Core Viewpoint - Home Depot (HD.US), the largest home improvement retailer globally, is expected to report a Q3 revenue growth of approximately 2.5% year-over-year, reaching $41.2 billion, which is a slowdown from the previous year's 6.6% growth due to high mortgage rates and tariff pressures [1] Group 1: Financial Performance Expectations - Analysts anticipate adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.84 for Q3, compared to $3.67 in the same period last year [1] - In the previous quarter, Home Depot reported total revenue of approximately $45.28 billion, a year-over-year increase of 4.9%, but fell short of EBITDA expectations [1] - Over the past two years, Home Depot has only missed revenue and adjusted EPS expectations once, with an average revenue beat of about 0.9% [1] Group 2: Market Context and Competitor Performance - Competitors in the home improvement sector, such as Floor And Decor and Arhaus, reported Q3 revenue growths of approximately 5.5% and 8% respectively, providing insights into market expectations [3] - The home improvement sector has seen an average stock price decline of 6.9% over the past month, with Home Depot's stock down 6.8% during the same period [3] Group 3: Demand Dynamics - The DIY market is slowing down, but demand from professional contractors remains robust, which may help mitigate the impact of declining consumer renovation demand [4] - Home Depot has reiterated its sales growth guidance for FY2025 at approximately 2.8%, with comparable store sales growth of about 1%, which is lower than analysts' expectations by 1.4% [4] Group 4: Cost Pressures and Strategic Responses - The company acknowledges rising costs due to tariffs but will not implement widespread price increases across the U.S., opting for selective price adjustments instead [5] - High mortgage rates and low inventory of existing homes are causing delays in large renovation projects, negatively impacting demand for significant DIY and renovation projects [6]