RptdFinFcst · v5 forward slate · sealed snap-354950-20260817T193257369495Z

HD Q2 fiscal 2026 — gpt-5.6-sol CONTRACT PASSED

Fiscal 2026 Q2 (quarter ended August 2, 2026), reporting August 18 before the open; results unreleased at the cutoff 2026-08-17T12:00:00Z. Three statements, a two-year quarterly path, and a thesis with falsifiable triggers — every identity re-added at intake, the balance sheet rolled from the model's own cash flow.

17tool calls
0contract retries
1anchor retries
0unverified anchors
229swall clock
278filings in corpus

Anchors stated before projecting

Each cites its filing; every anchor value was verified against the cited source at intake.

Q1 fiscal 2026 net sales

41,765

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000040

Q1 fiscal 2026 comparable-sales growth percent

0.6

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000005

Q1 fiscal 2026 gross profit

13,781

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000040

Q1 fiscal 2026 operating income

4,981

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000040

Q1 fiscal 2026 net earnings

3,289

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000040

Q1 fiscal 2026 GAAP diluted EPS

3.3

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000006

Q1 fiscal 2026 adjusted diluted EPS

3.43

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000007

Q1 fiscal 2026 operating cash flow

6,032

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000052

Fiscal 2026 total-sales growth guidance low percent

2.5

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000011

Fiscal 2026 total-sales growth guidance high percent

4.5

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000011

Fiscal 2026 gross-margin guidance percent

33.1

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000014

Fiscal 2026 GAAP operating-margin guidance low percent

12.4

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000015

Fiscal 2026 GAAP operating-margin guidance high percent

12.6

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000015

Fiscal 2026 adjusted operating-margin guidance low percent

12.8

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000016

Fiscal 2026 adjusted operating-margin guidance high percent

13

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000016

Fiscal 2026 adjusted diluted EPS baseline

14.69

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000022

Fiscal 2026 capital-expenditure guidance percent of sales

2.5

0000354950-26-000101 · 0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000023

Prior-year Q2 net sales

45,277

0000354950-25-000195 · 0000354950-25-000195:hd_exhibit991x08032025.htm:b0000040

Prior-year Q2 adjusted diluted EPS

4.68

0000354950-25-000195 · 0000354950-25-000195:hd_exhibit991x08032025.htm:b0000065

Headline forecast

Revenue ($M) 46,800 p50 47,450 48,100 model
Model p10–p50–p90.
Adjusted EPS (USD) 4.62 p50 4.82 5.02 model
Model p10–p50–p90.
Free cash flow ($M) 2,950 p50 3,650 4,350 model
Model p10–p50–p90.

The income statement walk

Prior quarter as filed · forecast · change. ✓ = identity enforced at intake.

Line ($M)Prior as filedForecastΔ
Net sales41,76547,450+13.6%
Cost of sales27,98431,790+13.6%
Gross profit ✓13,78115,660+13.6%
Selling, general and administrative7,9598,018+0.7%
Depreciation and amortization841900+7.0%
Total operating expenses ✓8,8008,918+1.3%
Operating income ✓4,9816,742+35.4%
Interest income and other, net-7-10+42.9%
Interest expense611590-3.4%
Interest and other, net expense604580-4.0%
Earnings before provision for income taxes ✓4,3776,162+40.8%
Provision for income taxes1,0881,497+37.6%
Net earnings ✓3,2894,665+41.8%
Basic weighted average common shares994995+0.1%
Basic earnings per share35+41.7%
Diluted weighted average common shares996997+0.1%
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) ✓3.304.68+41.8%

Bridge: net income 4,665 + acquired_intangible_asset_amortization_after_tax 140 = non-GAAP net income 4,805 ÷ 997M shares = 4.82 adjusted EPS.

The cash flow statement

As-reported sign conventions; free cash flow = CFO + capex; ✓ totals re-added at intake.

Line ($M)Prior as filedForecast
Net earnings3,2894,665
Depreciation and amortization, excluding amortization of intangible assets910950
Intangible asset amortization171180
Stock-based compensation expense178115
Working-capital and other operating adjustments, net (residual)1,484-1,210
Net cash provided by operating activities ✓6,0324,700
Capital expenditures-844-1,050
Payments for businesses acquired, net-286-80
Other investing activities2130
Net cash used in investing activities ✓-1,109-1,100
Repayments of short-term debt, net-961-300
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of discounts6950
Repayments of long-term debt-1,425-50
Proceeds from sales of common stock33120
Repurchases of common stock00
Cash dividends-2,320-2,325
Other financing activities-1095
Net cash used in financing activities ✓-4,713-2,500
Change in cash and cash equivalents before exchange-rate effects ✓2101,100
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents25
Net change in cash and cash equivalents including exchange-rate effects ✓2121,105

The projected balance sheet

End of quarter. Cash rolls from the model's own cash flow; retained earnings roll from net income, dividends, and buybacks.

Line ($M)Prior as filedForecast
Cash and cash equivalents1,6012,706
Receivables, net6,6246,500
Merchandise inventories27,28026,500
Other current assets1,6671,700
Total current assets ✓37,17237,406
Net property and equipment27,93028,500
Operating lease right-of-use assets9,2759,250
Goodwill22,47922,480
Intangible assets, net10,24410,100
Other assets804764
Total assets ✓107,904108,500
Short-term debt3,5033,203
Accounts payable14,37313,500
Accrued salaries and related expenses2,2372,400
Sales taxes payable800850
Deferred revenue2,6822,700
Income taxes payable8511,000
Current installments of long-term debt5,1785,000
Current operating lease liabilities1,4841,500
Other accrued expenses4,4724,700
Total current liabilities ✓35,58034,853
Long-term debt, excluding current installments44,82844,000
Long-term operating lease liabilities8,1648,100
Deferred income taxes2,8982,900
Other long-term liabilities2,5602,140
Total liabilities ✓94,03091,993
Common stock9090
Paid-in capital14,90715,142
Retained earnings95,50697,846
Accumulated other comprehensive loss-658-600
Treasury stock, at cost-95,971-95,971
Total stockholders' equity ✓13,87416,507

Expected next-period guidance

Revenue168,800 – 172,100
Adjusted EPS14.69 – 15.28

Quarterly path — where no guide exists

Beyond the guided quarter the model is modeling, not retrieving.

QuarterRev p50 ($M)Rev bandAdj EPS p50GMOMCapexFCF
fiscal 2026 Q3 (ending late October or early November 2026)42,90042,300–43,5003.8033.1%12.6%-1,0003,200
fiscal 2026 Q4 (ending late January or early February 2027)39,10038,400–39,8002.8533.0%10.5%-1,2001,800
fiscal 2027 Q1 (ending early May 2027)43,20042,400–44,0003.6533.0%12.0%-9505,150
fiscal 2027 Q2 (ending early August 2027)49,00048,000–50,0005.1033.1%14.5%-1,1003,900

Fiscal-year horizons — absolute forecasts, tracked as vintages

Fiscal yearRev p50 ($M)Rev bandAdj EPS p50EPS bandCapexFCF
fiscal year 2026 (ending January 2027)171,215169,000–173,40014.9014.45–15.35-4,10013,800
fiscal year 2027 (ending January 2028)176,500172,000–181,00016.0515.25–16.85-4,20014,800
fiscal year 2028 (ending January 2029)183,000176,000–190,00017.2516.15–18.35-4,30015,700
fiscal year 2029 (ending January 2030)190,000181,000–199,00018.6017.15–20.05-4,50017,000

Thesis — commitments and triggers, all fundamentals

Every commitment cites a source and names the forecast lines it flows into; every trigger is an observable reported fundamental with its check date. Triggers are re-served to the next run for review.

Management plans to invest approximately $4 billion in fiscal 2026 capital expenditures across new and existing stores, the interconnected experience, and the Pro strategy.

0001628280-26-019436:hd-20260201.htm:b0000438 · horizon Fiscal 2026

flows into: cash_flow.capex, horizons.fy0.capex, balance_sheet.net_property_equipment

The company does not plan to resume share repurchases in fiscal 2026 while it reduces outstanding debt.

0001628280-26-019436:hd-20260201.htm:b0000433 · horizon Fiscal 2026

flows into: cash_flow.buybacks, balance_sheet.treasury_stock, horizons.fy0.cff

The quarterly dividend was increased to $2.33 per share, subject to future Board declarations.

0001628280-26-019436:hd-20260201.htm:b0000439 · horizon Fiscal 2026 and beyond

flows into: cash_flow.dividends, balance_sheet.retained_earnings, horizons.fy1.cff

Fiscal 2026 guidance includes approximately 15 new stores.

0000354950-26-000101:hd_exhibit991x05032026.htm:b0000013 · horizon Fiscal 2026

flows into: horizons.fy0.revenue, horizons.fy0.capex, quarterly_path.fq3_26.revenue

Management expects GMS to enhance SRS through complementary product categories, capabilities, and customer relationships.

0001628280-26-019436:hd-20260201.htm:b0000377 · horizon Fiscal 2026-2029

flows into: horizons.fy1.revenue, horizons.fy2.gross_profit, horizons.fy3.operating_income

What would make it a buyer

Reported Q2 comparable-sales growth of at least 2.0%, gross margin of at least 33.2%, and adjusted diluted EPS of at least $4.95.

checkable at: Fiscal 2026 Q2 earnings release and Form 10-Q.

Fiscal 2026 guidance raised to total-sales growth above 4.5% or adjusted diluted EPS above $15.28 without a lower operating-margin outlook.

checkable at: Fiscal 2026 Q2 or Q3 earnings release.

Trailing-twelve-month operating cash flow reaches at least $18.5 billion while annualized capital expenditures remain near $4.0 billion.

checkable at: Fiscal 2026 Form 10-K.

What would make it a seller

Reported Q2 comparable sales are negative, gross margin is below 32.8%, or adjusted diluted EPS is below $4.60.

checkable at: Fiscal 2026 Q2 earnings release and Form 10-Q.

Fiscal 2026 adjusted operating-margin guidance falls below 12.8% or adjusted diluted EPS guidance falls below $14.69.

checkable at: Fiscal 2026 Q2 or Q3 earnings release.

Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow is below $16.0 billion while inventory grows faster than sales and net debt is not reduced.

checkable at: Fiscal 2026 Form 10-K.

What must be true: Small-project demand must remain positive despite housing-affordability pressure; GMS and SRS must add sales without causing gross margin to fall materially below 33%; tariff and wage pressure must be offset by pricing, sourcing, shrink improvement, and productivity; and the pause in repurchases must translate into visible debt reduction and stronger equity.

Preview note, verbatim

Home Depot enters Q2 with a favorable seasonal setup but a mixed quality-of-growth debate. I forecast $47.45 billion of sales, up roughly 4.8%, supported by GMS annualization, new locations, positive ticket, and modestly positive core demand. The key issue is margin: acquired distribution revenue carries a lower gross margin, while tariffs, labor and continued Pro investments limit flow-through. I therefore model a 33.0% gross margin and 14.2% GAAP operating margin, producing $4.68 of GAAP diluted EPS and $4.82 adjusted. Three items should determine the reaction. First is comparable sales and whether transactions stabilize as smaller projects offset weak housing turnover and financing-sensitive remodels. Second is gross-margin execution against the 33.1% full-year framework, especially evidence that pricing, sourcing and shrink benefits are absorbing tariff pressure. Third is guidance: I expect the company to retain its existing sales and adjusted-EPS ranges rather than raise them materially. A print near my revenue estimate but below $4.70 of adjusted EPS would indicate poor acquisition mix or cost control. Conversely, at least 2% comparable-sales growth, gross margin above 33.2%, and adjusted EPS near $5 would demonstrate improving underlying demand and operating leverage.

Full model reasoning (verbatim)

The forecast starts with Q1 sales of $41.765 billion, 0.6% comparable-sales growth and adjusted EPS of $3.43, then applies normal Q2 seasonality to the prior-year Q2 base of $45.277 billion. Revenue growth remains near Q1 because GMS is incremental versus the prior-year quarter, while the core business benefits from modest price and small-project activity but remains constrained by affordability and low housing turnover. Gross margin is modeled below the prior-year quarter due primarily to the greater mix of lower-margin SRS and GMS distribution sales. SG&A leverage improves sequentially with seasonal volume, but acquisition-related amortization keeps GAAP EPS below adjusted EPS. Cash flow reflects Q2 working-capital normalization, approximately $1.05 billion of quarterly capital spending, no buybacks, the $2.33 quarterly dividend, and modest debt reduction. Longer term, the model assumes low-single-digit organic growth, continued Pro share gains, gradual margin recovery, sustained capital investment near $4 billion annually, and declining leverage.

Sealed as snap-354950-20260817T193257369495Z over corpus manifest 4678dd1f… (278 filings, five-year window). Replay: python -m rff.filing.snapshot --replay snap-354950-20260817T193257369495Z. Prompt v5.6. Nothing here is investment advice.