DALY CITY, CA - AUGUST 13: School teacher Liza Gleason shops for back to school supplies at a ... More Target store August 13, 2008 in Daly City, California. With stores gearing up for back to school shopping, the Commerce Department reported today that retail sales fell 0.1 percent in July, the first time in five months. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe first few months of 2025 were bumpy for many big retailers and the US stock market. The world had to adjust to tariffs and GDP contra ...

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with the top and bottom lines surpassing the Zack Consensus Estimate. However, both metrics declined year over year. The Mooresville, NC- based company posted a comparable sales decline in the quarter under review. Despite near-term uncertainty and headwinds in the housing market, the company's strong emphasis on exceptional customer service led to improved satisfaction levels. Continued strategic investments in technology, upgraded st ...

Getty Images Target reported disappointing earnings on lower transactions (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Key Takeaways Stocks ended a six-day win streak on Tuesday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both fell by 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.3% and the Russell 2000 was unchanged. Although volumes were light, we are getting some interesting earnings reports in the retail sector. On Tuesday, Home Depot reported earnings that missed expectations, sending the stock down 0.5% for the day. This ...

Lowe's on Wednesday stood by its full-year forecast, despite reporting quarterly sales that fell just short of Wall Street's expectations. In the company's news release, CEO Marvin Ellison said investments in its stores, technology and customer service has helped the home improvement retailer get through "near-term uncertainty and housing market headwinds." Lowe's said it expects full-year total sales to range from $83.5 billion to $84.5 billion, which on the upper end would be higher than its total revenue ...

Group 1 - Home Depot missed earnings expectations with earnings of $3.56 per share, falling short by $0.03, but reported stronger-than-expected sales of $39.9 billion, exceeding analyst expectations by approximately $600 million and reflecting a year-over-year growth of 9.5% [3][4] - The company is facing challenges due to higher interest rates and macroeconomic uncertainty, which are limiting home sales and improvement projects, thereby softening demand for its products [3][4] - Home Depot reiterated its full-year guidance, projecting total revenue growth of about 2.8% and comparable-store sales growth of 1% [4] Group 2 - The company did not repurchase any shares during the quarter but continues to pay a dividend with a yield of 2.4%, while reducing its share count by over 7% in the past five years [5] - Despite current headwinds, Home Depot's stock is priced only 12% below its all-time high, indicating that investors are aware of the challenges but do not view the stock as a bargain [6][7] - The stock is considered a good option for long-term investors, although those expecting significant gains with economic recovery may be disappointed [6][7]

Company Overview - Home Depot held its first quarter 2025 earnings conference call, featuring key executives including Ted Decker (Chair, President & CEO), Ann-Marie Campbell (Senior Executive Vice President), Billy Bastek (Executive Vice President of Merchandising), and Richard McPhail (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer) [3][4]. Conference Call Structure - The call was structured to include prepared remarks followed by a question and answer session, with a reminder for participants to limit their questions to one with one follow-up [4]. - The conference call was recorded for future reference [4]. Forward-Looking Statements - The company included forward-looking statements in its press release and presentations, which are subject to risks and uncertainties as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 [5].

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company has a team of experienced and qualified news journalists who produce independent content [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The news team delivers insights across various sectors including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Financial Performance - Home Depot reported revenue of $39.86 billion for the quarter ended April 2025, a year-over-year increase of 9.4% [1] - The EPS for the same period was $3.56, compared to $3.63 a year ago, indicating a slight decline [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $39.4 billion by 1.15%, while the EPS fell short of the consensus estimate of $3.59 by 0.84% [1] Key Metrics - Comparable store sales showed a year-over-year change of -0.3%, contrasting with the 10-analyst average estimate of 0.3% [4] - The number of retail stores remained at 2,350, matching the average estimate from five analysts [4] - Comparable store sales in the U.S. had a year-over-year change of 0.2%, compared to the -1% average estimate from three analysts [4] - Sales per store were reported at $16.96 million, exceeding the three-analyst average estimate of $16.71 million [4] - The number of customer transactions in retail was 394.8 million, surpassing the two-analyst average estimate of 390.8 million [4] - The average ticket size in retail was $90.71, slightly below the $91.74 average estimate based on two analysts [4] Stock Performance - Home Depot shares have returned +9.4% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by +13.1% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Home Depot is committed to maintaining stable prices despite tariff pressures, contrasting with competitors like Walmart who may need to raise prices due to increased costs from tariffs [1][4]. Group 1: Home Depot's Strategy - Home Depot is actively working with suppliers to shift production away from China and is negotiating for price concessions to protect consumers from the trade war's impact [1]. - The company's CFO, Richard McPhail, stated that no single country outside the U.S. will account for more than 10% of their purchases in the next 12 months [2]. - Home Depot has not altered its financial forecast for 2025, reporting a 0.2% increase in U.S. comparable sales and a 2.1% rise in customer transactions to 394.8 million [3]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Unlike Home Depot, Walmart has indicated it may need to raise prices to cope with tariff-related costs, with CEO Doug McMillon acknowledging the pressure on their business [4]. - President Trump criticized Walmart for not absorbing tariff costs, suggesting that the company should maintain its profit margins without passing costs to consumers [5][6]. - The White House supports Trump's stance that foreign countries should bear the burden of tariffs, emphasizing that businesses should not pass these costs onto consumers [5][6]. Group 3: Broader Economic Context - Trump's administration has implemented sweeping tariffs, with rates of 10% on most imports and up to 30% on goods from China, which has led to increased scrutiny on how companies manage their pricing strategies [9][10]. - The President's comments reflect a shift in his approach, as he previously criticized price control proposals, now advocating for businesses to absorb tariff costs [9].

Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) stock is in focus this morning, after the home improvement giant made headlines by stating it will not raise prices in response to new tariffs -- a direct contrast to Walmart (WMT), which recently warned of higher consumer prices. CFO Richard McPhail told CNBC the company plans to “generally maintain current pricing levels,” citing its scale, strong supplier relationships, and years-long effort to diversify sourcing away from China.The comments came alongside the company’s first-qua ...