Home Depot second-quarter sales rise to 47.9 billion as smaller projects lead

ATLANTA - Home Depot reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 sales of 47.9 billion dollars, up 2.6 billion dollars or 5.7 percent from a year earlier, and kept its full-year outlook unchanged.

Comparable sales rose 1.7 percent overall and 1.3 percent in the United States, the company said in its Aug. 18 release. Net earnings were 4.8 billion dollars, or 4.79 dollars per diluted share, compared with 4.6 billion dollars, or 4.58 dollars, a year earlier. Adjusted diluted earnings were 4.92 dollars, up from 4.68 dollars.

CFO Richard McPhail said results beat company expectations and that demand was broad based as customers kept working on smaller projects. Senior executive Ann-Marie Campbell credited store execution and customer service in what she called a dynamic environment.

The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 guidance that includes total sales growth of about 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent and comparable sales growth from roughly flat to 2.0 percent. Guidance also lists about 15 new stores, a gross margin near 33.1 percent, and diluted earnings-per-share growth from about flat to 4.0 percent versus 14.23 dollars in fiscal 2025.

Comparable customer transactions fell 1.0 percent in the quarter while average ticket rose 2.8 percent to 92.50 dollars, according to company data. At quarter end Home Depot operated 2,364 retail stores and more than 1,340 SRS locations and employed more than 470,000 associates.

Housing markets and mortgage costs still shape big-ticket renovation demand. The quarter results show shoppers spending on smaller jobs even while the company keeps a cautious full-year range. Investors and homeowners both watch that mix because it signals how households are prioritizing repairs versus major remodels.