Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Third quarter sales reached $20.8 billion, with comparable sales increasing by 0.4% year over year, despite a 100 basis point headwind from hurricanes [5][32] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $3.06, reflecting a 6% increase compared to the previous year [5][31] - Adjusted operating margin expanded by approximately 10 basis points, resulting in an adjusted operating margin rate of 12.4% [5][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Positive comparable sales were reported in 10 of 14 merchandise divisions, with notable strength in appliances, flooring, paint, and kitchens and bath [17][32] - Online sales grew by 11.4% during the quarter, driven by increased traffic and strong conversion rates [7] - Home services experienced double-digit comparable sales growth, indicating strong performance in this key initiative [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Monthly comparable sales were up 2.5% in August, 0.9% in September, and down 2.6% in October, reflecting storm-related demand impacts [32] - Inventory at the end of Q3 was $17.2 billion, down approximately $400 million year over year, aided by inventory productivity initiatives [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its 2025 Total Home Strategy, which includes enhancing pro offerings, accelerating online sales, and leveraging loyalty programs [6][8] - The acquisition of Foundation Building Materials (FBM) aims to expand product offerings and enhance fulfillment capabilities, particularly in urban markets [12][13] - Investments in AI capabilities are expected to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed confidence in the long-term health of the home improvement sector, despite current consumer anxiety and economic uncertainty [15][16] - The potential for lower interest rates and strong homeowner equity could spur demand for home improvement projects [15][66] - The company anticipates flat comparable sales for the year, with expectations of approximately $86 billion in total sales, including FBM [37] Other Important Information - The company has been recognized for its AI adoption, achieving a milestone award from OpenAI [11] - The company is committed to supporting veterans through community initiatives, including the Freedom Hill project [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on business trends and performance outlook for 2026 - Management noted positive comp performance to start the quarter and improvements in top-line performance since exiting October, indicating that key elements of the Total Home Strategy are working [41][42] Question: Changes in kitchen and bath performance - Management believes Lowe's is gaining market share in the kitchen and bath space due to improved technology and a better go-to-market strategy [48][49] Question: Improving pro survey sentiment and its implications - Management reported that 75% of pros feel confident in their job prospects, with ongoing investments in loyalty programs and fulfillment driving growth [55][57] Question: Macro environment and housing market outlook - Management acknowledged elevated mortgage rates but highlighted strong homeowner equity as a potential driver for future discretionary spending [65][66] Question: Strategy for medium to larger pro customers - Management emphasized the importance of the Milo's Pro Rewards loyalty platform and the integration of FBM to enhance service offerings for pro customers [70][71]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Third quarter sales reached $20.8 billion, with comparable sales increasing by 0.4% year over year, despite a 100 basis point headwind from Hurricanes Helene and Milton [4][29] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $3.06, reflecting a 6% increase compared to the previous year [4][28] - Gross margin improved to 34.2%, up 50 basis points from the prior year [30] - Adjusted operating margin rate was 12.4%, an increase of 10 basis points year over year [30] - Inventory at the end of Q3 was $17.2 billion, down approximately $400 million compared to the previous year [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Positive comparable sales were reported in 10 of 14 merchandise divisions, with notable strength in appliances, flooring, paint, and kitchens and bath [15][29] - Online sales grew by 11.4% during the quarter, driven by increased traffic and strong conversion rates [5] - Home services experienced double-digit comparable sales growth, indicating strong performance in this key initiative [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. homeowner market remains healthy, with strong balance sheets and continued consumer spending, although affordability and economic uncertainty weigh on consumer confidence [12][13] - The average homeowner has record levels of equity, approximately $400,000, which may lead to increased investment in home improvement projects [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its 2025 Total Home Strategy, which includes enhancing pro offerings, accelerating online sales, and leveraging loyalty programs [5][6] - The acquisition of Foundation Building Materials (FBM) aims to expand product offerings and enhance fulfillment capabilities, particularly in urban markets [11][12] - Investments in AI are expected to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency, with virtual assistants significantly increasing conversion rates [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the long-term health of the home improvement sector, despite current macroeconomic uncertainties [14] - The company anticipates that lower interest rates could stimulate demand for home improvement projects, particularly through home equity loans [13][64] - The outlook for 2026 remains cautious, with expectations for flat comparable sales for the year [33] Other Important Information - The company is on track to achieve its multi-year goal of reducing in-store SKU count by 15% by the end of 2025 [21] - The marketplace initiative is showing early promise, exceeding expectations in seller onboarding and customer adoption [72][73] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the business trend looking in light of recent performance? - Management noted positive comp performance to start the quarter, with improvements in top-line performance since exiting October [37][39] Question: What is the outlook for kitchen and bath categories? - Management believes Lowe's is gaining market share in kitchen and bath, supported by improved technology and product offerings [45][46] Question: Can you elaborate on the improving sentiment among pros? - The small to medium pro business remains stable, with 75% of pros feeling confident in their job prospects [52] Question: How does the company view the current housing market? - Management acknowledged elevated mortgage rates but highlighted the strong equity position of homeowners as a potential driver for future home improvement spending [62][64] Question: What are the early margin scenarios for FBM and ADG? - Initial estimates suggest a 50 basis point impact on margins in 2026, with a focus on gross margin improvements [56]

The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to introduce a 50-year fixed-rate mortgage, a reform officials believe could make homeownership more feasible for millions of Americans amid soaring prices and mounting affordability concerns.​“Thanks to President Trump, we are indeed working on The 50-year Mortgage – a complete game changer,” Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said Saturday in a statement released on social media. His announcement came after Trump shared a graphic onlin ...

Core Insights - Pending sales of existing US homes stalled in September, indicating buyer anxiety due to job market concerns despite lower mortgage rates [1][3] - The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the index of contract signings remained at 74.8, with a previous month increase of 4.2% [2] - NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that a record-high stock market and increased housing wealth were insufficient to counteract a softening job market [3] Market Trends - Mortgage rates are trending towards three-year lows, which may enhance affordability, although a potential government shutdown could hinder home sales activity [3] - The "lock-in effect," where homeowners hesitate to sell due to low-rate mortgages, is diminishing, contributing to increased inventory [4] - A national measure of home prices rose by 1.5% in August year-over-year, marking the smallest annual gain since mid-2023 [4] Regional Performance - Contract signings for previously owned homes increased by 1.1% in the South, reaching the highest level since March, while pending sales rose in the Northeast but fell in the West and Midwest [5] - The new-home sales market showed significant momentum, surging in August to the highest level since 2022, driven by builders offering price cuts and sales incentives [5] Leading Indicators - Pending home sales are considered a leading indicator for previously owned homes, as contracts typically occur one to two months before sales [6]

Company Overview - Opendoor Technologies has experienced a significant stock price increase over the last three months, transitioning from a meme-stock rally to a potential turnaround story [1] - The company has appointed a new CEO, Kaz Nejatian, previously COO of Shopify, and two co-founders have returned to the board, with Keith Rabois as the new chair [1] Market Conditions - Investors are optimistic about potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, which are expected to lower mortgage rates, thus boosting the housing market [2] - The stock surged on August 22 following comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding possible rate cuts, with a 25 basis point cut anticipated [2] Business Model Impact - Opendoor's business model, which involves flipping homes for profit, stands to benefit from lower mortgage rates, potentially increasing market activity [3] - However, there are concerns that lower rates may not be sufficient to achieve the profitability investors are seeking [3] Housing Market Dynamics - Current mortgage rates are above 6%, significantly higher than during the pandemic, leading to a "lock-in effect" where homeowners are hesitant to sell [5] - Existing home sales have been stagnant, averaging around 4 million annually, which is approximately 30% lower than pre-pandemic levels [6] Future Opportunities - A substantial drop in mortgage rates could encourage more buyers and sellers to enter the market, increasing housing inventory and providing more opportunities for Opendoor [7] - An active housing market may reduce the time Opendoor holds homes, potentially lowering operational costs [8]