Home Depot (HD) vs Lowe's (LOW): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Lowe's is cheaper on earnings, at 19.0 times against 24.5; Home Depot keeps the higher net margin (8.4% against 7.3%); Lowe's grew revenue faster over the last year (8.2% against 2.5%); dividend yield is about the same (2.6% and 2.1%). Home Depot clears 4 of this site's 8 value filters and Lowe's 4. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Home Depot and Lowe's compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Home Depot (HD) | Lowe's (LOW) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $343.47 | $224.55 | |
| Market value | $349 billion | $126 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 24.5 | 19.0 | LOW |
| PEG ratio | 4.43 | 4.36 | About the same |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 4.3% | 5.5% | LOW |
| Net profit margin | 8.4% | 7.3% | HD |
| Revenue growth, last year | 2.5% | 8.2% | LOW |
| Return on equity | 102.7% | 264.5% | LOW |
| Debt to equity | 3.18 | 52.23 | HD |
| Dividend yield | 2.6% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -35.4% | -5.5% | LOW |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 4 | 4 | About the same |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.2% | -21.9% |
How have Home Depot and Lowe's shares done against each other?
Home Depot 93Lowe's 96
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Home Depot shares are down 7% and Lowe's shares down 4%, so the two have moved about together. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 35% for Home Depot and 38% for Lowe's.
| Period | Home Depot (HD) | Lowe's (LOW) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | -6.9% | -2.9% |
| Last 3 years | +16.6% | +15.6% |
| Last 5 years | -6.8% | -4.7% |
Which has grown faster, Home Depot or Lowe's?
Over 5 years, Home Depot grew revenue 4.5% a year and earnings per share 3.6% a year; Lowe's grew revenue -0.8% and earnings per share 8.8%. Its net margin averaged 9.9% at Home Depot and 8.1% at Lowe's.
| Measure | Home Depot (HD) | Lowe's (LOW) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Feb 2026 | Jan 2026 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $132 billion to $165 billion | $89.6 billion to $86.3 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 4.5% | -0.8% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $11.94 to $14.23 | $7.78 to $11.88 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 3.6% | 8.8% |
| Net margin, latest year | 8.6% | 7.7% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 9.9% | 8.1% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 7.7% | 8.9% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years. Fiscal years end in different months, so each is shown for its own latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Home Depot (HD) | Lowe's (LOW) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | 15.7% a year | 9.3% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $14.85 | $12.46 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -35.4% | -5.5% |
At $343.47, Home Depot's price implies free cash flow growth of 15.7% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
At $224.55, Lowe's's price implies free cash flow growth of 9.3% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Home Depot leads
- Higher net margin: 8.4% against 7.3%
- Less debt for its equity: 3.18 against 52.23
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 4.5% against -0.8%
- A higher average net margin: 9.9% against 8.1%
Where Lowe's leads
- Lower P/E: 19.0 against 24.5
- Higher free-cash-flow yield: 5.5% against 4.3%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 8.2% against 2.5%
- Higher return on equity: 264.5% against 102.7%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -5.5% against -35.4%
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 8.8% against 3.6%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 8.9% against 7.7%
About the same on: peg ratio, dividend yield, value filters passed (of 8), net margin, latest year. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Home Depot. Home Depot is the largest US home-improvement retailer, selling tools, building materials and appliances to homeowners and professional contractors in over 2,300 stores and online.
Lowe's. Lowe's is the second-largest US home-improvement chain, selling tools, appliances and building materials to homeowners and professional contractors in roughly 1,700 stores and online.
Both are in the Retail industry on this site. Both are US home-improvement chains with similar stores. Home Depot sells more to professional contractors, while Lowe's sells more to do-it-yourself customers.
What stands out about Home Depot
- Misses 2 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (4.43) and Price/Book < 8 (21.01); the other 4 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -10% on Oct 7 to -35% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: return on equity. At 103% (peer median 45%) it ranks 4th of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about Lowe's
- Misses 2 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (4.36) and Price/Book < 8 (283.49); the other 4 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: return on equity. At 265% (peer median 45%) it ranks 2nd of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
- Weakest against peers: debt / equity. At 52.23 (peer median 0.86) it ranks 21st of 21 among retail stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Home Depot and Lowe's
Which is cheaper, Home Depot or Lowe's?
On trailing earnings, Lowe's is cheaper: Home Depot trades at 24.5 times and Lowe's at 19.0 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 4.3% and 5.5%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Home Depot or Lowe's?
Their yields are about the same: Home Depot 2.6% and Lowe's 2.1% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Home Depot or Lowe's?
Over their latest filed five years, Home Depot grew revenue 4.5% a year and Lowe's -0.8%; earnings per share grew 3.6% and 8.8% a year.
Which has more debt, Home Depot or Lowe's?
Lowe's has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 3.18 for Home Depot and 52.23 for Lowe's. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Home Depot or Lowe's?
Home Depot keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 8.4% for Home Depot and 7.3% for Lowe's, with a return on equity of 102.7% and 264.5%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Both clear 4 of the 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, shown with each stock's page.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Home Depot and Lowe's). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.