HD vs. LOW: Home Depot vs. Lowe's Companies Stock Comparison
How do Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's Companies (LOW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's Companies (LOW) are both classified in the Home Improvement Retail sub-industry within the broader Specialty Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Home Depot, Inc. | Lowe's Companies Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail |
| GICS Industry | Specialty Retail | Specialty Retail |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Home Improvement Retail | Home Improvement Retail |
| Market Capitalization | 351.66 billion USD | 123.63 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 22, 1981 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -1.25% | 1.33% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.64% | 26.63% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.95 | 0.86 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.81M | 2.88M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Home Depot (HD) earns 128.38% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's Companies (LOW) has no ROE this period.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
128.38%
- HD
- 128.38%
- Max
- 63.82%
- Q3
- 31.92%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 5.27%
- Min
- -29.94%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
--
- Max
- 63.82%
- Q3
- 31.92%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 5.27%
- Min
- -29.94%
- LOW
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Home Depot (HD) at 8.41% and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 7.51% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
8.41%
- Max
- 20.45%
- Q3
- 9.02%
- HD
- 8.41%
- Median
- 4.01%
- Q1
- 0.70%
- Min
- -11.15%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
7.51%
- Max
- 20.45%
- Q3
- 9.02%
- LOW
- 7.51%
- Median
- 4.01%
- Q1
- 0.70%
- Min
- -11.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Home Depot (HD) at 11.93% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 11.07%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
11.93%
- Max
- 23.15%
- HD
- 11.93%
- Q3
- 11.20%
- Median
- 4.77%
- Q1
- 1.65%
- Min
- -8.71%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
11.07%
- Max
- 23.15%
- Q3
- 11.20%
- LOW
- 11.07%
- Median
- 4.77%
- Q1
- 1.65%
- Min
- -8.71%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 128.38% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 12.52% | 12.79% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.41% | 7.51% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.93% | 11.07% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 33.13% | 33.29% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.24% | 3.12% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.52% | -3.85% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -4.56% | -3.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -5.18% | 5.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Home Depot (HD) at 1.05 and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.09 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.05
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.85
- Median
- 1.38
- HD
- 1.05
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.46
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.09
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.85
- Median
- 1.38
- LOW
- 1.09
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Home Depot (HD) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 4.59 against its industry range, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports no figure this period.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
4.59
- HD
- 4.59
- Max
- 3.27
- Q3
- 1.82
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.01
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
--
- Max
- 3.27
- Q3
- 1.82
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.01
- LOW
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.05 | 1.09 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 4.59 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.49 | 3.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Home Depot (HD) at 1.98% and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 2.19% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.98%
- Max
- 5.10%
- Q3
- 2.22%
- HD
- 1.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 5.10%
- Q3
- 2.22%
- LOW
- 2.19%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Home Depot (HD) at 65.55% and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 40.57% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
65.55%
- Max
- 78.51%
- HD
- 65.55%
- Q3
- 32.35%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
40.57%
- Max
- 78.51%
- LOW
- 40.57%
- Q3
- 32.35%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.98% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 65.55% | 40.57% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Home Depot (HD) at 25.07 and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 18.62 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
25.07
- Max
- 55.55
- Q3
- 32.06
- HD
- 25.07
- Median
- 19.03
- Q1
- 12.24
- Min
- 0.95
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
18.62
- Max
- 55.55
- Q3
- 32.06
- Median
- 19.03
- LOW
- 18.62
- Q1
- 12.24
- Min
- 0.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.40 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Home Depot (HD) at 2.11 sits in the pricier quartile — HD costs more per dollar of sales.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
2.11
- Max
- 3.48
- HD
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.83
- Median
- 0.75
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.03
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.40
- Max
- 3.48
- Q3
- 1.83
- LOW
- 1.40
- Median
- 0.75
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -13.34, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Home Depot (HD) reports 25.34, ranking against industry peers normally.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
25.34
- HD
- 25.34
- Max
- 12.65
- Q3
- 5.95
- Median
- 2.27
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- -4.28
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
-13.34
- Max
- 12.65
- Q3
- 5.95
- Median
- 2.27
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- -4.28
- LOW
- -13.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.07 | 18.62 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 1.40 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 25.34 | -13.34 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 3.90% |