Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-11-18 07:01Group 1 - Home Depot and Lowe's are expected to report slight sales growth in their upcoming quarterly earnings, providing insight into market conditions and consumer spending on home improvement and DIY projects [1] - The companies face higher raw material costs due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, but a temporary pause on tariffs for Chinese goods may offer short-term relief [1] - The actual tariff rate borne by American consumers has surged to 17.9%, the highest level since 1934, adding pressure to household budgets [1] Group 2 - Analysts predict Home Depot's same-store sales will grow by 1.5% in the third quarter, compared to a decline of 1.3% in the same period last year [3] - Lowe's is expected to see a 1% increase in same-store sales, up from a 1.1% decline in the previous year [4] - The stock prices of Lowe's and Home Depot have dropped approximately 16% and over 11% respectively in the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 index has risen by 15% [3] Group 3 - Demand for home improvement is anticipated to be led by professional customers, while DIY customers are expected to engage in smaller projects [6] - Home Depot and Lowe's are increasing their focus on professional contractors and builders to offset weak DIY demand during a sluggish real estate market [6] - Lowe's has made significant acquisitions, including a $1.33 billion purchase of Artisan Design and an almost $8.8 billion acquisition of Foundation Building Materials, while Home Depot announced a $4.3 billion acquisition of GMS [6]