Home Depot Beats Earnings Estimates, but Sales Slide as Consumers Pull Back on Big-Ticket Buys

August 16, 2023

Home Depot has beaten earnings expectations for the quarter but faced a 2% year-over-year sales decline as consumers remain cautious about big-ticket purchases and major projects. Despite the earnings beat, the company maintained its forecast for the fiscal year, projecting sales and comparable sales to decline between 2% and 5% compared to the previous year. Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail noted consumers’ caution regarding larger-ticket discretionary spending, with some having already made such purchases during the pandemic and others deferring them due to higher interest rates.

Recent News

China’s Property Market Boost: Stocks Surge, Copper Hits Highs

The Chinese government unveiled a comprehensive support package that has sent ripples through financial markets. This initiative includes a slew of measures aimed at stimulating housing demand and addressing the excess inventory burdening developers. The immediate impact was a significant rally in Chinese stocks and a surge in commodity prices, notably copper, which hit record highs.