HD
A decent quarter, not a fireworks show
Home Depot rolled out its first-quarter fiscal 2026 numbers and, on the surface, they look fine: sales climbed to $41.8 billion, up 4.8% from a year ago. Comparable sales also turned positive, rising 0.6% overall and 0.4% in the U.S. Not bad. Not exactly confetti cannon material either.
Why investors are side-eyeing the details
For a company that lives and dies by housing turnover, big renovation projects, and the general willingness of homeowners to spend like they’ve got a secret Pinterest budget, the real question is momentum. A low-single-digit comp gain says customers are still showing up, but they’re not exactly sprinting through the aisles with a full cart and a dream.
The real signal: guidance stays put
Home Depot also reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, which matters because that’s management’s way of saying: “We’re not changing the story yet.” In other words, no surprise downgrade, no sudden victory lap — just steady-as-she-goes. That can be comforting in a noisy market, but it also leaves investors parsing whether the home-improvement cycle is actually re-accelerating or merely wobbling forward.
Big picture
Home Depot is still the king of the aisle, but this quarter says the throne comes with a few nerves attached. If home spending keeps stabilizing, the stock has a runway; if the consumer gets stingy again, the DIY kingdom could get a little less cozy.