By Kimberly Chin 

Home Depot Inc. lowered its sales forecast and warned that falling lumber prices -- as well as the potential effects of tariffs on U.S. consumers -- could weigh on growth.

The home-improvement retailer said fiscal 2019 sales growth would increase by 2.3%, down from its previous guidance of 3.3%. Same-store sales are projected to grow by about 4%, a percentage point lower than its previous forecast. The company affirmed its earnings guidance, projecting per-share earnings growth of about 3.1%.

Lower lumber prices, crimping what Home Depot can charge customers, have resulted in about $340 million in lost revenue from a year ago, Chief Financial Officer Carol Tomé said on a call with analysts Tuesday. Meanwhile, the volume of lumber has increased, she said.

The price of lumber has been in a slump this year, pulled downward by a flood of supply when prices peaked last year, as well as a decline in home building due to bad weather in key construction markets.

The company also said the potential role of tariffs factored into its revised guidance. Chief Executive Craig Menear said in a conference call that Home Depot has to weigh the uncertainty around the tariffs and the potential "total impact on the customer."

Ted Decker, executive vice president of merchandising, said on the analysts call that he and his team have been negotiating with merchants and suppliers to limit the tariff effects.

The number of customer transactions was flat from a year ago while average ticket prices rose 1.7%, and big-ticket transactions, or the number of comparable transactions over $1,000, climbed 3.7% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the amount of money customers spent per visit, rose 1.7%.

"The consumer is healthy today," Ms. Tomé said in an interview, citing the number of customers and transactions Home Depot sees in-stores and online.

She said consumer confidence is high, wages are up and homeowners are spending right now.

Same-store sales -- a common metric in retail based on revenue at stores open at least one year -- rose 3%. Analysts expected a 3.3% rise.

Overall sales for the Atlanta, Ga., company rose 1.2% to $30.84 billion from a year ago, slightly behind analysts' estimates of $31 billion, according to FactSet.

Home Depot said its second-quarter earnings fell to $3.48 billion, or $3.17 a share, but topped analysts' projections of $3.09 a share.

Shares of Home Depot rose 4.5% to $217.28 and has gained 26% in the year.

The company has made a number of investments to improve the in-store experience, particularly in its loyalty program for housing professionals, as well as enhancing its delivery, pick up and e-commerce capabilities and expanding its merchandise offerings to include such items as home décor and DIY projects. Expenses rose 1.3% in the quarter.

Write to Kimberly Chin at kimberly.chin@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 20, 2019 14:45 ET (18:45 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Home Depot (NYSE:HD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Home Depot Charts.
Home Depot (NYSE:HD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Home Depot Charts.