Home Depot Q2 sales beat forecasts as smaller projects drive growth

Home Depot reported second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, as consumers continued to prioritize smaller home improvement projects amid ongoing affordability pressures in the housing market. The retailer posted total sales of $47.9 billion, a 5.7% increase from the same period last year, and comparable sales growth of 1.7% globally, with U.S. comparable sales rising 1.3%.

The performance beat analyst forecasts, which had projected revenue of approximately $47.3 billion. Home Depot's net income grew 4.7% year-over-year to $4.8 billion, or $4.79 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.92, surpassing the $4.73 expected by analysts. The company's stock rose more than 2% in premarket trading following the announcement.

"Our second quarter results exceeded our expectations. We saw broad-based demand across the business as customers continued to engage in smaller projects," Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail said in a statement. McPhail and senior executive vice president AnnMarie Campbell are temporarily leading the company while CEO Ted Decker takes medical leave.

The results reflect a consumer environment...