New York, Feb 12, 2026, 17:50 (EST) — After-hours
- Home Depot shares dropped in after-hours action, caught up in the tech-driven selloff sweeping Wall Street.
- Friday’s U.S. inflation numbers are on deck, and investors are on edge—they’re weighing the risk that rate-cut expectations might get upended.
- The retailer reports its quarterly numbers on Feb. 24.
Home Depot shares slipped in after-hours action Thursday, mirroring a broader risk-off mood as investors grew wary before the retailer’s earnings report later this month and upcoming U.S. inflation data.
Home Depot’s stock often shadows shifts in rates. Rising bond yields? That’s when large-scale home projects typically get put off, and spending on home improvements can lose steam.
Traders have their eyes on Friday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key inflation barometer, followed closely by Home Depot’s quarterly results on Feb. 24. Both releases could shed light on whether demand is leveling off for bigger-ticket repairs and remodel projects.
Home Depot (HD.N) dipped roughly 0.1%, landing at $390.22 in late trading. Shares fluctuated between $389.00 and $397.43 earlier in the day.
The major U.S. indexes took a steep dive Thursday, with tech stocks under heavy pressure as traders moved cash into defensive sectors. “We see this as a ‘prove it’ year for AI,” said Jack Herr, primary investment analyst at GuideStone Funds. Reuters
With Friday’s CPI on deck, markets are jittery. Brad Bernstein, managing director at UBS Private Wealth Management, said a weaker number might trigger “a nice, real positive reaction” for equities and drive Treasury yields down. Reuters
Within the home-improvement sector, attention has turned to the fight for pro contractors. Sources told Reuters that QXO, the building-products distributor, is picking up private peer Kodiak Building Partners for roughly $2.25 billion. The move targets a distribution market where Home Depot and Lowe’s have been stepping up their game.
Home Depot plans to report its fourth-quarter and full-year results on Tuesday, Feb. 24, with the earnings call scheduled for 9 a.m. ET. At the close of its third quarter, the retailer counted 2,356 stores in operation and more than 1,200 SRS locations.
The setup isn’t one-sided. If inflation comes in hot, yields could jump, putting fresh pressure on rate-sensitive consumer stocks. On the flip side, signals of continued weakness in big-ticket demand might drag on the stock ahead of earnings.
Coming up: Friday brings the U.S. CPI report ahead of the bell, with Home Depot set to release results and guidance on Feb. 24.
