About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Core Insights - Home Depot and Costco are both leading retailers in their respective sectors, generating significant annual revenues, but their stock performances differ, with Costco showing stronger growth [1][13]. Home Depot - Home Depot reported Q1 2025 revenue of $39.9 billion, a 9.4% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street expectations [3]. - Same-store sales (SSS) declined by 0.3% in Q1 2025, following previous declines of 1.8% in fiscal 2024 and 3.2% in fiscal 2023, indicating consumer hesitance in spending on home improvements amid economic uncertainty [4]. - The home improvement industry is valued at approximately $1 trillion, with Home Depot holding a 16% market share, suggesting potential for growth by attracting customers from smaller competitors [5]. - The company highlights significant untapped home equity built up since the pandemic, which could lead to increased demand if macroeconomic conditions improve [6]. - Aging housing stock, with 55% of homes being 40 years or older, is expected to drive future revenue growth as older homes require more maintenance [7]. Costco - Costco continues to report positive SSS growth, demonstrating strong consumer demand even during economic downturns [9]. - The company benefits from a scale advantage, with $62.5 billion in net sales for Q2 2025, allowing it to negotiate favorable pricing with suppliers due to its limited product range [10]. - Costco's membership model fosters customer loyalty, with renewal rates exceeding 92% in the U.S. and Canada, contributing to a high-margin, recurring revenue stream [11]. - The company maintains a consistent earnings stream, supporting a quarterly dividend of $1.30 and occasional special dividends, the last being $15 in January 2024 [12]. - Over the past five years, Costco's stock price has increased by 236%, compared to Home Depot's 56%, indicating a market preference for Costco's financial performance [13]. Investment Considerations - Costco is viewed as the higher-quality business, but its shares trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of 59.9, significantly higher than Home Depot's 24.9 [13]. - For investors prioritizing company quality, Costco is recommended, while those focused on valuation may find Home Depot to be the better investment at present [14].