Home Depot (HD) vs Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Lowe's Companies (LOW) has outperformed Home Depot (HD) over the past year, losing 24.3% versus a loss of 26.1%. Over five years, LOW leads with a -17.2% price change compared with -18.4% for HD. Home Depot is the larger company by market cap ($285.11 billion vs $101.85 billion), about 2.8 times the size.
On valuation, Lowe's Companies trades at a lower forward P/E (14.0x vs 17.8x for Home Depot). Lowe's Companies offers the higher dividend yield (2.67% vs 1.62%). Home Depot converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 8.6% versus 7.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | HD | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $285.77 | $181.54 |
| Market cap | $285.11B | $101.85B |
| 1-day change | -0.32% | -1.16% |
| YTD return | -16.95% | -24.72% |
| 1-year return | -26.12% | -24.32% |
| 5-year return | -18.45% | -17.17% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.00 | 15.53 |
| Forward P/E | 17.83 | 13.96 |
| EPS (TTM) | $14.29 | $11.69 |
| Dividend yield | 1.62% | 2.67% |
| Annual dividend | $4.63 | $4.85 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $164.68B | $86.29B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.24% | +3.12% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $14.16B | $6.65B |
| Gross margin | 33.32% | 33.48% |
| Operating margin | 12.68% | 11.77% |
| Net margin | 8.60% | 7.71% |
| 52-week high | $397.63 | $293.06 |
| 52-week low | $277.15 | $178.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.13% | -38.05% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.39% | +37.37% |
| Average volume | 4.20M | 3.14M |
| Shares outstanding | 997.69M | 561.05M |
| Employees | 470,000 | 300,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | RETAIL: Building Materials | RETAIL: Building Materials |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Home Depot is about 2.8 times larger than Lowe's Companies by market value ($285.11B vs $101.85B).
- Home Depot trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.0x vs 15.5x trailing P/E).
- Lowe's Companies offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.67% vs 1.62%).
About Home Depot
HD stock →The Home Depot, Inc. operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 470,000 employees
About Lowe's Companies
LOW stock →Lowe's Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada. It provides a line of products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and decorating.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 300,000 employees
HD vs LOW FAQ
Which is bigger, Home Depot or Lowe's Companies?
Home Depot (HD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $285.11B compared with $101.85B for Lowe's Companies (LOW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HD or LOW?
LOW returned -24.32% over the past 12 months, compared with -26.12% for HD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HD or LOW?
LOW has the lower trailing P/E at 15.5, versus 20.0 for HD. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Home Depot or Lowe's Companies?
Lowe's Companies has the higher yield at 2.67%, compared with 1.62% for Home Depot.
Are Home Depot and Lowe's Companies in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the RETAIL: Building Materials industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.