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<title>Form S-8 </title>
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<div style="border-bottom: 1px double #000000">
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2">As
  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2004</font></p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="right"><font size="2">
  Registration No. 333-_________</font></p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</div>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="4">
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>
</font><font size="2">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><font size="4">FORM S-8<br>
</font><font size="2">REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE<br>
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><font size="4"><b>Lowe's Companies, Inc.<br>
</b></font><font size="2">(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">&nbsp;</p>
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  <center>
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      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <b><font size="2">North Carolina</font></b></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <font size="2"><b>56-0578072</b></font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <font size="2">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation organization)</font></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <font size="2">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</font></td>
    </tr>
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      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <b><font size="2">1000 Lowe's Boulevard</font></b></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <b><font size="2">Mooresville, North Carolina</font></b></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <b><font size="2">28117</font></b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <font size="2">(Address of principal executive offices)</font></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <font size="2">(Zip Code)</font></td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  </center>
</div>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2"><br>
<br>
__________________<br>
<br>
<b>Lowe's Companies Cash Deferral Plan<br>
</b>(Full title of the plan)<br>
___________________<br>
<br>
<b>R. William McCanless, Esq.<br>
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary<br>
Lowe's Companies, Inc.<br>
1000 Lowe's Boulevard<br>
Mooresville, North Carolina 28117<br>
</b>(Name and address of agent for service)<br>
<br>
<b>(704) 758-1000<br>
</b>(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)<br>
<br>
Copy to:<br>
<b>Ernest S. Delaney, Esq.<br>
Moore &amp; Van Allen PLLC<br>
100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700<br>
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-4003<br>
(704) 331-1000<br>
</b>__________________<br>
<br>
<b>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</b></font></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber2">
  <tr>
    <td width="20%" align="center"><font size="2">Title of Securities to be
    Registered</font></td>
    <td width="20%" align="center"><font size="2">Amount to be<br>
    Registered </font></td>
    <td width="20%" align="center"><font size="2">Proposed Maximum Offering
    Price Per Share (1) </font></td>
    <td width="20%" align="center"><font size="2">Proposed Maximum Aggregate
    Offering Price (2) </font></td>
    <td width="20%" align="center"><font size="2">Amount of Registration Fee</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="20%"><font size="2">Deferred Compensation Obligations</font></td>
    <td width="20%">
    <p align="center"><font size="2">$20,000,000 </font></td>
    <td width="20%">
    <p align="center"><font size="2">100%</font></td>
    <td width="20%">
    <p align="center"><font size="2">$20,000,000</font></td>
    <td width="20%">
    <p align="center"><font size="2">$2,534.00</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><b><br>
</b><br>
(1) The Deferred Compensation Obligations to which this registration statement
relates are unsecured obligations of the Registrant to pay deferred compensation
in the future in accordance with the terms of the Lowe's Companies Cash Deferral
Plan.<br>
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2"><br>
<br>
<br>
<b>PART I<br>
</b></font><b><font size="2"><br>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><br>
<br>
The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or
given to the participating employees as specified by Rule 428(b) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &quot;Securities Act&quot;). Such documents and
the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II
hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus (the &quot;Prospectus&quot;) that meets
the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2"><br>
<b>PART II</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2"><br>
<b>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
&nbsp;</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><br>
<b>Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</b><br>
<br>
The following documents filed by Lowe's Companies, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) with the
Commission (File No. 1-7898) are incorporated herein by reference:<br>
<br>
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
30, 2004, filed on April 7, 2004, as amended on Form 10-K/A filed on April 13,
2004; and<br>
<br>
(b) all other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;) since
January 30, 2004.<br>
<br>
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than those Current Reports on Form
8-K which furnish information pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12 of such report),
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. <br>
<br>
Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute
a part of this Registration Statement.<br>
<br>
<b>Item 4. Description of Securities.</b><br>
<br>
The Deferred Compensation Obligations being registered under this Registration
Statement may be offered to certain eligible employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries pursuant to the Lowe's Companies Cash Deferral Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).<br>
<br>
The Deferred Compensation Obligations are general unsecured obligations of the
Company to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms
of the Plan from the general assets of the Company and rank pari passu with
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time
outstanding. The Company is under no obligation and does not intend to fully
fund the Deferred Compensation Obligations. The Company has established a trust
to hold assets designated for the payment of the Deferred Compensation
Obligations under the Plan. However, these assets remain general assets of the
Company. <br>
<br>
The amount of compensation deferred by a participant and credited to the
participant's deferral account is determined in accordance with the
participant's deferral election and the provisions of the Plan. A participant's
deferral account is indexed to the investment elections made by such participant
in accordance with the Plan. The Deferred Compensation Obligations are
bookkeeping accounts, the returns on which are measured by the performance of
certain investment vehicles. Participants cannot sell, assign, hypothecate,
alienate, encumber or in any way transfer or convey in advance of receipt any
Deferred Compensation Obligations. A participant's deferral account will be
payable to the participant upon the termination of the deferral period or the
participant's death or termination of employment in a single lump sum or in
installments in accordance with the terms of the Plan. <br>
<br>
The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time,
except that no amendment or termination may adversely affect the rights of any
participant with respect to amounts to which the participant is entitled prior
to the date of amendment or termination. <br>
<br>
The Deferred Compensation Obligations are not convertible into any other
security of the Company. The Deferred Compensation Obligations will not have the
benefit of a negative pledge or any other affirmative or negative covenant of
the Company. No trustee has been appointed having the authority to take action
with respect to the Deferred Compensation Obligations and each participant will
be responsible for acting independently with respect to the enforcement of any
rights the participant may have. <br>
<br>
<b>Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</b><br>
<br>
Not applicable.<br>
<br>
<b>Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</b><br>
<br>
Article IV of the Company's Bylaws provides that any person who serves or has
served as a director or officer of the Company, or in such capacity at the
request of the Company for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, will be indemnified by the Company to the fullest
extent permitted by law against (i) reasonable expenses, including attorneys'
fees, actually and necessarily incurred by such person in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding seeking to hold such
person liable by reason of the fact that he or she is or was acting in such
capacity, and (ii) payments made by such person in satisfaction of any judgment,
money decree, fine, penalty or reasonable settlement for which he or she may
have become liable in any such proceeding. The Company may not, however,
indemnify any person against liability or litigation expense he or she may incur
on account of his or her activities which were at the time they were taken known
or believed by such person to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of
the Company. Also, the Company may not indemnify any director with respect to
any liability arising out of Section 55-8-33 of the North Carolina Business
Corporation Act (relating to unlawful declaration of dividends) or any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit as
provided in Section 55-2-02(b)(3) of the North Carolina Business Corporation
Act. The Company's Charter provides that, to the extent permitted by the North
Carolina Business Corporation Act, a director of the Company shall not be liable
for monetary damages for breach of his or her duty as a director.<br>
<br>
The Company maintains an insurance policy for the benefit of directors and
officers insuring them against claims that are made against them by reason of
any wrongful act (as defined) committed in their capacity as directors or
officers.<br>
<br>
<b>Item 8. Exhibits</b>.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left">&nbsp;</p>
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    <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <b><u><font size="2">Exhibit No. </font></u></b></td>
    <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <b><u><font size="2">Description of Document</font></u></b></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">5.1</font></td>
    <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">Opinion of Moore &amp; Van Allen PLLC</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">23.1</font></td>
    <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">Consent of Moore &amp; Van Allen PLLC (included in the opinion
    filed as Exhibit No. 5.1)</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="15%" height="18" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">23.2</font></td>
    <td width="3%" height="18" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    </td>
    <td width="82%" height="18" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">24 </font></td>
    <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <font size="2">Power of Attorney (included on the signature page.)</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><br>
<br>
<b>Item 9. Undertakings.</b><br>
<br>
(a) The Company hereby undertakes:</font></p>
<blockquote>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2">(1) To
  file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
  post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
  material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
  disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such
  information in this Registration Statement.<br>
  <br>
  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
  registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
  offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
  bona fide offering thereof.<br>
  <br>
  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
  the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
  offering.</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2">(b) The
Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.<br>
<br>
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer,
or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action,
suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.<br>
<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2"><b>
SIGNATURES</b><br>
<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Mooresville, State of North Carolina, on April 13, 2004.<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
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  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-width: 0" bordercolor="#111111" width="41%" id="AutoNumber4" height="79">
    <tr>
      <td width="100%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <p align="center"><b><font size="2">LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.</font></b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="100%" height="19" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="100%" height="19" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #111111">
        <font size="2">By: /s./ R. William McCanless</font></div>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="100%" height="19" align="center" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font size="2">R. William
      McCanless<br>
      Senior Vice President, General </font></b></p>
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b><font size="2">Counsel and
      Secretary</font></b></td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</div>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2"><br>
<b>POWER OF ATTORNEY</b><br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><br>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April
13, 2004. Each of the undersigned directors and officers of the Company, by his or
her execution hereof, hereby constitutes and appoints R. William McCanless,
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Lowe's Companies, Inc.,
and Robert F. Hull, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and
each of them, with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, to do any and all acts and things for him or her,
and in his or her name, place and stead, to execute and sign any and all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and
any additional registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act, and file the same, together with all exhibits and schedules
thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission and
with such state securities authorities as may be appropriate, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, which they may lawfully do in the
premises or cause to be done by virtue hereof.<br>
<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <b><u><font size="2">Signature</font></u></b></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><u><b><font size="2">Title</font></b></u></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      &nbsp;</td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
        <font size="2">/s./ Robert L. Tillman </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font size="2">Chairman of the Board of
      Directors,</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Robert L. Tillman</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font size="2">Chief Executive Officer and
      Director</font></p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font size="2">(Principal
    Executive Officer)</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
    <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
        <font size="2">/s./ Robert F. Hull Jr.</font></div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer</font></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Robert F. Hull, Jr.</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">(Principal Financial Officer)</font></td>
      </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
      <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
        <font size="2">/s./ Kenneth W. Black, Jr.</font></div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Senior Vice President and
    Chief Accounting Officer</font></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Kenneth W. Black, Jr.</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
        </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #111111">
        <font size="2">/s./ Leonard L. Berry, Ph.D.&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Leonard L. Berry, Ph.D.</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
        <font size="2">/s./ Peter C. Browning&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Peter C. Browning</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
        <font size="2">&nbsp;/s./ Paul Fulton</font></div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Paul Fulton</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="left"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="left">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
      <p align="center"><font size="2">/s./ Dawn E. Hudson&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
      </div>
    </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="left">
    <p align="center"><font size="2">Dawn E. Hudson</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #111111">
        <font size="2">/s./ Robert A. Ingram&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Robert A. Ingram</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #111111">
        <font size="2">/s./ Richard K. Lochridge&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Richard K. Lochridge</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #111111">
        <font size="2">/s./ Claudine B. Malone&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Claudine B. Malone</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="52%" align="center">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #111111">
        <font size="2">/s./ Robert A. Niblock&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Robert A. Niblock</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1">
        <font size="2">/s./ Stephen F. Page&nbsp;&nbsp; </font>
        </div>
      </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">Stephen F. Page</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center">
      <div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
&nbsp;</div>
    </td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"><font size="2">Director</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">O. Temple Sloan, Jr.</font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font size="2">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="left"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="15%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="15%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="52%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="15%" align="center"></td>
  </tr>
</table>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font size="2">
    <br>
    <br>
    <b>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</b><br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
    <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-width: 0" bordercolor="#111111" width="83%" id="AutoNumber5" height="118">
      <tr>
        <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <b><u><font size="2">Exhibit No. </font></u></b></td>
        <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
        <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <b><u><font size="2">Description of Document</font></u></b></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">5.1</font></td>
        <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
        <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">Opinion of Moore &amp; Van Allen PLLC</font></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">23.1</font></td>
        <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
        <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">Consent of Moore &amp; Van Allen PLLC (included in the
        opinion filed as Exhibit No. 5.1)</font></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td width="15%" height="18" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">23.2</font></td>
        <td width="3%" height="18" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        </td>
        <td width="82%" height="18" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</font></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td width="15%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">24 </font></td>
        <td width="3%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
        <td width="82%" height="19" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <font size="2">Power of Attorney (included on the signature page.)</font></td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"><font size="2"><br>
    <br>
    <br>
&nbsp;</font></p>

    </body>

    </html>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8.htm", "description": "LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC. FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 33131}]
{"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": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-114435", "film-number": "04730951"}, "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"}}
Form S-8
As
  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2004
Registration No. 333-_________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
North Carolina
56-0578072
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1000 Lowe's Boulevard
Mooresville, North Carolina
28117
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
__________________
Lowe's Companies Cash Deferral Plan
(Full title of the plan)
___________________
R. William McCanless, Esq.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
1000 Lowe's Boulevard
Mooresville, North Carolina 28117
(Name and address of agent for service)
(704) 758-1000
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Ernest S. Delaney, Esq.
Moore & Van Allen PLLC
100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-4003
(704) 331-1000
__________________
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities to be
    Registered
Amount to be
Registered
Proposed Maximum Offering
    Price Per Share (1)
Proposed Maximum Aggregate
    Offering Price (2)
Amount of Registration Fee
Deferred Compensation Obligations
$20,000,000
100%
$20,000,000
$2,534.00
(1) The Deferred Compensation Obligations to which this registration statement
relates are unsecured obligations of the Registrant to pay deferred compensation
in the future in accordance with the terms of the Lowe's Companies Cash Deferral
Plan.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or
given to the participating employees as specified by Rule 428(b) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Such documents and
the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II
hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus (the "Prospectus") that meets
the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The following documents filed by Lowe's Companies, Inc. (the "Company") with the
Commission (File No. 1-7898) are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
30, 2004, filed on April 7, 2004, as amended on Form 10-K/A filed on April 13,
2004; and
(b) all other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") since
January 30, 2004.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than those Current Reports on Form
8-K which furnish information pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12 of such report),
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.
Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute
a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
The Deferred Compensation Obligations being registered under this Registration
Statement may be offered to certain eligible employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries pursuant to the Lowe's Companies Cash Deferral Plan (the "Plan").
The Deferred Compensation Obligations are general unsecured obligations of the
Company to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms
of the Plan from the general assets of the Company and rank pari passu with
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time
outstanding. The Company is under no obligation and does not intend to fully
fund the Deferred Compensation Obligations. The Company has established a trust
to hold assets designated for the payment of the Deferred Compensation
Obligations under the Plan. However, these assets remain general assets of the
Company.
The amount of compensation deferred by a participant and credited to the
participant's deferral account is determined in accordance with the
participant's deferral election and the provisions of the Plan. A participant's
deferral account is indexed to the investment elections made by such participant
in accordance with the Plan. The Deferred Compensation Obligations are
bookkeeping accounts, the returns on which are measured by the performance of
certain investment vehicles. Participants cannot sell, assign, hypothecate,
alienate, encumber or in any way transfer or convey in advance of receipt any
Deferred Compensation Obligations. A participant's deferral account will be
payable to the participant upon the termination of the deferral period or the
participant's death or termination of employment in a single lump sum or in
installments in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time,
except that no amendment or termination may adversely affect the rights of any
participant with respect to amounts to which the participant is entitled prior
to the date of amendment or termination.
The Deferred Compensation Obligations are not convertible into any other
security of the Company. The Deferred Compensation Obligations will not have the
benefit of a negative pledge or any other affirmative or negative covenant of
the Company. No trustee has been appointed having the authority to take action
with respect to the Deferred Compensation Obligations and each participant will
be responsible for acting independently with respect to the enforcement of any
rights the participant may have.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article IV of the Company's Bylaws provides that any person who serves or has
served as a director or officer of the Company, or in such capacity at the
request of the Company for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, will be indemnified by the Company to the fullest
extent permitted by law against (i) reasonable expenses, including attorneys'
fees, actually and necessarily incurred by such person in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding seeking to hold such
person liable by reason of the fact that he or she is or was acting in such
capacity, and (ii) payments made by such person in satisfaction of any judgment,
money decree, fine, penalty or reasonable settlement for which he or she may
have become liable in any such proceeding. The Company may not, however,
indemnify any person against liability or litigation expense he or she may incur
on account of his or her activities which were at the time they were taken known
or believed by such person to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of
the Company. Also, the Company may not indemnify any director with respect to
any liability arising out of Section 55-8-33 of the North Carolina Business
Corporation Act (relating to unlawful declaration of dividends) or any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit as
provided in Section 55-2-02(b)(3) of the North Carolina Business Corporation
Act. The Company's Charter provides that, to the extent permitted by the North
Carolina Business Corporation Act, a director of the Company shall not be liable
for monetary damages for breach of his or her duty as a director.
The Company maintains an insurance policy for the benefit of directors and
officers insuring them against claims that are made against them by reason of
any wrongful act (as defined) committed in their capacity as directors or
officers.
Item 8. Exhibits
.
Exhibit No.
Description of Document
5.1
Opinion of Moore & Van Allen PLLC
23.1
Consent of Moore & Van Allen PLLC (included in the opinion
    filed as Exhibit No. 5.1)
23.2
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page.)
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The Company hereby undertakes:
(1) To
  file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
  post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
  material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
  disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such
  information in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
  registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
  offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
  bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
  the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
  offering.
(b) The
Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer,
or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action,
suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Mooresville, State of North Carolina, on April 13, 2004.
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
By: /s./ R. William McCanless
R. William
      McCanless
Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and
      Secretary
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April
13, 2004. Each of the undersigned directors and officers of the Company, by his or
her execution hereof, hereby constitutes and appoints R. William McCanless,
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Lowe's Companies, Inc.,
and Robert F. Hull, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and
each of them, with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, to do any and all acts and things for him or her,
and in his or her name, place and stead, to execute and sign any and all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and
any additional registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act, and file the same, together with all exhibits and schedules
thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission and
with such state securities authorities as may be appropriate, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, which they may lawfully do in the
premises or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Signature
Title
/s./ Robert L. Tillman
Chairman of the Board of
      Directors,
Robert L. Tillman
Chief Executive Officer and
      Director
(Principal
    Executive Officer)
/s./ Robert F. Hull Jr.
Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
Robert F. Hull, Jr.
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s./ Kenneth W. Black, Jr.
Senior Vice President and
    Chief Accounting Officer
Kenneth W. Black, Jr.
/s./ Leonard L. Berry, Ph.D.
Director
Leonard L. Berry, Ph.D.
/s./ Peter C. Browning
Director
Peter C. Browning
/s./ Paul Fulton
Director
Paul Fulton
/s./ Dawn E. Hudson
Director
Dawn E. Hudson
/s./ Robert A. Ingram
Director
Robert A. Ingram
/s./ Richard K. Lochridge
Director
Richard K. Lochridge
/s./ Claudine B. Malone
Director
Claudine B. Malone
/s./ Robert A. Niblock
Director
Robert A. Niblock
/s./ Stephen F. Page
Director
Stephen F. Page
Director
O. Temple Sloan, Jr.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description of Document
5.1
Opinion of Moore & Van Allen PLLC
23.1
Consent of Moore & Van Allen PLLC (included in the
        opinion filed as Exhibit No. 5.1)
23.2
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page.)