Has my stock been accused of fraud?Join over 160k users who know.

Ticker Price Change($) Change(%) Shares Volume Prev Close Open Gain($) Gain(%)
Ticker Status Jurisdiction Filing Date CP Start CP End CP Loss Deadline
Ticker Case Name Status CP Start CP End Deadline Settlement Amt
Ticker Name Date Analyst Firm Up/Down Target ($) Rating Change Rating Current

News

Home Depot Sends A Clear Consumer Health Warning

Author: Upwallstreet | August 14, 2024 10:35am

On Tuesday, The Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) kicks off the retail reports ahead of Walmart (NYSE:WMT) and Target (NYSE:TGT) by posting its fiscal second-quarter earnings and sales that topped Wall Street estimates. However, in face of weak discretionary spending that diminished expectations of consumer sentiment recovering during the remainder of the year, Home Depot warned its annual profit is expected to decline, also expecting a bigger drop in its annual comparable sales. 

Fiscal Second Quarter Highlights

For the quarter ended on July 28th, Home Depot reported revenue rose slightly to $43.18 billion, topping LSEG’s estimate of $43.06 billion. Net income shrinked to $4.56 billion, or $4.60 per share. Comparable sales across the business dropped 3.3%, which was steeper than LSEG’s estimate of 1.98% and StreetAccount’s 2.1% estimate. In the U.S. alone, they dropped even more or 3.6% to be precise. This is Home Depot’s seventh consecutive quarter of negative comparable sales.

For the 13th straight quarter, Home Depot has been struggling with falling traffic that is reflected in declining customer transactions.

Full Year Guidance

Home Depot expects annual comparable sales to drop between 3% and 4% YoY compared with its prior view of a nearly 1% decline, while guiding for diluted profit per share drop between 2% and 4%.

Following the completion the deal for building materials supplier SRS Distribution in June, Home Depot total annual sales are in for a boost. This is part of the company’s plan to build its business for professional builders, roofers, landscapers and pool contractors, that make a half of its sales, to offset weak demand from DIY customers which make the other half of its business.

The SRS investment is expected to add about $6.4 billion to its full year sales. With this boost, revenue is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% However, excluding sales from SRS, the new full-year forecast would actally be a revenue cut. 

Home Depot sent a consumer health warning, so all eyes are on Target and Walmart. 

Higher borrowing costs and steep inflation forced consumers to delay big home renovation projects. Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail spoke of a more cautious consumer being the newest challenge. Investors will be watching closely at reports from Walmart and Target for further consumer health insights. Walmart is set to report its figures on Thursday, August 15th with Target to follow on August 21st. 

DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investing advice.

This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Posted In: HD TGT WMT

CLASS ACTION DEADLINES - JOIN NOW!

NEW CASE INVESTIGATION

CORE Finalist