Strong quarterly results
Home improvement demand
Home Depot witnessed solid demand for home improvement projects during the third quarter. The company saw year-over-year growth with both Pro and DIY customers along with momentum in its project business during the period. In Q3, comp average ticket increased 8.8%, driven by inflation across product categories and demand for new products. Big-ticket comp transactions, or those above $1000, were up 10.1% YoY.
The company saw positive comps for categories like building materials, plumbing, lumber, paint and hardware during the quarter. Home Depot is seeing momentum with both Pro and DIY customers and it continues to work on building a unique Pro ecosystem that will help it grow share in a $450 billion addressable Pro market.
The company sees strong demand for home improvement projects as consumers still spend a lot of time at home and these homes continue to age. High home prices are also likely to drive demand for home improvement.
Outlook
Home Depot reaffirmed its guidance for fiscal year 2022. The company expects comparable sales to grow approx. 3% and EPS to grow in the mid-single digits. Operating margin is expected to be around 15.4%. Despite concerns on the housing market seeing a slowdown and inflation impacting home improvement, Home Depot remains confident about its prospects.