As we kick off a new year, the thought process many investors may have is which sectors or areas of the economy will be the places to invest. ...

Key Takeaways HD launches AI-powered tools to help Pros speed up planning and material estimation for large projects.Big-ticket transactions rose 2.3% in Q3 FY25 as HD expands its digital and wholesale offerings.Acquisitions like GMS and SRS strengthen HD's reach in roofing, drywall and steel framing categories.The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) has been sharpening its focus on complex, high-value professional work by introducing digital tools that reduce the time and friction contractors face when bidding and execu ...

Market Overview - The home improvement and hardware retail sectors are primarily dominated by Home Depot and Lowe's, which have significantly impacted hardware cooperatives and independent retailers [1] - Home Depot holds an average market share of 29%, while Lowe's has 17%, and Amazon accounts for approximately 11% of the home improvement market as of Q3 2025 [1] Impact on Independent Retailers - Three major retailers control 57% of the market, leading to challenges for hardware cooperatives and small independent stores, some of which have been operational for over 50 years [2] - The 159-year-old Kreuger's True Value hardware store announced its permanent closure within 12 to 16 months after a liquidation sale [2] Recent Closures - Several iconic hardware stores have shut down, including the 117-year-old Ritter's True Value Hardware on September 30, 2025, and the 56-year-old Carnation Ace Hardware on October 25, 2025 [3] - C&H Hardware, a 65-year-old store in Yakima, Washington, also closed due to rising prices and competition from online sales [3] Benjamin Brothers True Value - Benjamin Brothers True Value Hardware, established in 1946, will close its Tenafly, New Jersey location on January 31, 2026 [4][8] - The store owners expressed gratitude to their customers for their support over the years and acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to close [5][6] - The reason for the closure was not specified by the store's owners [7]

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is included among the 12 Best Income Stocks to Buy Now. Truist Sees Long-Term Upside for Home Depot (HD) Amid Tight Housing Supply ValeStock / Shutterstock.com On December 17, Truist raised its price target on The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) to $390 from $375 and kept a Buy rating. The call came as part of a broader research note looking ahead to 2026 for Hardlines and Broadlines consumer names. The analyst said some slowing trends in the second half of FY25 are likely to k ...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit record all-time highs in 2025 with many of the components ending the year higher. Along with serving as a well-known barometer of overall market health, the index offers some of the top yielding blue-chip stocks.Here's a look at the top-yielding Dow Jones stocks heading into 2026.Top Yielding Dow Jones Industrial Average StocksWhen looking for dividend stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has plenty of names to offer. Of the 30 components of the index, 28 currently p ...

If you like to see more ideas, please subscribe to the premium service "Value in Corporate Events" here and try the free trial. In this service we cover major earnings events, M&A, IPOs and other significant corporate events with actionable ideas. Furthermore, we provide coverage of situations and names on request!Over the summer of 2024, I concluded that The Home Depot, Inc. ( HD ) was performing steadily in a post-pandemic environment. The company was handling a normalization of demand better than some pe ...

Core Insights - The consumer staples sector, including Procter & Gamble, has faced challenges in 2025, with Procter & Gamble managing to maintain high margins through diversification and strong supply chain management [1][3][7] - Tariffs are complicating supply chains and pressuring margins, making it difficult for consumer staples companies to pass costs onto consumers [2] - The consumer staples sector is underperforming the S&P 500, with a decline of 0.4% compared to a 17.8% gain in the index [3] Procter & Gamble - Procter & Gamble continues to grow earnings, albeit at a slower pace, and maintains a reliable dividend with 69 consecutive years of increases and a yield of 2.9% [7] Home Depot - Home Depot's stock is trading at 24.1 times forward earnings, with a dividend yield of 2.7%, making it an attractive option for value investors [4][5] - The company has been investing in long-term growth through acquisitions and new store openings, positioning itself for future recovery [4] - Home Depot's performance is closely tied to consumer sentiment and spending on home improvement projects, which are currently under pressure [5] Nike - Nike is facing significant challenges, including tariffs impacting gross margins and a competitive landscape that has eroded its dominance [8][9] - The company is adapting its strategy to focus on storytelling and innovation to resonate with consumers [9][10] - Despite difficulties, Nike's stock may be worth considering for long-term investors, with a dividend yield of 2.7% [10] Salesforce - Salesforce has experienced a sell-off due to concerns about the SaaS model in the age of AI, but it is taking proactive steps to enhance its offerings [11][12] - The company has high margins and is trading at 22.6 times forward earnings, making it an attractive buy for long-term investors [14] UnitedHealth - UnitedHealth has faced significant challenges, including a loss of roughly one-third of its value in 2025, but it is positioned for recovery [15][16] - The company is increasing premiums to adjust for rising costs, with a forward earnings multiple of 20.3 and a dividend yield of 2.7% [18]

High-yielding Dow stocks outperformed the broader market this year. Will new Dow dogs Home Depot, Nike, and UnitedHealth keep the streak going? ...

Core Insights - Home Depot has expanded its professional market reach through the acquisition of GMS, enhancing its multi-category distribution model and customer relationships [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Impact - The acquisition of GMS, a distributor of specialty building products, allows Home Depot to leverage GMS' product categories and customer relationships, positioning the company as a one-stop shop for complex professional projects [2][3] - GMS contributed approximately $900 million in sales during the first eight weeks of the third quarter, with expectations of about $2 billion in incremental sales for fiscal 2025 [2][3][8] - The integration broadens Home Depot's total addressable market within the professional segment, focusing on specialized building products to better serve professional contractors [3][4] Group 2: Financial Performance - Home Depot's shares have declined by 10.1% over the past year, while the industry has seen a decline of 15.7% [5] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.24, higher than the industry average of 21.14, and carries a Value Score of F [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Home Depot's current financial-year sales implies a year-over-year growth of 3.2%, while earnings per share are expected to decline by 4.8% [9]

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 20.23 points (-0.0415%), closing at 48710.97, while Dow Futures indicated a weaker outlook, down 97.00 points (-0.1980%) at 48901.00, reflecting mixed market sentiment without significant economic data or policy announcements driving movement [1] Gainers - Nike (NKE) led the advancers with a share price increase of 1.55% - UnitedHealth Group (UNH) rose by 1.17% - 3M Company (MMM) added 1.09% - Nvidia (NVDA) increased by 0.78% - Home Depot (HD) saw a rise of 0.68%, indicating strength across consumer and industrial sectors [2] Decliners - Boeing (BA) was among the biggest decliners, down 0.90% - McDonald's (MCD) experienced a decline of 0.85% - Walt Disney Company (DIS) fell by 0.80% - Goldman Sachs (GS) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) saw modest declines of -0.41% and -0.40% respectively, contributing to the overall subdued performance of the index [3]