Home Improvement Market Overview - The home improvement market is currently weak, with muted performance from Home Depot and Lowe's [2] - The market is lapping the hurricane benefit from the previous year, which was a 55 basis points tailwind for Home Depot and 100 basis points for Lowe's [2] - There is no significant optimism in the home improvement space currently, though rate cuts next year could potentially drive demand [3] Lowe's vs Home Depot - Bernstein prefers Lowe's over Home Depot in the medium term [4] - Lowe's is trading at a valuation discount to Home Depot [5] - Lowe's is more cyclical and expected to benefit more on the upside when the market rebounds [6] - Lowe's has more cost savings opportunities and the valuation gap provides more downside protection [6] Pro Customer & Acquisitions - Both Home Depot and Lowe's are entering the complex pro market, targeting bigger ticket pros [8] - Upcoming guidance from both companies will reflect recent acquisitions, which are likely to be margin dilutive in the near term [8] - Near-term weakness is expected in the broader pro market based on peer and supplier reporting [9] - The housing market, new construction market, and roofing market are not showing signs of recovery [9]

Core Insights - Home Depot's SRS Distribution subsidiary has acquired GMS Inc. for $4.3 billion, enhancing its professional contractor strategy and market reach [3][5] - The acquisition is expected to close by the end of fiscal 2025 and follows Home Depot's previous $18 billion acquisition of SRS in March 2024 [3] - GMS adds over 320 distribution centers and a fleet of 3,000 specialized trucks, significantly expanding SRS's operational capabilities [4][5] Market Expansion - The combined entity will create a network of over 1,200 locations and a fleet of more than 8,000 trucks for jobsite deliveries [5] - Home Depot's total addressable market (TAM) in both consumer and professional markets is estimated to be $1 trillion, with a $50 billion increase following the SRS acquisition [5] - The professional segment of the home improvement market is projected to grow by 4.9% this year, while the overall market growth estimate has been revised down to 3.4% [10][11] Financial Performance - Home Depot reported total sales of $39.9 billion in Q1 2025, a 9.4% increase, although comparable sales were nearly flat [13] - SRS contributed $2.6 billion in revenues in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a strong start for the subsidiary [7] - The company is guiding for a sales growth of 2.8% for the year, with comparable sales expected to rise by 1% [13] Strategic Positioning - Home Depot aims to leverage its investments in the contractor market to attract consumers who follow professional recommendations [12][16] - The company is focused on long-term growth, with plans to continue investing in its business to gain market share during periods of disruption [14] - The aging housing stock, with 55% of homes being 40 years or older, is expected to drive demand for home improvement, positioning Home Depot favorably for future growth [15]

Core Insights - Lowe's exceeded Wall Street's expectations for quarterly earnings and revenue, projecting modest sales growth for the upcoming year [1][2] - The company anticipates full-year total sales between $83.5 billion and $84.5 billion, with comparable sales expected to be flat to up 1% year-over-year [1][3] - For the fiscal fourth quarter, Lowe's reported a net income of $1.13 billion, or $1.99 per share, compared to $1.02 billion, or $1.77 per share, in the previous year [2][6] Financial Performance - Lowe's fiscal fourth quarter revenue was $18.55 billion, surpassing expectations of $18.29 billion [6] - The company's net sales for the fiscal year totaled $83.67 billion, reflecting a 3% decline from the prior fiscal year [3] Market Context - The home improvement market is currently facing challenges due to slower housing turnover and higher borrowing costs, which have kept some customers from making purchases [3] - Competitor Home Depot also reported better-than-expected results but indicated that the housing market and mortgage rates are unlikely to change significantly in the near future [4]