Here's How Home Depot (HD) is Poised Ahead of Q3 Earnings

DG LOW HD DKS

The Home Depot, Inc. (HD - Free Report) is likely to register top- and bottom-line growth year over year when it reports third-quarter fiscal 2020 results on Nov 17, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter earnings of $3.08 per share suggests growth of 21.7% from the year-ago period’s tally. Also, the consensus estimate has moved up nearly 8 cents in the past seven days. Moreover, the consensus mark for quarterly revenues is pegged at $32,032 million, indicating an increase of nearly 17% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

Notably, the leading home improvement retailer has delivered an earnings surprise of 1.3% in the last four quarters, on average.

Key Factors to Note

Home Depot has been benefiting from its strong and flexible interconnected infrastructure which helped it quickly adapt to the changing customer preferences. The company has quickly adapted to consumer needs, providing contactless curbside pickup and other fulfillment services while adhering to safety protocols. This, coupled with broad-based strength across stores and geographies, has been boosting comparable sales (comps) performance. Meanwhile, Home Depot is gaining from strong growth in its Pro and DIY customer categories. On its last earnings call, management highlighted that comps growth in the first two weeks of August was at similar levels to overall second-quarter comps.

In addition, the company’s fiscal third-quarter performance has most likely benefited from robust online presence and interconnected retail strategy. It has enabled multiple fulfillment options including buy online pickup in store with convenient pickup lockers, and buy online deliver from store with express car and van delivery. Furthermore, the company might have benefited from consumers’ growing inclination toward home remodeling and maintenance activities. With increased stay-at-home directives amid the coronavirus pandemic, home renovation and refurbishing projects are being widely undertaken.

Zacks Model

Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Home Depot this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Home Depot has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +5.19%.

Other Stocks With Favorable Combinations

Here are some other companies you may want to consider, as our model shows that these also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +16.53% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +16.18% and a Zacks Rank #3.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (LOW - Free Report) presently has an Earnings ESP of +7.78% and a Zacks Rank #3.

The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All

Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.

See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>

Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>