New York, Feb 13, 2026, 17:59 EST — After-hours.
Home Depot shares rose on Friday and were little changed after hours after a Citigroup note lifted its price target on the home-improvement retailer. The stock was up 0.2% at $391.05 in extended trading, after swinging between $387.15 and $393.92 earlier in the session.
The small move lands ahead of a holiday-shortened U.S. trading week and a fresh run of data that could sway rate-cut bets again. Investors have also started looking past Walmart’s results next week to the next wave of retailers, including Home Depot and Lowe’s. (Reuters)
Friday’s backdrop helped. U.S. consumer prices rose 0.2% in January, while “core” CPI — which excludes food and energy — increased 0.3%, keeping the Federal Reserve in a wait-and-see stance. “Overall, the data suggest that price pressures remain a little too hot for comfort for the time being,” said James McCann, senior economist at Edward Jones. (Reuters)
Citigroup raised its price target on Home Depot to $450 from $407 and maintained a Buy rating, TipRanks reported, citing TheFly. (TipRanks)
Broader markets were mixed after the inflation report: the S&P 500 ended slightly higher while the Nasdaq slipped as technology shares lagged. “Large cap tech stocks continue to be an anchor on the market and any whiff of optimism continues to get rejected,” said Michael James, managing director at Rosenblatt Securities. (Reuters)
Home-improvement investors also got a reminder that retailers are still shaving costs. Lowe’s said on Friday it is eliminating about 600 corporate and support roles, with a spokesperson saying: “This step helps better align our resources to support our stores and the associates who serve customers every day.” (Reuters)
But the rate story can still cut the other way. If services inflation stays sticky and borrowing costs don’t ease much, big-ticket repair and remodel spending can stay choppy, and guidance risk rises into earnings.
The next hard catalyst is Home Depot’s quarterly report on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when investors will look for updates on demand trends, margins and any change in tone on the spring selling season. (Homedepot)
