The Home Depot, Inc. (HD)
Home Depot is the largest US home-improvement retailer, serving both do-it-yourself consumers and professional contractors. Its sales are closely tied to housing turnover and home-renovation activity.
Consumer Discretionary stock comparison
HD vs LOW: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare The Home Depot, Inc. with Lowe's Companies, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Consumer
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 2
- Updated
- 2026-03-23
HD vs LOW: quick comparison
| Company fact | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Company | The Home Depot, Inc. | Lowe's Companies, Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia | Mooresville, North Carolina |
| Founded | 1978 | 1921 |
| SEC industry | Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers | Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers |
| Fiscal year-end | January 31 | January 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-03-18 | 10-K · 2026-03-23 |
How the businesses differ
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW)
Lowe's is the second-largest US home-improvement retailer, competing directly with Home Depot for DIY and pro customers. Its results track closely with housing activity and consumer spending on the home.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. HD is classified by the SEC as Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers, while LOW is classified as Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
Which thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study HD when…
- Real wage growth and consumer confidence
- Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
- Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
- The trade-down between premium and value
Study LOW when…
- Real wage growth and consumer confidence
- Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
- Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
- The trade-down between premium and value
Shared research themes
US marketsEconomic trends
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.HD's fiscal year ends January 31, while LOW's ends January 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 1matched transaction row for HDand 0 for LOW. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
HD primary filings
LOW primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
HD vs LOW FAQs
Are HD and LOW direct competitors?
The Home Depot, Inc. and Lowe's Companies, Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, HD or LOW?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this HD vs LOW comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Go beyond HD vs LOW.
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