Key Takeaways HD sees subdued demand amid low housing turnover and cautious consumer sentiment.Focus on Pro ecosystem and specialty products positions HD for recovery if rates ease in 2026.HD trades at a forward P/E of 24.86, above LOW but below FND, despite a projected EPS decline this year.The Home Depot, Inc.’s (HD) future performance hinges on the trajectory of interest rates heading into 2026. On its last earnings call, the retailer reported that housing pressure and consumer uncertainty continue to we ...

Core Insights - The Home Depot and Google Cloud have expanded their partnership to enhance the retail experience through AI tools that provide real-time assistance to both homeowners and professional customers [1][2][4] AI Tools and Features - The Home Depot is deploying Google Cloud's AI to extend its home improvement expertise, introducing capabilities such as the Magic Apron assistant and AI-powered product list builders for professionals [2][5] - The Magic Apron has evolved into a conversational AI tool that offers personalized project recommendations and expert advice, allowing customers to describe their projects in plain language [5][6] - A new store experience integrates real-time local inventory and product locations, providing aisle-level precision and technical guidance to customers [6] Professional Customer Support - The Home Depot is launching an AI-powered materials list feature for professional customers, enabling them to quickly generate comprehensive lists based on project descriptions [7][8] - This feature aims to significantly accelerate the estimating and planning process, allowing professionals to generate accurate quotes more efficiently [8] Delivery and Customer Service Enhancements - The Home Depot has implemented AI-powered route intelligence to improve last-mile delivery, predicting potential delivery failures by analyzing customer-specific data and external factors [9] - A new conversational AI platform is redefining customer service by allowing natural language interactions across SMS, chat, and phone, enhancing engagement and resolution outcomes [10][11] Associate Empowerment - The Home Depot is equipping associates with Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise to automate business processes, enabling them to focus on strategic tasks rather than routine execution [12]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in companies with a strong history of dividend payments can lead to financial freedom, particularly if these companies can grow their dividends over time [1] Group 1: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola owns 30 brands that generate over $1 billion in annual revenue, providing an attractive yield for passive income [2] - The company has increased its quarterly dividend by 52% over the last decade, with a 5% increase announced for the end of 2024, marking its 64th consecutive annual dividend increase expected in Q1 2026 [2] - Coca-Cola's market cap is $303 billion, with a current stock price of $70.51 and a dividend yield of 2.89% [4][3] - Despite a challenging consumer spending environment, Coca-Cola reported a 5% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3, attributed to marketing and innovation [5] - The company has a gross margin of 61.55% and has paid out about two-thirds of its earnings in dividends over the past year, allowing room for future growth [4] Group 2: Home Depot - Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer and has paid dividends for 38 years, with a 288% increase in dividends over the last decade [8] - The current dividend yield is 2.46%, with a quarterly payment of $2.30, and the company has paid out less than two-thirds of its earnings in dividends [10][13] - Home Depot's market cap is $373 billion, with a current stock price of $374.64 [9][10] - The company experienced a 2.8% year-over-year sales increase in Q3, although comparable store sales grew by only 0.2% [10] - Management estimates a $50 billion underspending in routine repairs and home remodeling, indicating significant pent-up demand for its services [12] - Home Depot operates in a $1 trillion addressable market, presenting substantial growth opportunities for earnings and dividends [13]

Get alerts: Home Depot, Lowe’s Companies, Masco, Medallion Financial, and Jewett-Cameron Trading are the five Home Improvement stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeat’s stock screener tool. Home improvement stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that earn most of their revenue from products or services used in residential construction, renovation, repair, and do‑it‑yourself projects—including retailers, building‑materials manufacturers, tool makers, and contractors. Investors watch this sec ...

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 270.03 points (0.55%) to reach 49266.11, while Dow Futures rose by 144.00 points (0.29%) to 49637.00, indicating positive movement in the blue-chip index amidst a mixed broader market [1] - The S&P 500 remained essentially flat, and the Nasdaq Composite lagged due to declines in tech stocks [1] Economic Data Impact - The primary narrative driving the market was the release of US employment data, which showed fewer jobs added than expected but a lower unemployment rate [2] - Anticipation of a possible Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's tariffs contributed to market uncertainty [2] Sector Rotation - There was a notable rotation from high-flying tech stocks, particularly in the AI sector, into more defensive and value-oriented segments such as industrials and financials, driven by profit-taking and concerns over elevated valuations [2] Company Performance - Among the Dow's constituents, Home Depot (HD) led the gainers with a surge of 3.85%, followed by Nike (NKE) with a 3.02% increase, and Chevron (CVX) up 2.98% due to shifts in the oil market [3] - Other strong performers included Sherwin-Williams (SHW) (+2.90%) and Honeywell (HON) (+2.87%) [3] - Conversely, Amgen (AMGN) was the biggest decliner, falling by 3.26%, with Nvidia (NVDA) down 2.16% and Salesforce (CRM) down 2.06%, reflecting a broader pullback in technology and AI-related shares [3]

Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE:FBIN) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared his takes on. The last caller of the lightning round inquired about Cramer’s thoughts on the stock, and he stated: “Okay, the problem is that no matter how good, look, Nick Fink is terrific, but no, it doesn’t matter how much he does, it’s still a housing play. That’s why we own Home Depot. I think it’s a better way to own it and Home Depot, you know, has historically went up ahead of when the Fed cuts. So, I’d like to be ...

今日关注 1、1月9日10:00 国新办就加快国家水网建设进展情况举行新闻发布会。 2、国家统计局发布2025年12月居民消费价格指数月度报告、工业生产者价格指数月度报告。 宏观经济 1、商务部新闻发言人8日在回应有关审查Meta收购人工智能平台Manus的提问时表示，商务部将会同相关部门对此项收购 与出口管制、技术进出口、对外投资等相关法律法规的一致性开展评估调查。 2、广州出台建设先进制造业强市规划，提出加速培育人工智能、半导体与集成电路、新能源与新型储能、低空经济与航 空航天、生物制造等5个战略先导产业，前瞻布局具身智能等6个未来产业，大力发展智能网联新能源汽车等6个新兴支柱 产业。 3、工信部等四部门联合召开动力和储能电池行业座谈会指出，行业内存在盲目建设情况，出现低价竞争等非理性竞争行 为，必须予以规范治理。要优化产能管理，健全产能监测和分级预警机制，加强宏观调控，防范产能过剩风险。 4、8日，据自然资源部中国地质调查局消息，近日我国矿产资源勘查再获新进展，铬铁矿与非常规油气勘查双双获得新突 破。 5、8日，中国载人航天工程办公室面向全社会发布了2025年度《中国空间站科学研究与应用进展报告》。20 ...

Finding a fixer-upper home can offer a good way to remodel your finances if you know what you’re doing. With stocks, however, I’d only suggest Tender Loving Care (TLC) investments when there’s a tremendous amount of upside. Unfortunately, with The Home Depot, Inc. (Markets rise and fall, booms come and go, and the world keeps ticking. Ultimately, I believe observing megatrends, as difficult as they can be to spot, let alone fully comprehend, can yield insights into the advance of human society, which in tur ...

Retail investors have been increasingly following the trading activity of members of Congress, with some disclosures sparking interest in unfollowed stocks or companies that could benefit from potential government contracts. A member of Congress may not have caused red flags with his latest purchase of blue-chip, dividend-paying stock, but investors may want to take note.Congressman Buys Dow Jones Industrial Average StocksCongressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) recently disclosed several new stock purchases, as ...

Group 1 - The author is an electromechanical engineer with experience in automotive, IT infrastructure, and medical device industries, aiming to provide technical breakdowns on company products and share industry experiences [1] - The focus is on delivering insights into current engineering trends and real-world product knowledge, which can benefit investors conducting research [1] - The author identifies as a long-term buy-and-hold investor, seeking investments with strong cash flows and a growing passive income stream or significant R&D investments [1]