr>
          <td align="middle" width="265" height="17"></td>
          <td align="middle" width="437" height="17"></td>
          <td align="middle" width="512" height="17">
            <p align="center"><font face="CG Times" size="2"><u>LOWE'S
            COMPANIES, INC.</u></font></td>
          <tr>
            <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
            <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
            <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
            <tr>
              <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
              <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
              <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
              <tr>
                <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
                <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
                <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
                <tr>
                  <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
                  <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
                  <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
                  <tr>
                    <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
                    <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
                    <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
                    <tr>
                      <td align="middle" width="265" height="1"></td>
                      <td align="middle" width="437" height="1"></td>
                      <td align="middle" width="512" height="1"></td>
                      <tr>
                        <td align="middle" width="265" height="111">
                        <font face="CG Times" size="2">
                          <p style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">
                          January 28, 2005</font><font face="CG Times" size="3"><hr>
                          </font><font face="CG Times" size="2">
                          <p style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">Date</p>
                          </font><font face="CG Times" size="3">
                          <p style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">&nbsp;</p>
                          </font></td>
                        <td align="middle" width="437" height="111"></td>
                        <td align="middle" width="512" height="111">
                        <font size="2">&nbsp; </font>
                          <p style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">
                          <font face="CG Times" size="2">/s/Kenneth
                          W. Black, Jr.</font></p>
                          <hr>
                          <p style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">
                          <font face="CG Times" size="2">Kenneth
                          W. Black, Jr.</p>
                          <p align="center" style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
                          Senior Vice President and
                          <p align="center" style="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
                          Chief Accounting Officer</font></td>
                      </table>
                      </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><br>
<font size="2">EXHIBIT INDEX<br>
&nbsp;</font></b></p>
<div align="center">
  <center>
                              <table border="0" width="76%" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
                                <tr>
                                  <font face="CG Times" size="2">
                                  <td width="15%" align="center" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
                                  <b>Exhibit No.</b></td>
                                  </font>
                                  <font face="CG Times" size="3">
                                  <td width="5%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
                                  </font>
                                  <font face="CG Times" size="2">
                                  <td width="305%" align="center" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
                                  <p align="left"><b>Description</b></td>
                                  </font>
                                </tr>
                                <tr>
                                  <font face="CG Times" size="2">
                                  <td width="15%" align="center">99.1</td>
                                  </font>
                                  <font face="CG Times" size="3">
                                  <td width="5%">&nbsp;</td>
                                  </font>
                                  <td width="305%">
    <font size="2">Press release dated January 28, 2005, announcing the approval
    of a $1 billion share repurchase program.</font></td>
                                </tr>
                              </table>
                              </center>
</div>

</body>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LOWES COMPANIES INC", "cik": "0000060667", "assigned-sic": "5211", "irs-number": "560578072", "state-of-incorporation": "NC", "fiscal-year-end": "0129"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07898", "film-number": "05558947"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1000 LOWE'S BLVD.", "city": "MOORESVILLE", "state": "NC", "zip": "28117", "phone": "7047581000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P.O. BOX 1000", "city": "MOORESVILLE", "state": "NC", "zip": "28115"}}
8-k Press Release
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of
      earliest event reported)
January 28
,
2005
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
North
      Carolina
1-7898
56-0578072
(State or
      other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
      File
Number)
(IRS
      Employer
Identification No.)
1000
      Lowe's Blvd., Mooresville, NC
28117
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(704) 758-1000
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions (
see
General
Instruction A.2. below):
o
Written
    communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM
8.01
OTHER EVENTS
On January 28, 2005, Lowe's Companies,
      Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release, furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and
      incorporated herein by reference, announcing the approval of a $1 billion
      share repurchase program.
The information contained in this Current Report on
      Form 8-K, including the exhibit attached hereto, is being furnished and
      shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the
      Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to
      the liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained in
      this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by
      reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant
      to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ITEM 9.01
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) EXHIBITS.
99.1
Press
    release dated January 28, 2005, announcing the approval of a $1 billion
    share repurchase program.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
    behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
LOWE'S
            COMPANIES, INC.
January 28, 2005
Date
/s/Kenneth
                          W. Black, Jr.
Kenneth
                          W. Black, Jr.
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated January 28, 2005, announcing the approval
    of a $1 billion share repurchase program.