New York, Feb 28, 2026, 15:39 EST — Market closed.
- Home Depot ended Friday higher after a choppy week for housing-linked stocks.
- Investors are still weighing whether the spring season can revive bigger-ticket remodel demand.
- Mortgage rates, housing turnover and tariff headlines remain key swing factors for the group.
Home Depot (HD.N) shares closed up 1.5% at $380.72 on Friday, snapping a two-day losing streak as the broader market fell. About 4.8 million shares traded, above its 50-day average, and the stock remains about 11% below its 52-week high hit in September. 1
With U.S. markets shut for the weekend, the question hanging over Monday is simple: does the housing market loosen up, or stay stuck, and what does that mean for discretionary home improvement spending.
Home Depot sits in the middle of that tug-of-war. It’s a read on contractors’ backlogs, do-it-yourself demand, and how far consumers will go on kitchens and flooring when borrowing costs are still doing the talking.
In its latest filing, the retailer said fourth-quarter sales fell 3.8% to $38.2 billion and comparable sales — sales at stores open at least a year — rose 0.4%. Adjusted earnings per share, which strips out certain items, came in at $2.72, and the board lifted the quarterly dividend 1.3% to $2.33 a share. Home Depot forecast fiscal 2026 comparable sales growth of flat to 2% and said it expects total sales growth of about 2.5% to 4.5%. 2
On Tuesday, CFO Richard McPhail called the backdrop a “frozen housing environment” since 2023, even as the company leaned on professional customers to offset slower big DIY remodels. David Wagner, head of equity at Aptus Capital Advisors, said the company “set the appropriate initial bar” after weather-driven noise earlier in the year. 3
The mood turned more defensive midweek after cautious commentary from both Home Depot and Lowe’s dragged on housing-related names. A Reuters report also cited data showing purchase-mortgage demand fell even as the average 30-year fixed rate edged down. 4
Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison described a “pretty unique environment” marked by high rates and tariff uncertainty, while Emarketer analyst Zak Stambor warned that cautious guidance could mean an uneven road ahead. 5
Friday’s bounce doesn’t settle the argument. It does show buyers are still willing to pick at the stock when it’s trading on macro fear rather than a fresh company headline.
What investors will watch next is whether Home Depot’s professional customer base keeps spending even if the do-it-yourself shopper stays selective. Rate moves matter here because housing turnover tends to drive big projects — people remodel when they move, and they move when financing gets easier.
But the setup can flip fast. If mortgage rates don’t fall, or housing supply stays tight, big-ticket demand can lag deeper into the year, and any cost shock — including tariffs — risks squeezing margins if retailers can’t pass it through.
The next clear date on Home Depot’s calendar is March 12, when shareholders of record qualify for the increased dividend, with the payment slated for March 26. Between now and then, traders will be staring at every fresh read on U.S. rates and housing when markets reopen on Monday.
