Earnings Duel: Lowe's Vs. Home Depot (LOW, HD)

This week we'll get to see earnings out of home improvement giants Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) and Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD).

Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) reports earnings on Monday.  First Call has estimates pegged at $0.40 EPS on $12.36 Billion in revenues.  Estimates for next quarter are $0.56 EPS on $14.37 Billion in revenues, and fiscal Jan-2009 estimates are $1.54 EPS on $49.35 Billion in revenues.  Analysts have an average price target of just over $28.20 and shares closed at $24.89 Friday.  Its 52-week range is $19.94 to $33.19 and its market cap is roughly $36.4 Billion.

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) reports its earnings Tuesday.  First Call has estimates pegged at $0.37 EPS on $17.6 Billion in revenues.  Estimates for next quarter are $0.66 EPS on $20.88 Billion in revenues, and fiscal Jan-2009 estimates are $1.76 EPS on $72.68 Billion in revenues.  Analysts have an average price target of just over $31.50 and shares closed at $29.10 Friday.  Its 52-week range is 23.77 to $41.19 and its market cap is roughly $49.2 Billion.

While both companies may give guidance for the coming quarter, there is one thing that might be a total wild card beyond the following quarter: hurricane season.

Jon C. Ogg
May 18, 2008