The Home Depot (HD) vs. Lowe's (LOW)
This page compares The Home Depot (HD) with Lowe's (LOW) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.
Company Profile
The Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (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.
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Company 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 | 301.24 billion USD | 122.30 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 22, 1981 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.04% | -2.90% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -21.04% | -24.14% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -19.19% | -6.44% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -20.28% | -6.92% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -8.02% | -8.70% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -12.11% | -9.60% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 5.60M | 2.69M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 4.30M | 2.77M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 27.81% | 31.17% |
| Beta | 1.00 | 0.90 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 130.02% and Lowe's (LOW) at 264.53% post Return on Equity (TTM) above their industry benchmark ranges, pointing to unusually strong headline returns on shareholders’ equity.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
130.02%
- Max
- 67.95%
- Q3
- 38.08%
- Median
- 15.30%
- Q1
- 4.14%
- Min
- -36.11%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
264.53%
- Max
- 67.95%
- Q3
- 38.08%
- Median
- 15.30%
- Q1
- 4.14%
- Min
- -36.11%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 8.60% and Lowe's (LOW) at 7.71% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
8.60%
- Max
- 17.58%
- Q3
- 8.90%
- Median
- 4.27%
- Q1
- 0.65%
- Min
- -9.03%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
7.71%
- Max
- 17.58%
- Q3
- 8.90%
- Median
- 4.27%
- Q1
- 0.65%
- Min
- -9.03%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 12.68% and Lowe's (LOW) at 11.77% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
12.68%
- Max
- 25.31%
- Q3
- 11.76%
- Median
- 5.77%
- Q1
- 1.83%
- Min
- -7.21%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
11.77%
- Max
- 25.31%
- Q3
- 11.76%
- Median
- 5.77%
- Q1
- 1.83%
- Min
- -7.21%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 130.02% | 264.53% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 13.79% | 13.34% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 8.60% | 7.71% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.68% | 11.77% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 33.32% | 33.47% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Lowe's (LOW) at 1.08 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while The Home Depot (HD) at 1.06 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for HD.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.06
- Max
- 2.65
- Q3
- 1.82
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.45
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.08
- Max
- 2.65
- Q3
- 1.82
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.45
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 4.35 and Lowe's (LOW) at 52.23 sit above their industry benchmark ranges for Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ), pointing to heavier debt loads relative to equity on both sides.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
4.35
- Max
- 3.27
- Q3
- 1.55
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.00
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
52.23
- Max
- 3.27
- Q3
- 1.55
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.00
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 9.13 and Lowe's (LOW) at 7.22 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
9.13
- Max
- 79.22
- Q3
- 35.15
- Median
- 6.48
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- -45.33
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
7.22
- Max
- 79.22
- Q3
- 35.15
- Median
- 6.48
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- -45.33
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.06 | 1.08 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.26 | 0.19 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 4.35 | 52.23 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.13 | 7.22 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY) | -3.79% | 10.94% |
| Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY) | 3.24% | 3.12% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 1.52% | -3.85% |
| 5-Year Revenue CAGR | 4.51% | -0.75% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY) | -14.13% | -10.49% |
| EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY) | -4.52% | -2.89% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -5.18% | 5.22% |
| 5-Year EPS CAGR | 3.58% | 8.84% |
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
The Home Depot (HD) at 3.06% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Lowe's (LOW) at 2.16%, which sits around the industry mid-range.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
3.06%
- Max
- 6.39%
- Q3
- 2.85%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
2.16%
- Max
- 6.39%
- Q3
- 2.85%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 64.65% and Lowe's (LOW) at 39.62% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
64.65%
- Max
- 74.93%
- Q3
- 33.16%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
39.62%
- Max
- 74.93%
- Q3
- 33.16%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.06% | 2.16% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 64.65% | 39.62% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 21.12 and Lowe's (LOW) at 18.36 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
21.12
- Max
- 58.62
- Q3
- 30.54
- Median
- 19.27
- Q1
- 11.31
- Min
- 1.87
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
18.36
- Max
- 58.62
- Q3
- 30.54
- Median
- 19.27
- Q1
- 11.31
- Min
- 1.87
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 1.82 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.42 post Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing revenue multiple.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.82
- Max
- 4.20
- Q3
- 1.90
- Median
- 0.65
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.08
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.42
- Max
- 4.20
- Q3
- 1.90
- Median
- 0.65
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.08
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both The Home Depot (HD) at 29.38 and Lowe's (LOW) at 316.28 sit above their industries’ benchmark ranges for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), pointing to unusually high book-value multiples relative to peers.
HD
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
29.38
- Max
- 18.52
- Q3
- 10.49
- Median
- 3.65
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- 0.50
LOW
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
316.28
- Max
- 18.52
- Q3
- 10.49
- Median
- 3.65
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- 0.50
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 21.12 | 18.36 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.82 | 1.42 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 29.38 | 316.28 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 23.64 | 15.97 |