Company Actions - Home Depot is cutting 800 roles in its technology organization and other corporate teams to improve operational efficiency [1] - Approximately 150 of the affected employees were based at the company's headquarters in Atlanta, while the remainder worked remotely [2] - The company will require corporate employees to return to the office five days a week starting April 6, as stated by CEO Ted Decker [2] Financial Performance - Home Depot has missed Wall Street's earnings expectations for the last three quarters, resulting in a 10% decline in its shares over the past year [3] - The next earnings report is scheduled for February 24, with previous earnings calls indicating challenges due to consumer uncertainty and pressures in the housing market [3] - Decker noted that the lack of storms in the third quarter contributed to greater-than-expected pressure in certain categories, despite stable underlying demand [3] Industry Context - The home improvement sector is facing challenges such as inflation pressures, elevated interest rates, and a sluggish housing market, which have impacted demand [3][4] - Lowe's, a competitor, reported a mere 0.4% increase in comparable sales, reflecting the difficult environment [3] - Building materials and garden supply retailers have experienced year-over-year drops of at least 4%, indicating broader industry struggles [4][5]