The coronavirus pandemic was a boon to the do-it-yourself phase of the house enchancment market as of us took on a mess of initiatives, together with portray rooms, including a house workplace, and including outside leisure areas.
Certainly, in 2019, the house enchancment trade was estimated to be value $650 billion. Now, it’s projected to generate $900 billion in gross sales yearly. So, primarily due to the consequences of the pandemic, the market grew by $250 billion.
Residence Depot ( HD -3.30% ) is capturing a significant share of this huge and rising market. Let’s take a better take a look at the way it’s succeeding in doing so.

Picture supply; Getty Photos.
Residence Depot is the most important house enchancment retailer on the planet
Apparently, Residence Depot’s complete gross sales for its fiscal 2021, which ended on Jan. 30, have been $151 billion. That was 14.4% larger than the 12 months earlier than. A number of macroeconomic components fueled client spending on house enchancment. Fiscal stimulus funds to households, rising house values, and restricted inventories of properties on the market spurred owners to enhance their dwelling areas.
HD, LOW Income (Annual) knowledge by YCharts.
In case you take the $150 billion gross sales determine and divide it by the $900 billion market measurement, Residence Depot’s market share is an estimated 17%. Residence Depot is the world’s largest house enchancment retailer and boasts probably the most important market share. Lowe’s Corporations ( LOW -3.89% ), its formidable rival, achieved gross sales of $96 billion in fiscal 2021. A considerable sum, to make certain, however significantly behind Residence Depot.
What’s extra, Residence Depot has set a brand new goal of reaching $200 billion in gross sales. After all, which will take some years to attain, but it surely highlights that administration sees development alternatives forward. For fiscal 2022, Residence Depot forecasts its income will stay comparatively flat as economies reopen and people spend much less time at house. Residence Depot has grown income at a compound annual fee of seven.9% within the final decade. The long-run development fee is prone to be nearer to that of the earlier decade relatively than what has occurred for the reason that outbreak.
The market likes a winner
HD, LOW Working Margin (TTM) knowledge by YCharts.
Residence Depot’s superior market share results in a superior working revenue margin. The corporate has outperformed Lowe’s, its largest competitor, on this metric during the last decade. That is proof that the house enchancment trade has economies of scale. In different phrases, revenue margins develop with gross sales. One motive may very well be that Residence Depot pays decrease costs for stock as a result of it buys in larger batch sizes.
HD Worth to Free Money Stream knowledge by YCharts.
Unsurprisingly, Residence Depot’s inventory is buying and selling extra expensively than Lowe’s because of the higher market share and working revenue margin. No matter how the house enchancment market evolves because the world progresses in opposition to COVID-19, Residence Depot is prone to carry out higher than Lowe’s till the latter can enhance working efficiency.
This text represents the opinion of the author, who might disagree with the “official” suggestion place of a Motley Idiot premium advisory service. We’re motley! Questioning an investing thesis – even certainly one of our personal – helps us all suppose critically about investing and make selections that assist us grow to be smarter, happier, and richer.


