Nov 19 (Reuters) - Home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos

forecast a slower-than-expected drop in annual

comparable sales on Tuesday as a pickup in hurricane-related

demand and favorable weather boosted quarterly sales, even as

big-ticket spending remained strained.

The company now forecasts same-store sales to be down 3% to

3.5% in 2024 from its previous target of a decline in the range

of 3.5% to 4% from the prior year.