Morgan Stanley's revision stems from a broader office sector update tied to job opening data across REIT markets. The underlying concern is structural: white-collar employment trends directly shape office demand, and softening job openings signal a slower leasing recovery than previously modeled.
Citi's concern is mainstream DDR5 16GB DRAM prices have fallen 6% since Micron's earnings report, driven by fears that TurboQuant, an algorithm-based memory compression technology, will structurally reduce memory demand. Citi isn't buying it.
The optimism is rooted in Lowe's operational consistency. The company has beaten earnings estimates in all four of its most recent quarters, with the latest Q3 2025 report delivering $3.06 per share versus the $2.81 consensus, an 8.9% surprise. That marks eight consecutive quarterly earnings beats heading into 2026, with an average surprise of 4.1%. Revenue growth of 3.2% year-over-year also outpaces Home Depot's 2.8%.