HD 10-K diff: FY 2024-01-28 → FY 2026-02-01
Paragraph-level diff of Risk Factors (Item 1A) and Management's Discussion & Analysis (Item 7).
Item 1A · Risk Factors
+73 paragraphs −69 paragraphs ~69 changed
FY 2024-01-28 (earlier)
Item 1A. Risk Factors.Our business, results of operations, and financial condition are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. In connection with any investment decision with respect to our securities, you should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information contained in this report and our other filings with the SEC. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Should any of these risks materialize, our business, results of operations, financial condition and future prospects could be negatively impacted, which in turn could affect the trading value of our securities. You should read these Risk Factors in conjunction with Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 8.STRATEGIC RISKSStrong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products and services and could decrease our market share.Our industry is highly competitive, highly fragmented, and evolving. As a result, we face competition for customers for our products and services from a variety of retailers, suppliers, service providers, and distributors and manufacturers that sell products directly to their respective customer bases.
These competitors range from traditional brick-and-mortar, to multichannel, to exclusively online, and they include a number of other home improvement retailers; local, regional and national hardware stores; electrical, plumbing and building materials supply houses; and lumber yards. With respect to some products and services, we also compete with specialty design stores, showrooms, discount stores, paint stores, specialty and mass digital retailers, warehouse clubs, MRO distributors, home décor retailers, and other retailers, as well as with providers of home improvement services and tool and equipment rental. The internet facilitates competitive entry, price transparency, and comparison shopping, increasing the level of competition we face.
We compete primarily based on customer experience; price; quality; product availability, assortment, and innovation; and delivery options, both in-store and online. We also compete based on store location and appearance, presentation of merchandise, and ease of shopping experience throughout every step of the project, from inspiration and research to any post-purchase support. Our Pros also look for dedicated sales support, competitive credit and pricing options, project planning tools, product depth and job lot quantities, particularly for their complex purchase needs. Furthermore, customers are increasingly shopping online and seeking faster and/or guaranteed delivery times, low-price or free shipping, and/or convenient pickup options. Our ability to be competitive on delivery and pickup times, options and costs depends on many factors, including leveraging the momentum of our investments in our supply chain and our interconnected retail capabilities to further enhance the customer shopping experience. Failure to successfully manage these factors and offer competitive delivery and pickup options could negatively impact our profit margins and the demand for our products.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K10
Table of ContentsWe use our marketing, advertising and promotional programs to drive customer traffic and compete more effectively, and we must regularly assess and adjust our efforts to address changes in the competitive landscape. Intense competitive pressures from one or more of our competitors, such as through aggressive promotional pricing or liquidation events, or our inability to adapt effectively and quickly to a changing competitive landscape, could adversely affect our prices, our margins, or demand for our products and services. If we are unable to timely and appropriately respond to these competitive pressures, including through the delivery of a superior interconnected customer experience or through maintenance of effective sales and marketing, advertising or promotional programs leveraging both our digital and physical platforms, our market share and our financial performance could be adversely affected. In fiscal 2023 we also continued to operate in an inflationary and rising interest rate environment, and the long-term outlook is difficult to predict. If we experience inflation or deflation at a level beyond our ability to respond effectively, we may not be able to adjust prices to sufficiently offset the effects without negatively impacting consumer demand or margins, as applicable, or it may adversely affect our ability to compete based on price.
We may not timely identify or effectively respond to consumer needs, expectations or trends, which could adversely affect our relationship with our customers, the demand for our products and services, and our market share.
The success of our business depends in part on our ability to identify and respond promptly to evolving trends in demographics; shifts in consumer preferences, expectations and needs; changes in the macroeconomic environment; and unexpected weather conditions, natural disasters, or public health issues (including pandemics and related impacts) that impact our customers, while also managing appropriate inventory levels in our stores and distribution or fulfillment centers and maintaining an excellent customer experience. It is difficult to successfully predict the products and services our customers will demand. As our customers expect a more personalized experience, our ability to collect, use, retain, and protect relevant customer data is important to our ability to effectively meet their expectations. Our ability to collect and use that data, however, is subject to a number of external factors, including the impact of legislation or regulations governing data privacy, data-driven technologies such as artificial intelligence, and data security, as well as customer expectations around data collection, retention, and use. In addition, each of our primary customer groups has different needs and expectations, many of which evolve as the demographics in a particular customer group change. Customer preferences and expectations related to sustainability of products and operations are also changing. In addition, as the impacts of COVID-19 have subsided, customers have shifted more of their spending back to travel, dining and other experiences, compared to the historic levels of home improvement spending we saw during the heights of the pandemic. If we do not successfully differentiate the shopping experience to attract our customers and meet their individual needs and expectations, it may adversely impact our sales or our market share.
Customer expectations about the methods by which they purchase and receive products or services are also becoming more demanding. Customers routinely and increasingly use technology and a variety of electronic devices and digital platforms to rapidly compare products and prices, read product reviews, determine real-time product availability, and purchase products, and new channels and tools to expand the customer experience appear and change rapidly. Our Pros also look for additional capabilities, including dedicated sales support, competitive credit and pricing options, project planning tools, and product depth and job lot quantities, particularly for their complex purchase needs. Once products are purchased, customers seek alternate options for delivery of those products, including advance ordering through digital platforms for Pros, and they often expect quick, timely, and low-price or free delivery and/or convenient pickup options. We must continually anticipate and adapt to these changes in the shopping and purchasing process by continuing to adjust and enhance the online and in-store customer experience as well as our delivery options. The coordinated operation of our network of physical stores, distribution facilities, and online platforms is fundamental to the success of our interconnected strategy. We cannot guarantee that our current or future fulfillment options will be maintained and implemented successfully or that we will be able to meet customer expectations on delivery or pickup times, options and costs. In addition, as our customers continue to leverage our enhanced interconnected shopping and fulfillment options, a greater concentration of online sales with direct fulfillment could result in a reduction in the amount of traffic in our stores, which would, in turn, reduce the opportunities for cross-selling of merchandise that such traffic creates and could reduce our overall sales and adversely affect our financial performance. A greater concentration of online sales with direct fulfillment could also result in higher costs for delivery, potentially impacting our profit margins.
Failure to provide a relevant and effective customer experience in a timely manner that keeps pace with technological developments and dynamic customer expectations; to maintain appropriate inventory; to provide quick and low-price or free delivery alternatives and convenient pickup options; to differentiate the customer experience for our primary customer groups; to effectively implement an increasingly localized merchandising assortment; or to
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K11
Table of Contentsotherwise timely identify or respond to changing consumer preferences, expectations and home improvement needs could adversely affect our relationship with our customers, the demand for our products and services, and our market share.
A positive brand and reputation are critical to our business success, and, if our brand and reputation are damaged, it could negatively impact our relationships with our customers, current and potential associates, suppliers, vendors, and shareholders, and, consequently, our business and results of operations or the price of our stock.
Our brand and reputation are critical to attracting customers, current and potential associates, suppliers and vendors to do business with us. We must continue to manage and protect our brand and reputation. Negative incidents can erode trust and confidence quickly, and adverse publicity about us could damage our brand and reputation; undermine our customers’ confidence in us; reduce demand for our products and services; affect our ability to recruit, engage, motivate and retain associates; attract regulatory scrutiny; and impact our relationships with current and potential suppliers and vendors. Our suppliers’ and vendors’ business practices and positions may also be attributed to us, regardless of our Company’s actions, meaning the actions of third parties pose similar risks to our brand and reputation. Further, our actual or perceived position or lack of position on social, environmental, governance, political, public policy, economic, geopolitical, or other sensitive issues, and any perceived lack of transparency about those matters, could harm our reputation with certain groups. In addition, we could be criticized for the scope or nature of ESG-related initiatives or goals, or for any revisions to or failure to achieve these goals on a timely basis or at all. If our ESG-related data, processes and reporting are incomplete or inaccurate, we could face regulatory scrutiny, litigation and/or adverse reputational impacts. Customers are also increasingly using social media to provide feedback and information about our Company, including our products and services, in a manner that can be quickly and broadly disseminated. Negative sentiment about the Company shared over social media, or misinformation from fraudulent accounts impersonating the Company, could impact our brand and reputation, whether or not it is based in fact.
The execution of initiatives to implement our interconnected retail strategy could adversely impact our business operations or financial results, and these initiatives might not provide the anticipated benefits.
Over the past several years, we have made significant investments to execute our interconnected retail strategy, including enhancing and expanding our supply chain, developing differentiated capabilities for our customers, expanding our store base, and making strategic acquisitions. These investments are designed to streamline our operations to allow our associates to continue to provide high-quality service to our customers; simplify customer interactions; provide our customers with a more interconnected shopping experience; expand our sales to larger Pros and better address their complex purchase needs; and create the fastest, most efficient, and most reliable delivery network for home improvement products. Executing our interconnected retail strategy requires continual investment in our operations and information technology systems, as well as the development and execution of new processes, systems and support. Investment in our supply chain also involves significant real estate projects as we expand our distribution network, requiring us to identify and secure available locations with appropriate characteristics needed to support the different types of facilities. In addition, our stores are a key element of our interconnected retail strategy, serving as the hub of our customers’ interconnected shopping experience. We have an aging store base that requires maintenance, investment, and space reallocation initiatives to deliver the shopping experience that our customers desire. We also need to identify and secure available locations with appropriate characteristics for new stores to ensure we can continue to serve our customers effectively.
We must effectively manage the volume, timing, nature, location, and cost of our investments, projects and changes. Failure to continue to make investments to effectively support our strategy and to implement or integrate those investments in the right manner and at the right pace could adversely impact our business operations or financial results. The cost and potential problems, defects of design, and interruptions associated with the implementation of these initiatives, including those associated with managing third-party service providers, employing new online tools and services, implementing new technologies such as artificial intelligence, implementing and restructuring support systems and processes, securing appropriate store and facility locations, and addressing impacts on inventory levels, could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations in the near term, lead to product availability issues, create complexity in our systems and operations and impact our profitability. Our investments to enhance our interconnected shopping experience, including investments in our store base, supply chain, and capabilities, might not provide the anticipated benefits, or might take longer than expected to complete, integrate or realize anticipated benefits, each of which could adversely impact our competitive position and our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K12
Table of ContentsIf we are unable to effectively manage and expand our alliances and relationships with certain suppliers of both brand name and proprietary products, we may be unable to effectively execute our strategy to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.
As part of our focus on product differentiation, we have formed strategic alliances and exclusive relationships with certain suppliers to market products under a variety of well-recognized brand names. We have also developed relationships with certain suppliers to allow us to market proprietary products that are comparable to national brands. Our proprietary products differentiate us from other retailers and generally carry higher margins than national brand products. If we are unable to manage and expand these alliances and relationships, maintain favorable terms with current suppliers, or identify alternative sources for comparable brand name and proprietary products, we may not be able to effectively execute product differentiation, which may impact our sales and gross margin results. Our suppliers’ business practices and positions may also be attributed to us, regardless of our Company’s actions, meaning that controversies regarding our suppliers of brand name or proprietary products pose risks to our reputation and brand, and could require us to quickly identify alternative sources for comparable products.
Our strategic transactions involve risks, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions.
We regularly consider and enter into strategic transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, investments, alliances, and other growth and market expansion strategies. We generally expect that these transactions will result in sales increases, cost savings, synergies, enhanced capabilities or various other benefits. Assessing the viability and realizing the benefits of these transactions is subject to significant uncertainty. For each of our acquisitions, we need to determine the appropriate level of integration of the target company’s products, services, associates, and information technology, financial, human resources, compliance, and other systems and processes, and then successfully manage that integration into our corporate structure. Integration can be a complex and time-consuming process, and if the integration is not fully successful or is delayed for a material period of time, we may not achieve the anticipated synergies or benefits of the acquisition. In addition, the integration of businesses may create increased complexity in our financial systems, internal controls, technology and cybersecurity systems, and operations and may make them more difficult to manage. Even if the target companies are successfully integrated, the acquisitions may fail to further our business strategy as anticipated, expose us to increased competition or challenges with respect to our products or services, and expose us to additional risks and liabilities. Strategic transactions may also be subject to significant regulatory uncertainty. The changing enforcement landscape may result in additional costs or delays that affect the anticipated outcome of a transaction. Any failure in the execution of a strategic transaction or investment, our approach to the integration of an acquired asset or business, or achievement of synergies or other benefits could result in slower growth, higher than expected costs, the recording of an impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, and other actions which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.OPERATIONAL RISKSOur success depends upon our ability to attract, develop and retain highly qualified associates to provide excellent customer service and to support our strategic initiatives while also controlling our labor costs.
Our customers expect a high level of customer service and product knowledge from our associates. To meet the needs and expectations of our customers, we must attract, develop and retain a large number of highly qualified associates and maintain a productive relationship with those associates. Our ability to meet our labor needs while controlling labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including increased market pressures with respect to prevailing wage rates, unemployment levels, and health and other insurance costs; the impact of legislation or regulations governing labor relations, employment, immigration, minimum wage, and healthcare benefits; changing demographics and expectations among the workforce; public health concerns; and our reputation within the labor market. We also compete with other retail businesses for many of our associates in hourly positions, and we invest significant resources in training and motivating them to maintain a high level of job satisfaction. These positions often have high turnover rates, which can lead to increased training and retention costs, particularly in a competitive labor market. We have faced and may continue to face additional challenges in recruiting and retaining associates due to wage pressure; flexible scheduling needs; health and safety concerns; and challenges related to a remote or hybrid working environment for associates who work in our store support centers. We are also subject to labor union efforts to organize groups of our associates from time to time and, if successful, those organizational efforts may decrease our operational flexibility and efficiency, and/or otherwise negatively impact our operations or reputation. These factors, together with competition among potential employers, have resulted in and may continue to result in increased salaries, benefits, or other employee-related costs, and/or may impair our ability to recruit and retain
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K13
Table of Contentsassociates, which could have an adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, to execute our interconnected retail strategy, including our supply chain investments, we must attract and retain a large number of skilled professionals, including technology professionals, to implement our ongoing technology and other investments. The market for these professionals is very competitive. An inability to provide wages and/or benefits, including remote or hybrid work flexibility, that are competitive within the markets in which we operate could adversely affect our ability to retain and attract associates. Further, changes in market compensation rates may adversely affect our labor costs.
Additionally, our ability to successfully execute organizational changes, including management transitions within the Company’s senior leadership, and to effectively motivate and retain associates is critical to our business success. If we are unable to locate, attract or retain qualified associates, or manage leadership transitions successfully, our ability to effectively manage our strategy may be negatively impacted, the quality of service we provide to our customers may decrease, and our financial performance may be adversely affected.
A failure of a key information technology system or process could adversely affect our business.
We rely extensively on information technology systems and related personnel to collect, use, retain, manage, transmit, and protect transactions and data. Some of these systems are managed or provided by third-party service providers, including certain cloud platform providers. In managing our business, we also rely heavily on the integrity of, security of, and consistent access to, systems that provide operational and financial data and capabilities related to sales (both in store and online), customer data, supplier data, associate data, job applicant data, partner data, demand forecasting, merchandise ordering, inventory replenishment, supply chain management, payment processing, order fulfillment, customer service, and post-purchase matters. For these information technology systems, applications, and processes to operate effectively, we or our service providers must maintain and update them. Delays in the maintenance, updates, upgrading, or patching of these systems, applications or processes, as well as the actions taken to maintain, update, upgrade and patch, could, and on occasion have, impaired their effectiveness or exposed us to security risks. Our systems and the third-party systems with which we interact, as well as any systems those third parties utilize, are subject to and on occasion have experienced damage, interruption, or malicious activity from a number of causes, including power and other critical infrastructure outages; computer and telecommunications failures; computer viruses; data or security breaches; internal or external data theft or misuse; cyber-attacks, including the use of malicious codes, worms, phishing, smishing, vishing, spyware, denial of service attacks, and ransomware; responsive containment measures by us that may involve voluntarily taking systems offline; natural disasters and catastrophic events such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other extreme weather events; public health concerns, such as pandemics and quarantines; geopolitical or military conflicts, acts of war, terrorism or civil unrest; other systems outages; inadequate or ineffective redundancy; and design or usage errors or malfeasance by our associates, contractors or third-party service providers. In addition, as more business activities have shifted online, and as many of our store support associates continue to work in a remote or hybrid environment, we face an increased risk due to the potential failure of internal or external information technology infrastructure as well as increased cybersecurity threats and attempts to breach our security networks.
Although we and our third-party service providers seek to maintain our respective systems effectively and to successfully address the risk of compromise of the integrity, security and consistent operations of these systems, such efforts are not always successful. As a result, we or our service providers could experience and on some occasions have experienced errors, interruptions, delays or cessations of service in key portions of our information technology infrastructure, which could significantly disrupt our operations or impair data security; impact our ability to operate or access communications, financial or banking systems; be costly, time-consuming and resource-intensive to remedy; and adversely impact our reputation and relationship with our customers, associates, suppliers, shareholders or regulators. We may have to expend significant resources to mitigate the impact of any errors, interruptions, delays or cessations of service and may have insufficient recourse against service providers who experience such events.
In addition, we are currently making, and expect to continue to make, substantial investments in our information technology systems, infrastructure and personnel, in certain cases with the assistance of strategic partners and other third-party service providers. These investments involve replacing existing systems, some of which are older, legacy systems that are less flexible and efficient, with successor systems; outsourcing certain technology and business processes to third-party service providers; making changes to existing systems, including the migration of applications to the cloud; maintaining or enhancing legacy systems that are not currently being replaced; designing or cost-effectively acquiring new systems with new functionality; or testing the use and incorporation of artificial
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K14
Table of Contentsintelligence, including generative artificial intelligence. These efforts could result, and on occasion have resulted, in significant potential risks, including failure of the systems to operate as designed, unexpected impacts on related systems or processes, potential loss or corruption of data, failures in security processes and internal controls, cost overruns, implementation delays or errors, disruption of operations, and the potential inability to meet business and reporting requirements. Any system implementation and transition difficulty may result in operational challenges, security failures, reputational harm, and increased costs that could adversely affect our business operations, our relationships with our customers, and results of operations.
Disruptions in our customer-facing technology systems could impair our interconnected retail strategy and give rise to negative customer experiences.
Through our information technology systems, we are able to provide an improved overall shopping and interconnected experience that empowers our customers to shop and interact with us from a variety of electronic devices and digital platforms at each stage of their shopping journey. We use our digital platforms as sales channels for our products and services, as methods of providing inspiration, and as sources of product, project, and other relevant information to our customers to help drive sales. We also have multiple online communities, digital platforms, and knowledge centers that allow us to inform, assist and interact with our customers. The retail industry is continually evolving and expanding, with a significant increase in sales initiated online and via mobile applications in recent years. We may not be successful at managing this increased volume and related delivery options without interruption in the future. Additionally, we must effectively respond to new developments and changing customer preferences with respect to a complex, evolving digital and interconnected experience. We continually seek to enhance all of our online and digital properties to provide a personalized, user-friendly interface for our customers. Disruptions, delays, failures or other performance issues with our customer-facing technology systems, either due to increased volume, system modifications, or other factors, or a failure of these systems to meet our or our customers’ expectations, could impair the value they provide, adversely impact our sales, and negatively affect our relationship with our customers.
Disruptions in our supply chain and other factors affecting the availability and distribution of our merchandise could adversely impact our business.
Disruption within our logistics or supply chain network, such as the industry-wide supply chain challenges that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, have in the past and may in the future adversely affect our ability to receive and deliver inventory in a timely manner, impair our ability to meet customer demand for products, and result in lost sales, increased supply chain costs, and/or damage to our reputation. Such disruptions may result from damage or destruction to our distribution or fulfillment centers or those of our supply chain service providers; weather-related events; cybersecurity incidents or attacks; natural disasters; international trade disputes, trade policy changes or restrictions, or import- or export-related governmental sanctions or restrictions; customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; quotas, tariffs or other import-related taxes; strikes, lock-outs, work stoppages or slowdowns; shortages of supply chain labor, including truck drivers; shipping capacity constraints, including shortages of related equipment; raw material or other shortages; third-party contract disputes or inability to maintain favorable contract terms; supply or shipping interruptions or costs; increased costs or unavailability of fuel; geopolitical or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; acts of terrorism; public health issues, including pandemics or quarantines and other related impacts; civil unrest; or other factors beyond our control. In recent years, ports in the U.S. and elsewhere have been impacted by capacity constraints, port congestion and delays, periodic labor disputes, security issues, weather-related events, and natural disasters.
As we saw during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic, these types of disruptions place strain on the domestic and international supply chain, which affected and may in the future negatively affect the flow or availability of certain products. Even when we are able to find alternate sources for certain products, they may cost more or require us to incur higher transportation costs, which could adversely impact our profitability and financial condition. Increased demand for online purchases of products, which we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, can impact our fulfillment operations, as well as those of our third-party carriers, resulting in delays in delivering products to customers and increases in our out-of-stock levels.
We and our suppliers have experienced, and may continue to experience, labor shortages at some of our distribution and fulfillment centers both due to unexpected events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and to the competitive labor market. Such labor shortages, whether temporary or sustained, may adversely impact the flow or availability of products to our stores and customers.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K15
Table of ContentsAny of these circumstances could impair our ability to meet customer demand for products and result in lost sales, increased supply chain costs, or damage to our reputation, any of which could negatively impact our business performance or financial condition.
Failure to maintain a safe and secure store environment may adversely impact sales, costs, the customer and associate experience, or our brand and reputation.
Our customers and associates expect a safe store environment in which to shop and work, and maintaining that environment helps protect against loss or theft of our inventory (also called “shrink”). Like other retailers, we have seen an increase in shrink in recent years, particularly as a result of organized retail crime. While we have a number of initiatives underway to address shrink, minimize theft, and maintain safety in and around our stores, these efforts require operational changes that may increase costs and reduce margins, and they may negatively impact the customer experience. Furthermore, an unsafe environment or negative incidents in or around our stores may erode trust and confidence with customers, associates, or potential associates, which can adversely impact sales, associate morale and retention, and our brand and reputation.
If our efforts to maintain the privacy and security of customer, associate, job applicant, business partner, and Company information are not successful, we could incur substantial costs and reputational damage and could become subject to litigation and enforcement actions.
Our business, like that of most retailers, involves the collection, use, retention, management, transmission, and deletion of personal information (including identifiers, localization, internet activity, preferences, and payment information) from our customers, associates, job applicants, and business partners, as well as confidential Company information. We also work with third-party service providers that provide technology, systems and services that we use in connection with the handling of information. Our information systems, and those of our third-party service providers, are vulnerable to continually evolving data protection and cybersecurity risks. Unauthorized parties have in the past gained access, and will continue to attempt to gain access, to these systems and data through fraud or other means of deceiving or coercing our associates or third-party service providers, which could jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of such information systems or our information. Hardware, software or applications we develop or obtain from third parties may contain exploitable vulnerabilities, bugs, or defects in design, maintenance or manufacture or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise information security. We have experienced and continue to face the ongoing risk of exploitation of our software providers and our software development and implementation process, including from coding and process vulnerabilities and the installation of so-called back doors that provide unauthorized access to systems and data. The increased use of a remote workforce has also expanded the possible attack surface areas. In addition, the risk of cyber-attacks has increased in connection with geopolitical conflicts and ongoing trade and diplomatic tensions. In light of the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and other geopolitical events, nation-state actors or their supporters may launch retaliatory cyber-attacks, and may attempt to cause supply chain and other third-party service provider disruptions, or take other geopolitically-motivated retaliatory actions that may disrupt our business operations, result in data compromise, or both. Nation-state actors have in the past carried out, and may in the future carry out, cyber-attacks to achieve their aims and goals, which may include espionage , monetary gain, disruption, and destruction. To achieve their objectives, nation-state actors and other cyber criminals have used and may continue to use numerous attack vectors and methods, including use of stolen passwords, social engineering, phishing, smishing, vishing, identity spoofing, ransomware or other disruptive and destructive malware, supply chain compromises, and man-in-the-middle and denial of service attacks. The methods used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems are constantly changing and evolving, increasing in frequency and sophistication, and may be difficult to anticipate or detect for long periods of time.
The ever-evolving cybersecurity threat landscape means that we and our third-party service providers and business partners must continually evaluate and adapt our respective systems and processes and overall security environment, as well as those of companies we or they acquire. There is no guarantee that the measures we take will be adequate to safeguard against all threats, including vulnerabilities, data security breaches, system compromises or misuses of data. As we have experienced in the past, any significant compromise or breach of our data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of customer, associate, job applicant, business partner, or Company data, could result in significant costs, including costs to investigate and remediate, as well as lost sales, fines, lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and damage to our reputation. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and may not immediately produce signs of anomalous activity or compromise, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. Additionally, as we have experienced in the past, we or our third-party service providers may not discover any security breach, vulnerability or compromise of information for a significant period of time after the occurrence of a security incident. Furthermore, our cyber insurance coverage may not be
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K16
Table of Contentsadequate for liabilities or costs actually incurred, and we cannot be certain that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage of a future claim.
Data governance failures can also adversely affect our reputation and business. Our business depends on our customers’, associates’, job applicants’ and business partners’ willingness to entrust us with their personal information. Events that adversely affect that trust, including inadequate disclosure to our customers, associates, job applicants, or business partners of our uses of their information or failing to keep our information technology systems and our customers’, associates’, job applicants’ and business partners’ personal information secure from significant attack, theft, damage, loss or unauthorized disclosure or access, whether as a result of our action or inaction (including human error or malfeasance) or that of our service providers or other third parties, could adversely affect our brand and harm our reputation.
The regulatory environment related to data privacy and cybersecurity is constantly changing, with new and increasingly rigorous requirements applicable to our business. The implementation of these requirements has also become more complex. Maintaining our adherence to evolving data privacy and cybersecurity regulatory requirements, including state privacy laws, requires significant effort and cost, requires changes to our business practices, and may limit our ability to collect and use certain data to support the customer experience. In addition, many regulators have indicated an intention to take more aggressive enforcement actions regarding data privacy and cybersecurity matters, and private litigation resulting from such matters is increasing and resulting in progressively larger judgments and settlements. Failure to comply with applicable requirements could subject us to fines, sanctions, governmental investigations, or lawsuits, which could lead to negative publicity and reputational harm, and may cause customers to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our cybersecurity measures, data privacy practices, or our business more generally.We are subject to payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability, and potentially disrupt our business.We accept payments using a variety of methods, including credit and debit cards, our private label credit cards, cash, electronic payments, checks, digital wallets, loan programs including installment loans, trade credit, and gift cards, and we may offer new payment options over time. Acceptance of these payment options subjects us to rules, regulations, contractual obligations and compliance requirements, including payment network rules and operating guidelines, data security standards and certification requirements, and rules governing electronic funds transfers. These requirements may change over time or be reinterpreted, making compliance more difficult, costly, or uncertain. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange fees and other costs to accept these payments, and we may also incur losses, all of which may increase over time and raise our operating costs. We rely on third parties to provide payment processing services, including the processing of credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of electronic payment. If these companies become unable to provide these services to us, or if their systems are compromised, it could potentially disrupt our business. The payment methods that we offer, and the selling channels in which we operate, also subject us to potential fraud and theft by threat actors, who are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, seeking to obtain unauthorized access to or exploit weaknesses that may exist in our sales, payments and payment processing systems. If we fail to comply with applicable rules or requirements for the payment methods we accept, or if payment-related data is compromised due to a breach or misuse of data, we may be liable for costs incurred by payment card issuing banks and other third parties or we may be subject to fines and higher transaction fees, or our ability to accept or facilitate certain types of payments may be impaired. We anticipate expanding our trade credit as we grow our capabilities to support Pro complex purchase needs. If we fail to offer attractive terms or services, or employ underwriting criteria that are not competitive, our ability to grow our sales to these Pros may be adversely impacted. If trade credit continues to grow and our Pros are unable to make their payments, we may experience an increase in our losses. In addition, our customers could lose confidence in certain payment types, or may expect or demand payment methods that we do not currently offer, which could result in competitive disadvantages or require a shift to other payment types or potential changes to our payment systems that may result in higher costs. As a result, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Our business is subject to seasonal influences, and uncharacteristic or significant weather conditions, climate change, natural disasters, as well as other catastrophic events, could impact our operations.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, fires, floods, droughts or water scarcity, tornadoes, and earthquakes; unseasonable, unexpected or extreme weather conditions, whether as a result of climate change or otherwise; acts of terrorism or violence, including active shooter situations; public health concerns, such as pandemics and quarantines and related impacts; civil unrest; geopolitical or military conflicts or acts of war, as well
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K17
Table of Contentsas any related sanctions or other government or private responses; or similar disruptions and catastrophic events could have and have on occasion had an adverse effect on our operations or financial performance in a number of ways. These types of events can affect consumer spending and confidence and consumers’ disposable income, particularly with respect to home improvement or construction projects. They can also adversely affect our work force and prevent associates and customers from reaching our stores and other facilities. They can, temporarily or on a long-term basis, disrupt or disable operations of stores, support centers, and portions of our supply chain and distribution network, including causing reductions in the availability of inventory and disruption of utility services. In addition, these events may affect our information systems and digital platforms, resulting in disruption to various aspects of our operations, including our ability to transact with customers and fulfill orders; to communicate with our stores, facilities, store support centers or senior management; or to access financial or banking systems. Unseasonable, unexpected or extreme weather conditions such as excessive precipitation, warm temperatures during the winter season, or prolonged or extreme periods of warm or cold temperatures, could render a portion of our inventory incompatible with customer needs.
Furthermore, the long-term impacts of climate change, whether involving physical risks (such as extreme weather conditions) or transition risks (such as regulatory or technology changes) are expected to be widespread and unpredictable. These changes over time could affect, for example, the availability and cost of or demand for certain consumer products, commodities, and energy (including utilities), which in turn may impact our ability to procure certain goods or services for the operation of our business at the quantities and levels we consider optimal.
As a consequence of these or other catastrophic or uncharacteristic events, we may experience interruption to our operations, increased costs, changes in customer behavior or demand, or losses of property, equipment or inventory, which would adversely affect our revenue and profitability.If we fail to identify and develop relationships with a sufficient number of qualified suppliers, or if our suppliers experience financial difficulties or other challenges, our ability to timely and efficiently access products that meet our high standards for quality could be adversely affected.We buy our products from suppliers located around the world, who in turn procure materials from across the globe. Our ability to continue to identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers who can satisfy our standards for quality and responsible sourcing, as well as our need to access products in a timely and efficient manner, is a significant challenge. Our ability to access products from our suppliers can be adversely affected by economic or political instability; civil unrest; geopolitical or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; acts of terrorism or violence; public health issues (including pandemics and related impacts); the financial instability of suppliers; suppliers’ noncompliance with applicable laws; contract disputes or inability to maintain favorable contract terms; trade restrictions; tariffs; currency exchange rates; disruptions in our suppliers’ logistics or supply chain networks or information technology systems; inability to sell certain products due to customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; raw material or other shortages; actual, potential or perceived noncompliance with our standards for suppliers or other controversies regarding suppliers’ business practices; and other factors beyond our or our suppliers’ control. If we are unable to access products to meet our customers’ demands and expectations in a timely and efficient manner, our sales and gross margin results may be adversely impacted.Failure to achieve and maintain a high level of product and service quality and safety and ensure compliance with responsible sourcing laws and standards could damage our reputation with customers, expose us to litigation or enforcement actions, and negatively impact our sales and results of operations.Product and service quality issues could negatively impact customer confidence in our brands and our Company. If our product and service offerings do not meet applicable product standards or our customers’ expectations regarding safety, quality , or responsible business practices, we could experience lost sales and increased costs and be exposed to legal, financial and reputational risks, as well as governmental enforcement actions. Actual, potential or perceived product safety concerns, including health-related concerns, could expose, and in some cases have exposed, us to litigation or government enforcement actions, and could result in costly product recalls and other liabilities. We may not be successful in obtaining adequate contractual indemnification and insurance coverage from our suppliers and service providers, which may result in claims having an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even with adequate insurance and indemnification, our reputation as a provider of high-quality products, including both national brand names and our proprietary products, could suffer, damaging our reputation and impacting customer loyalty. In addition, we and our customers have expectations around responsible sourcing, which is an increasing focus of government regulators as well. All of our suppliers must comply with our responsible sourcing standards, which cover a variety of expectations across multiple areas of social compliance, including supply chain transparency, health and safety, environmental laws and regulations,
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K18
Table of Contentscompensation, hours of work, and prohibitions on child and forced labor. Further, all of our suppliers must comply with Company policies and applicable law, including the laws of the jurisdictions from which products and materials are sourced, regarding the sourcing of raw materials, including timber and minerals, used in our products. We have a responsible sourcing audit process, but we are also dependent on our suppliers to ensure that the products and services we provide to our customers comply with our standards and applicable law, including with respect to information provided by suppliers to government agencies about the source of the products or the constituent elements of those products. Further, the supply chain for some of the products we sell may be too attenuated for us to know with certainty the source of some of the components, such as timber, minerals, or other raw materials, of the products we sell. Actual, potential or perceived supplier non-compliance with our standards or applicable law — including allegations of non-compliance raised by non-governmental organizations or in third-party reports — could, and in certain instances in the past has, exposed us to litigation or governmental enforcement actions or resulted in costly product recalls; resulted in inability to sell certain products due to failure to meet our standards or due to customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; impacted our reputation; and resulted in termination of supplier relationships and/or other liabilities.Our proprietary products subject us to certain increased risks, including regulatory, product liability, intellectual property, supplier relations, and reputational risks.
In addition to other product-related risks discussed in this section, as we expand our proprietary product offerings, we may become subject to increased risks due to our greater role in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of those products. The risks include greater responsibility to administer and comply with applicable regulatory requirements, increased potential product liability and product recall exposure, and increased potential reputational risks related to the responsible sourcing of those products. To effectively execute on our product differentiation strategy, we must also be able to successfully protect our proprietary rights and successfully navigate and avoid claims related to the proprietary rights of third parties. In addition, an increase in sales of our proprietary products may adversely affect sales of our suppliers’ products, which in turn could adversely affect our relationships with certain of our suppliers. Any failure to appropriately address some or all of these risks could damage our reputation and have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.If we are unable to effectively manage our installation services business, we could suffer lost sales and be subject to fines, lawsuits, reputational damage or the loss of our general contractor licenses.
We act as a general contractor to provide installation services to our DIFM customers through professional third-party licensed and insured installers. As such, we are subject to regulatory requirements and risks applicable to general contractors, which include management of background checks, licensing, permitting, and handling of environmental risks, as well as quality of work performed by our third-party installers. We have established processes and procedures to manage these requirements and manage customer satisfaction with the services provided by our third-party installers. However, as we experienced in part with our recent EPA investigation, the resulting consent decree in April 2021, and the subsequent discussions with the EPA regarding compliance with the consent decree, if we fail to manage these processes effectively, collect the appropriate documentation, perform regular job site inspections, or provide proper oversight of these services, we could suffer lost sales, fines, lawsuits, or governmental enforcement actions for violations of regulatory requirements, as well as claims for property damage or personal injury. In addition, we may suffer damage to our reputation or the loss of our general contractor licenses, which could adversely affect our business.
LEGAL, FINANCIAL, REGULATORY, GLOBAL AND OTHER EXTERNAL RISKS
Uncertainty regarding the housing market, economic conditions, political and social climate, public health issues, and other factors beyond our control could adversely affect demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business, and our financial performance.
Our financial performance depends significantly on the stability of the housing and home improvement markets, as well as general economic conditions, including changes in gross domestic product. Adverse conditions in or uncertainty about these markets, the economy, or the political or social climate could adversely impact, and we believe in some cases has adversely impacted, our customers’ confidence or financial condition, causing them to decide against purchasing home improvement products and services, causing them to delay purchasing decisions, or impacting their ability to pay for products and services. Other factors beyond our control – including unemployment and foreclosure rates; inventory loss due to theft (including as a result of organized retail crime); interest rate fluctuations, including central banks’ actions to control inflation; inflation or deflation; fuel and other energy costs; raw material or other shortages; labor and healthcare costs; the availability of financing; the state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; changes in tax rates and policy;
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K19
Table of Contentsweather and natural disasters (including the potential impacts of climate change); acts of terrorism or violence, including active shooter situations; public health issues, including pandemics and related impacts; geopolitical or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; and civil unrest, could further adversely affect demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business, and our financial performance. A number of merchandise categories have been impacted by inflation due to, among other things, global supply chain disruptions and the uncertain economic and geopolitical environment. If we experience inflation or deflation at a level beyond our ability to respond effectively, we may not be able to adjust prices to sufficiently offset the effects without negatively impacting consumer demand or margins. In an effort to address inflation, central banks have raised interest rates, which has impacted and may continue to adversely impact demand, including influencing in part the shifts in consumer purchasing from big-ticket, more discretionary purchases to smaller, less discretionary purchases that we experienced in fiscal 2023. Further, our MRO customers, who have higher spend and longer-term relationships than a typical retail customer, primarily use trade credit to finance their purchases, and some of our other Pros use trade credit in order to purchase our products. As a result, their ability to pay is highly dependent on the economic strength of the industry in their areas. If these customers are unable to repay the trade credit from us, we may face greater default risk, which could reduce our cash flow and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our costs of doing business could increase as a result of changes in, expanded enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state, local or international laws and regulations.
We are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations, as well as international laws and regulations, that govern numerous aspects of our business. In recent years, a number of new laws and regulations have been adopted, there has been expanded enforcement of certain existing laws and regulations by federal, state and local agencies, and the interpretation of certain laws and regulations has become increasingly complex. These laws and regulations, and related interpretations and enforcement activity, may change as a result of a variety of factors, including political, economic or social events. Changes in, expanded enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state, local or international laws and regulations governing minimum wage or living wage requirements; the classification of exempt and non-exempt employees; the distinction between employees and contractors; other wage, labor or workplace regulations; healthcare; data privacy and cybersecurity; the sale, marketing, sourcing, and pricing of some of our products; transportation, logistics and interstate delivery operations, including Department of Transportation regulations on vehicles and drivers; international trade; supply chain transparency; the sourcing of raw materials, including timber and minerals, used in our products; taxes, including changes to corporate tax rates; restrictions on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; competition and antitrust requirements and enforcement; ESG programs, transparency and reporting, including U.S. federal or state or international regulations; unclaimed property; energy costs and consumption; or hazardous waste disposal and other environmental matters, including with respect to our installation services business, could increase our costs of doing business or impact our sales, operations or profitability.
In addition, regulators, customers, investors, associates, and other stakeholders are increasingly focusing on cybersecurity, data privacy, and ESG matters and related disclosures. These changing rules, regulations and stakeholder expectations have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses, heightened risks of litigation and enforcement actions, and increased management time and attention spent complying with or meeting such regulations and expectations. Initiatives and goals within the scope of ESG could be difficult and expensive to implement, the technologies needed to implement them may not be cost effective and may not advance at a sufficient pace, and we could be criticized or face reputational or regulatory risks regarding the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the disclosure.
If we cannot successfully manage the unique challenges presented by international markets, we may not be successful in our international operations and our sales and profitability may be negatively impacted.
Our ability to successfully conduct retail operations in, and source products and materials from, international markets is affected by many of the same risks we face in our U.S. operations, as well as unique costs and difficulties of managing international operations. Our international operations, including any expansion in international markets, may be adversely affected by local laws and customs, U.S. laws applicable to foreign operations and other foreign legal and regulatory constraints, as well as political, social and economic conditions. Risks inherent in international operations also include, among others, potential adverse tax consequences; international trade disputes, trade policy changes or potential tariffs and other import-related taxes and controls; inability to sell certain products due to customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; greater difficulty in enforcing intellectual property rights; limitations on access to ports; risks associated with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and local anti-bribery law compliance; geopolitical or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; compliance with
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K20
Table of Contentsforced labor laws; compliance with environmental and responsible sourcing laws and regulations; and challenges in our ability to identify and gain access to local suppliers. For example, trade tensions between the U.S. and China have led to a series of significant tariffs on the importation of certain product categories. As a portion of our retail products are sourced, directly or indirectly, outside of the U.S., major changes in tax or trade policies, tariffs or trade relations could adversely impact the cost of, demand for, and profitability of retail product sales in our U.S. locations. Other countries may also change their business and trade policies in anticipation of or in response to increased import tariffs and other changes in U.S. trade policy and regulations. In addition, our operations in international markets create risk due to foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates, which may adversely impact our sales and profitability.The inflation or deflation of commodity and other prices could affect our prices, demand for our products, our sales and our profit margins.Prices of certain commodity products, including lumber and other raw materials, are historically volatile and are subject to fluctuations arising from changes in domestic and international supply and demand, inflationary or deflationary pressures, labor costs, competition, market speculation, government regulations, tariffs and trade restrictions, natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and periodic delays in delivery. For example, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and the related international responses have exacerbated inflationary pressures, including causing increases in commodity prices, fuel and other energy costs, and shipping costs. Rapid and significant changes in commodity and other prices, such as changes in lumber prices, and our ability to pass them on to our customers or manage them through our portfolio strategy, may affect the demand for our products, our sales and our profit margins. If product cost inflation increases beyond our ability to control our related costs, we may not be able to adjust prices to sufficiently offset the effect of the various cost increases without negatively impacting consumer demand.We may incur property, casualty or other losses not covered by our insurance.We are predominantly self-insured for a number of different risk categories, such as general liability (including product liability), property loss, workers’ compensation, employee group medical, employment practices liability and wage and hour claims, automobile claims, and cybersecurity and privacy liability, with insurance coverage for certain catastrophic risks above the self-insurance levels. The types and amounts of insurance may vary from time to time based on our decisions with respect to risk retention and regulatory requirements. The occurrence of significant claims, a substantial rise in costs to maintain our insurance, the failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage, or disputes with insurers regarding coverage could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results or financial condition.
GAAP and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, such as asset impairment, inventories, lease obligations, self-insurance, vendor allowances, tax matters, business combinations, and litigation, are complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments. Implementation of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards or their application or interpretation, or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments, could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance or financial condition. The implementation of or changes in accounting standards could also require certain systems, internal processes, internal controls, and other changes that could increase our operating costs.
We are involved from time to time in a number of legal, regulatory and governmental enforcement proceedings, and while we cannot predict the outcomes of those proceedings and other contingencies with certainty, some of these outcomes may adversely affect our operations or increase our costs.
We are involved in a number of legal proceedings and regulatory matters, including government inquiries and investigations, and consumer, employment, tort and other litigation that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, and the outcome of some of these proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take or refrain from taking actions which could adversely affect our operations or could result in excessive adverse verdicts, fines, or results. Additionally, as we have seen in the past, involvement in these lawsuits, investigations and inquiries, and other proceedings, as well as compliance with any settlements or consent decrees that result from those proceedings, can involve significant expense, divert management’s attention and resources from other matters, and impact the reputation of the Company.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K21
Table of Contents
FY 2026-02-01 (later)
Item 1A. Risk Factors.Our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and prospects are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. In connection with any investment decision with respect to our securities, you should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information contained in this report and our other filings with the SEC. These disclosures reflect the Company’s beliefs and opinions as to factors that could materially and adversely affect the Company and its securities in the future. References to past events are provided by way of example only and are not intended to be a complete listing or a representation as to whether or not such factors have occurred in the past or their likelihood of occurring in the future. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impact our business operations. Should any of these risks materialize, our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and prospects could be negatively impacted, which in turn could affect the trading value of our securities. You should read these Risk Factors in conjunction with Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 8.STRATEGIC RISKSA positive brand and reputation are critical to our business success, and, if our brand and reputation are damaged, it could negatively impact our relationships with our customers, associates and jobseekers, suppliers, service providers, vendors, shareholders, regulators, and the communities we serve, and, consequently, our business, results of operations and the price of our stock.
Our brand and reputation are critical to attracting customers, associates and jobseekers, suppliers, service providers, and vendors to do business with us. We must continue to manage and protect our brand and reputation.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K
9
Table of Contents
Negative incidents can erode trust and confidence quickly, and adverse publicity about us, regardless of its accuracy, the reputability of its source and whether we are involved in the incident, could damage our brand and reputation; undermine our customers’ confidence in us; reduce demand for our products and services, including as a result of boycotts; affect our ability to recruit, engage, motivate and retain associates; attract regulatory scrutiny or investigations; lead to litigation; and impact our relationships with current and potential suppliers and vendors. Third party actions, including our suppliers’, service providers’, and vendors’ business practices and positions, may also be attributed to us, regardless of the Company’s actions, meaning the actions of third parties pose similar risks to our brand and reputation. Partnerships with celebrities and social media content creators may also expose us to brand and reputational risks. Further, our actual or perceived position or lack of position on social, environmental, governance, political, public policy, regulatory, economic, geopolitical, or other sensitive issues, and any perceived lack of transparency about those matters, could harm our reputation with certain groups and attract regulatory scrutiny, investigations, litigation, or boycotts. In addition, we could be criticized for the scope or nature of initiatives or goals related to these matters, or for any revisions to or failure to achieve these goals on a timely basis or at all. If data, processes, and reporting related to these matters are incomplete or inaccurate, we could face regulatory scrutiny or investigations, litigation and/or adverse reputational impacts. Customers are also increasingly using social media to provide feedback and information about the Company, including our products and services, in a manner that can be quickly and broadly disseminated. Negative sentiment about the Company shared over social media, or misinformation from fraudulent accounts impersonating the Company, could impact our brand and reputation, whether or not it is based in fact.Strong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products and services and could decrease our market share.Our industry is highly competitive, highly fragmented, and evolving. As a result, we face competition for customers for our products and services from a variety of retailers (including those operating reseller marketplaces), suppliers, service providers, distributors and manufacturers that sell products directly to their respective customer bases.
These competitors range from traditional brick-and-mortar, to multichannel, to exclusively online, and they include a number of other home improvement retailers; local, regional and national hardware stores; electrical, plumbing and building materials supply houses; and lumber yards. With respect to some products and services, we also compete with specialty design stores, showrooms, discount stores, paint stores, specialty and mass digital retailers, warehouse clubs, MRO distributors, national and local wholesale supply distributors, home décor retailers, and other retailers, as well as with providers of home improvement services and tool and equipment rental. Online and other digital capabilities, as well as AI tools, facilitate competitive entry, price transparency, and comparison shopping, increasing the level of competition we face.
We compete primarily based on customer experience; price; quality; product availability, assortment, and innovation; and delivery options and capabilities, both in-store and online. We also compete based on store and branch location and appearance, presentation of merchandise, and ease of shopping experience throughout every step of the customer’s project, from inspiration and research to any post-purchase support. Our Pros also look for dedicated sales support, competitive credit and pricing options, project planning tools, professional and reliable deliveries, and product depth and job lot quantities, particularly for their complex project needs. Furthermore, with respect to delivery options, customers are seeking faster and/or guaranteed delivery times, real-time updates on delivery status, low-price or free shipping, and/or convenient pickup options. Our ability to be competitive on delivery and pickup times, options and costs depends on many factors, including leveraging the momentum of our investments in our supply chain and our interconnected capabilities to further enhance the customer shopping experience. Failure to successfully manage these factors and offer competitive delivery and pickup options could negatively impact the demand for our products and services and our profit margins.
We use our marketing, advertising and promotional programs to drive customer traffic and compete more effectively, and we must regularly assess and adjust our efforts to address changes in the competitive landscape. Intense competitive pressures from one or more of our competitors, such as through aggressive promotional pricing or liquidation events, or our inability to adapt effectively and quickly to a changing competitive landscape, could adversely affect our prices, our margins, or demand for our products and services. If we are unable to timely and appropriately respond to these competitive pressures, including through the delivery of a superior interconnected experience leveraging both our digital and physical platforms, our market share and our financial performance could be adversely affected.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K10
Table of ContentsWe may not timely identify or effectively respond to customer needs, expectations or trends, which could adversely affect our relationship with our customers, the demand for our products and services, and our market share.
The success of our business depends on our ability to identify and respond promptly to evolving trends in demographics and shifts in customer preferences, expectations and needs, while also managing appropriate inventory levels in our stores, branches and distribution or fulfillment centers and maintaining an excellent customer experience. These trends include those driven by changes in the macroeconomic or political environment, geopolitical tensions or conflicts, military conflicts, or civil unrest, as well as unexpected weather conditions, natural disasters, or public health issues (including pandemics or quarantines and related impacts) that impact our customers. It is difficult to successfully predict the products and services our customers will demand. As our customers expect a more personalized experience, our ability to collect, use, retain, and protect relevant customer data is important for effectively meeting their expectations. Our ability to collect and use that data, however, is subject to a number of external factors, including the impact of legislation or regulations governing data privacy, data-driven technologies such as AI, and data security, as well as customer expectations around data collection, retention, and use. In addition, each of our primary customer groups has different needs and expectations, many of which evolve as the demographics in a particular customer group change. Customer preferences and expectations related to sustainability of products and operations are also changing. If we do not successfully differentiate the shopping experience to attract our customers and meet their individual needs and expectations, it may adversely impact our sales or our market share.
Customer expectations about the methods by which they find, evaluate, purchase and receive products or services are also evolving. Customers routinely and increasingly use technology and a variety of electronic devices and digital platforms to rapidly gather inspiration, compare products and prices, read product reviews, determine real-time product availability, and purchase products. New channels and tools to enhance the customer experience appear and change rapidly, and some of those technologies, such as generative and agentic AI tools, may dramatically change customer shopping and buying habits. Our Pros also look for additional capabilities, including dedicated sales support, competitive credit and pricing options, project planning tools, professional and reliable deliveries, and product depth and job lot quantities, particularly for their complex project needs. Once products are purchased, customers seek alternate options for delivery of those products, including advance ordering through digital platforms for Pros, and they often expect quick, timely, and low-price or free delivery, real-time updates on delivery status, and/or convenient pickup or delivery options. We must continually anticipate and adapt to these changes in the planning, shopping and purchasing process by continuing to adjust and enhance the online and in-store customer experience as well as our delivery options. The coordinated operation of our network of physical stores, branches, distribution facilities, and online platforms is fundamental to the success of our interconnected strategy. We cannot guarantee that our current or future fulfillment options will be maintained and implemented successfully or that we will be able to meet customer expectations on delivery or pickup times, options and costs. In addition, as our customers continue to leverage our enhanced interconnected and fulfillment options, a greater concentration of online sales with direct fulfillment could result in a reduction in the amount of traffic in our stores, which would, in turn, reduce the opportunities for cross-selling of merchandise that such traffic creates and could reduce our overall sales and adversely affect our financial performance. A greater concentration of online sales with direct fulfillment could also impact our profit margins.
Failure to provide a relevant and effective customer experience in a timely manner that keeps pace with technological developments and dynamic customer expectations; to maintain appropriate inventory; to provide quick and cost-effective or free delivery alternatives, real-time updates on delivery status, and convenient pickup options; to differentiate the customer experience for our primary customer groups; to effectively implement an appropriately localized merchandising assortment; or to otherwise timely identify or respond to changing customer preferences, expectations and home improvement needs could adversely affect our relationship with our customers, the demand for our products and services, and our market share.
The execution of initiatives to deliver our interconnected experience could adversely impact our business operations or financial results, and these initiatives might not provide the anticipated benefits.
Over the past several years, we have made significant investments to deliver a frictionless interconnected experience, including enhancing and expanding our supply chain, developing differentiated capabilities for our customers, including enhancements and improvements to our digital capabilities, expanding our store base, and making strategic acquisitions. These investments are designed to streamline our operations to allow our associates to continue to provide high-quality service to our customers; simplify customer interactions; provide our customers with a more interconnected experience; expand our sales to Pros and better address their needs for complex projects; and create the fastest, most efficient, and most reliable delivery network for home improvement products.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K11
Table of ContentsExecuting our interconnected experience requires continual investment in our operations and information technology systems, as well as the development and execution of new processes, systems and support. In addition, our stores are a critical component of our interconnected experience, serving as the hub of our customers’ interconnected shopping journey. We have an aging store base that requires maintenance, investment, and space reallocation initiatives to deliver the shopping experience that our customers desire. We also need to identify and secure available locations with appropriate characteristics for new stores, branches, and supply chain facilities to ensure we can continue to serve our customers effectively.
We must effectively manage the volume, timing, nature, location, and cost of our investments, projects and changes. Failure to continue to make investments to effectively support our strategy and to implement or integrate those investments in the right manner and at the right pace could adversely impact our business operations or financial results. The cost and potential problems, defects of design, and interruptions associated with the implementation of these initiatives, including those associated with managing third-party service providers, employing new online tools and services, implementing new technologies using AI, implementing and restructuring support systems and processes, securing appropriate store and other facility locations, and addressing impacts on inventory levels, could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations in the near term, lead to product availability issues, create complexity in our systems and operations and impact our profitability. Our investments to enhance our interconnected experience, including investments in our store base, supply chain, and differentiated capabilities, including our digital assets, might not provide the anticipated benefits, or might take longer than expected to complete, integrate or realize anticipated benefits, any of which could adversely impact our competitive position and our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
If we are unable to effectively manage and expand our strategic alliances and relationships with certain suppliers of both brand name and proprietary products, we may be unable to effectively execute our strategy to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.
As part of our focus on product differentiation, we have formed strategic alliances and exclusive relationships with certain suppliers to market products under a variety of well-recognized brand names. We have also developed relationships with certain suppliers to allow us to offer proprietary products that are comparable to national brands. These proprietary products help differentiate us from other retailers and generally carry higher margins than national brand products. If we are unable to effectively manage and expand these strategic alliances and relationships, maintain favorable terms with current suppliers, or identify alternative sources for comparable brand name and proprietary products, we may not be able to effectively execute product differentiation, which may impact our sales and gross margin. Additionally, our suppliers’ business practices and positions may also be attributed to us, regardless of the Company’s actions, meaning that controversies regarding our suppliers of brand name or proprietary products could pose risks to our reputation and brand, and may require us to quickly identify alternative sources for comparable products.
Our strategic transactions involve risks, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions.
We regularly consider and enter into strategic transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, investments, alliances, and other growth and market expansion strategies. We generally expect that these transactions will result in sales increases, cost savings, synergies, enhanced capabilities, and/or various other benefits. Assessing the viability and realizing the benefits of these transactions is subject to significant uncertainty. For each of our acquisitions, we need to determine the appropriate level of integration of the target company’s products, services, associates, and information technology, financial, human resources, compliance, and other systems and processes, and then successfully manage that integration into our corporate structure. Integration is a complex and time-consuming process, and if the integration is not fully successful or is delayed for a material period of time, we may not achieve the anticipated synergies, cost savings, enhanced capabilities, or other benefits of the acquisition. In addition, the integration of businesses may create increased complexity in our financial systems, internal controls, technology and cybersecurity systems, and operations and may make them more difficult to manage. Even if the target companies are successfully integrated, the acquisitions may fail to further our business strategy as anticipated, expose us to increased competition or challenges with respect to our products or services, and expose us to additional or unanticipated risks and liabilities. Strategic transactions may also be subject to significant regulatory uncertainty, and changes in the regulatory landscape may result in additional costs or delays that affect the anticipated outcome of a transaction. Any failure in the execution of a strategic transaction or investment, our approach to the integration of an acquired asset or business, our ability to integrate new associates, or achievement of anticipated synergies or other benefits could result in slower growth, higher than expected costs, the recording of an impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets or restructuring costs, and other actions which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K12
Table of ContentsOPERATIONAL RISKSA failure of one or more key elements of our technology infrastructure, including associated systems or processes, could adversely affect our business, financial results, and reputation.
We rely extensively on our technology infrastructure, including associated information technology systems, applications, processes, and related personnel to operate our day-to-day business and to collect, use, retain, manage, transmit, and protect transactions and data. Some of these systems are managed or provided by third-party service providers, including certain cloud platform providers. In managing our business, we also rely heavily on the integrity of, security of, and consistent access to, systems that provide operational and financial data and capabilities related to sales (both in store and online), customer data, supplier data, associate data, jobseeker data, partner data, demand forecasting, merchandise ordering, inventory replenishment, supply chain management, payment processing, order fulfillment, customer service, and post-purchase support. For these information technology systems, applications, and processes to operate effectively, we or our service providers must maintain and update them. Delays in the maintenance, updates, upgrading, or patching of these systems, applications or processes, as well as the actions taken to maintain, update, upgrade and patch, could, and on occasion have, impaired their operation and effectiveness or exposed us to security risks. Our technology infrastructure and the third-party systems with which we interact, as well as any systems those third parties utilize, are subject to, and on occasion have experienced, damage, interruption, or malicious activity from a number of causes, including power and other critical infrastructure outages; computer and telecommunications failures; computer viruses; data or security breaches; internal or external data theft or misuse; cyber-attacks, including the use of malicious codes, worms, phishing, smishing, vishing, spyware, denial of service attacks, and ransomware; responsive containment measures by us that may involve voluntarily taking systems offline; natural disasters and catastrophic events such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other extreme weather events; public health concerns, such as pandemics and quarantines; geopolitical tensions or conflicts, military conflicts, acts of war, terrorism or civil unrest; other systems outages; inadequate or ineffective redundancy; and design or usage errors or malfeasance by our associates, contractors or third-party service providers. In addition, as more business activities have shifted online, and as certain of our support center associates work in a remote or hybrid environment, we continue to face an increased risk due to the potential failure of internal or external technology infrastructure as well as increased cybersecurity threats and attempts to breach our security networks.
Although we and our third-party service providers seek to maintain our respective technology infrastructure and related systems and processes effectively and to successfully address the risk of compromise of their integrity, security and consistent operations of these systems, such efforts are not always successful. As a result, we or our service providers could experience, and on occasion have experienced, errors, interruptions, delays or cessations of service in key portions of our technology infrastructure, which could significantly disrupt our operations or impair data security; prevent us from efficiently accepting or fulfilling orders or providing services to customers; impact our ability to operate or access communications, financial or banking systems; be costly, time-consuming and resource-intensive to remedy; and adversely impact our reputation and relationship with our customers, associates, suppliers, shareholders or regulators. We may have to expend significant resources to mitigate the impact of any errors, interruptions, delays or cessations of service and may have insufficient recourse against service providers who experience such events.
In addition, we are currently making, and expect to continue to make, substantial investments in our technology infrastructure, systems, processes, and personnel, in certain cases with the assistance of strategic partners and other third-party service providers. These investments involve replacing existing systems, some of which are older, legacy systems that are less flexible and efficient, with successor systems, and updating applications and websites; outsourcing certain technology and business processes to third-party service providers; making changes to existing systems, including the migration of applications to the cloud; maintaining or enhancing legacy systems that are not currently being replaced; designing or cost-effectively acquiring new systems with new functionality; or testing, developing and deploying AI tools, including generative AI. These efforts could result, and on occasion have resulted, in significant potential risks, including failure of the technology infrastructure to operate as designed, unexpected impacts on related systems or processes, potential loss or corruption of data, failures in security processes and internal controls, cost overruns, implementation delays or errors, disruption of operations, and the potential inability to meet business and reporting requirements. Any technology infrastructure implementation and transition difficulty may result in operational challenges, security or internal control failures, reputational harm, lost sales, increased costs, or other financial losses that could adversely affect our business, our relationships with our customers, and results of operations.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K13
Table of ContentsDisruptions in our customer-facing technology infrastructure could impair our interconnected experience strategy and give rise to negative customer experiences, damage our brand and reputation and adversely impact our sales.
Through our technology infrastructure, we are able to provide an improved overall shopping and interconnected experience that empowers our customers to shop and interact with us from a variety of electronic devices and digital platforms at each stage of their shopping journey. We use our digital platforms as sales channels for our products and services, as methods of providing inspiration, and as sources of product, project, and other relevant information to our customers to help drive sales. In addition to supporting our DIY and DIFM customers, we make other resources available that are designed to serve the needs of Pros, including those working on complex projects. We also have multiple online communities, digital platforms, and knowledge centers that allow us to inform, assist and interact with our customers. The retail industry is continually evolving and expanding, with a significant increase in sales initiated online and via mobile applications in recent years. We may not be successful at managing this increased volume and related delivery options without interruption in the future. Additionally, we must effectively respond to new developments and changing customer preferences with respect to a complex, evolving digital and interconnected experience, including adopting AI tools and other technology innovations to better serve our customers. We continually seek to enhance all of our online and digital platforms to provide a personalized, user-friendly interface for our customers. Disruptions, delays, failures, inaccuracies, or other performance issues in or with our customer-facing technology systems, either due to increased volumes, system or other technology modifications, cybersecurity incidents or attacks, information technology outages or other interruptions, launches of new or emerging technologies; or other factors, or a failure of these systems to meet our or our customers’ expectations, could impair the value they provide, damage our brand and reputation, and adversely impact our sales.
Disruptions in our supply chain and other factors affecting the availability and distribution of our merchandise could adversely impact our business, financial results, and reputation.
Disruptions within our logistics or supply chain network, such as the industry-wide supply chain challenges that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and may in the future adversely affect, our ability to receive and deliver inventory in a timely manner, impair our ability to meet customer demand for products, and result in lost sales, increased costs, and/or damage to our reputation. Such disruptions may result, and on occasion have resulted, from damage or destruction to our distribution or fulfillment centers or those of our supply chain service providers; weather-related events; cybersecurity incidents or attacks; information technology outages or other interruptions; natural disasters; international trade disputes, trade policy changes or restrictions, or import- or export-related governmental sanctions or restrictions; customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; quotas, tariffs or other import-related taxes; strikes, lock-outs, work stoppages or slowdowns; shortages of supply chain labor, including truck drivers; shipping capacity constraints, including shortages of related equipment; raw material or other shortages; third-party contract disputes or inability to maintain favorable contract terms; supply or shipping interruptions or costs; increased costs or unavailability of fuel; political instability; geopolitical tensions or conflicts, or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; acts of terrorism; civil unrest; public health issues, including pandemics or quarantines and other related impacts; or other factors beyond our control. In recent years, ports in the U.S. and elsewhere have been impacted by capacity constraints, port congestion and delays, periodic labor disputes, strikes, security issues, weather-related events, and natural or man-made disasters.
These types of disruptions place strain on the domestic and international supply chain, which has affected in some circumstances, and may in the future negatively affect, the flow or availability of certain products. Even when we are able to find alternate sources for certain products, they may cost more or require us to incur higher transportation costs, which could adversely impact our profitability and financial condition. Increased demand for online purchases of products can impact, and in the past has impacted, our fulfillment operations, as well as those of our third-party carriers, resulting in delays in delivering products to customers and increases in our out-of-stock levels.
We and our suppliers have experienced, and may experience in the future, labor shortages at some of our distribution and fulfillment centers both due to the competitive labor market and unexpected events such as pandemics and quarantines. Such labor shortages, whether temporary or sustained, may adversely impact the flow or availability of products to our stores and customers.
Any of these circumstances could impair our ability to meet customer demand for products and result in lost sales, increased costs, or damage to our reputation, any of which could negatively impact our business performance or financial condition.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K14
Table of ContentsFailure to maintain a safe and secure shopping and working environment may adversely impact sales, costs, the customer and associate experience, and our brand and reputation.
Our customers and associates expect a safe and secure environment in which to shop and work, and maintaining that environment helps protect against inventory losses (also called “shrink”), including due to theft. Like other retailers, we saw heightened shrink in recent years, particularly as a result of organized retail crime. While we have a number of initiatives in place to address shrink, minimize theft, and maintain safety in and around our stores and other facilities, these efforts require operational changes that may increase costs and reduce margins, and they can negatively impact the customer or associate experience. Furthermore, an unsafe environment or negative publicity regarding the Company or regarding incidents in or around our stores and/or other facilities, such as civil unrest, raids, protests, or similar activities, may diminish trust and confidence with customers, associates, and jobseekers, which can adversely impact traffic in our stores, sales, associate recruiting, morale, and retention, and our brand and reputation.
If our efforts to maintain the privacy and security of customer, associate, jobseeker, business partner, and Company information are not successful, we could incur substantial costs and reputational damage and could become subject to litigation and enforcement actions.
Our business, like that of most retailers, involves the collection, use, retention, management, transmission, and deletion of personal information (including identifiers, localization, internet activity, preferences, and payment information) from our customers, associates, jobseekers, and business partners, as well as confidential Company information. We also work with third-party service providers that provide technology, systems and services that we use in connection with the handling of information. Our information systems, and those of our third-party service providers, are vulnerable to continually evolving data protection and cybersecurity risks. Despite our efforts, our cybersecurity risk management processes may not be fully implemented, complied with or effective in preventing or mitigating future cybersecurity risks. Unauthorized parties, including criminal threat actors, nation-states, or insiders (including associates or contractors engaged in fraudulent or malicious activities), have in the past gained access, and will continue to attempt to gain access, to these systems and data through technical vulnerabilities, breach of security policies, fraud or other means of deceiving or coercing our associates, contractors or third-party service providers, which could jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of such information systems or data that we may handle. Hardware, software or applications we develop or obtain from third parties may contain, and on occasion have contained, exploitable vulnerabilities, bugs, or defects in design, maintenance or manufacture or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise information security. We have experienced and continue to face the ongoing risk of exploitation of our software providers and our software development and implementation process, including from coding and process vulnerabilities and the installation of so-called back doors that provide unauthorized access to systems and data, and through unauthorized access to or theft of our intellectual property. The continued availability of remote or hybrid working arrangements has also expanded the possible attack surface areas and increased risks posed by insider threats, as our interactions with associates, contractors and third-party service providers increasingly occur on information systems, networks and environments over which we have less control and which may be more difficult to monitor. In addition, the risk of cyber-attacks has increased in connection with geopolitical tensions or conflicts and ongoing trade and diplomatic tensions. In light of the conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and South America and other geopolitical events, nation-state actors or their supporters and other politically-motivated actors may launch retaliatory cyber-attacks, and may attempt to cause supply chain and other third-party service provider disruptions, or take other geopolitically-motivated retaliatory actions that may disrupt our business operations, result in data compromise, or both. Nation-state actors have in the past carried out, and may in the future carry out, cyber-attacks to achieve their aims and goals, which may include espionage, monetary gain, disruption, and destruction. Similarly, there may be increased activities by organized or coordinating groups of cyber criminals who seek to attack larger organizations’ data or systems for their own aims and goals, which can include financial gain. The availability of AI may enable new types of threat actors who may not otherwise have had the capabilities to engage in malicious activity to do so, or may enhance the capabilities of nation-state actors or organizing or coordinating groups to carry out attacks, or may generally enable novel types of attacks to be developed and deployed. Because the techniques that threat actors use to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems, including use of stolen passwords, social engineering, phishing, smishing, vishing, identity spoofing (including through the use of emerging technologies such as deep fakes), ransomware or other disruptive and destructive malware, supply chain compromises, insider threats, and man-in-the-middle and denial of service attacks, change frequently and may not immediately produce signs of anomalous activity or compromise, we may be unable to anticipate or detect these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K15
Table of ContentsThe ever-evolving cybersecurity threat landscape means that we and our third-party service providers and business partners must continually evaluate and adapt our respective systems and processes and overall security environment, as well as those of companies we or they acquire. There is no guarantee that the measures we take will be adequate to safeguard against all threats, including vulnerabilities, data security breaches, system compromises or misuses or loss of data. As we have experienced in the past, any significant compromise or breach of our data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of customer, associate, jobseeker, business partner, or Company data, could result in significant costs, including costs to investigate, mitigate, and remediate, as well as lost sales, fines, lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and damage to our reputation. Additionally, as we have experienced in the past, we or our third-party service providers may not discover any vulnerability, data security breach, system compromise, or data misuse or loss for a significant period of time after the occurrence of a security incident. When our systems or those of our third-party service providers on which we rely are breached or attacked, we may also suffer, and on some occasions have suffered, an outage, failure, or unavailability of data or information technology systems, cessations of service, and interruptions to our business operations while such breach or attack is being remedied; this may impact data or systems operated by us or by third-party service providers. Furthermore, our cyber insurance coverage may not be adequate for liabilities or costs actually incurred, and we cannot be certain that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage of a future claim.
Data governance failures can also adversely affect our reputation and business. Our business depends on our customers’, associates’, jobseekers’, contractors’, and business partners’ willingness to entrust us with their personal information. Events that adversely affect that trust, including inadequate disclosure to our customers, associates, jobseekers, contractors, or business partners of our uses of their information or failing to keep our information technology systems and our customers’, associates’, jobseekers’, contractors’, and business partners’ personal information secure from significant attack, theft, damage, loss or unauthorized or unintended disclosure or access, whether as a result of our action or inaction (including human error or malfeasance) or that of our service providers or other third parties, could adversely affect our brand and harm our reputation.
The regulatory environment related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI and other emerging technologies is constantly changing, with new and increasingly rigorous requirements applicable to our business. The implementation of these requirements has also become more complex. Maintaining our adherence to evolving data privacy and cybersecurity regulatory requirements, including state and international privacy laws, requires significant effort and cost, requires changes to our business practices, and may limit our ability to collect and use certain data for our business operations, including to support the customer experience. In addition, many regulators have indicated an intention to take more aggressive enforcement actions regarding data privacy and cybersecurity matters, and private litigation resulting from such matters is increasing and resulting in progressively larger judgments and settlements. Complying with current or contemplated information security, cybersecurity, data privacy, data protection, and data processing laws and regulations (including reporting and disclosure regimes), or any failure to comply, could cause us to incur substantial costs. As we have experienced in the past, failure to comply with applicable requirements could subject us to fines, sanctions, governmental investigations, or lawsuits, which could lead to negative publicity and reputational harm, and may cause customers to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our cybersecurity measures, data privacy practices, or our business more generally.
Our success depends upon our ability to attract, develop and retain highly qualified associates to provide excellent customer service and to support our strategic initiatives while also controlling our labor costs.
Our customers expect a high level of customer service and product knowledge from our associates. To meet the needs and expectations of our customers, we must attract, develop and retain a large number of highly qualified associates, including those with specialized product and project knowledge who can help serve our Pros, and maintain a productive relationship with those associates. Our ability to meet our labor needs while controlling labor costs is subject to numerous factors, including increased market pressures with respect to prevailing wage rates, unemployment levels, and health and other insurance costs; the impact of legislation or regulations governing labor relations, employment, immigration, minimum wage, and healthcare benefits; changing demographics and expectations among the workforce; safety and security in our stores and other facilities; and our brand and reputation within the labor market. We compete with other retail businesses for many of our associates in hourly positions, and we invest significant resources in training and motivating them to maintain a high level of job satisfaction. These positions often have high turnover rates, which can lead to increased training and retention costs, particularly in a competitive labor market. We have faced and may continue to face additional challenges in recruiting and retaining associates due to wage pressure; flexible scheduling needs; health and safety concerns; and challenges related to a remote or hybrid working environment for associates who work in our support centers. These factors, together with competition among potential employers, have resulted in and may continue to result in
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K16
Table of Contentsincreased compensation costs, and/or may impair our ability to recruit and retain associates, which could have an adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations. A limited number of our associates are represented by labor unions, and we may be subject to future labor union efforts to organize groups of our associates from time to time. If successful, those organizational efforts may decrease our operational flexibility and efficiency, and/or otherwise negatively impact our operations or reputation.
In addition, to deliver our interconnected customer experience, we must attract and retain a large number of skilled professionals, including technology professionals, to implement our ongoing technology and other investments. The market for these professionals is very competitive. Not providing competitive wages and/or benefits, including remote or hybrid work flexibility, within the markets in which we operate could adversely affect our ability to retain and attract associates.
Additionally, our ability to successfully execute organizational changes, including management transitions within the Company’s senior leadership, and to effectively motivate, integrate, and retain associates is critical to our business success. If we are unable to attract, develop or retain qualified associates, or manage leadership transitions successfully, our ability to effectively implement our strategy may be negatively impacted, the quality of service we provide to our customers may decrease, and our financial performance may be adversely affected.We are subject to payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability, and potentially disrupt our business.We accept payments using a variety of methods, including credit and debit cards, our PLCCs, cash, electronic payments, checks, digital wallets, loan programs including installment loans, trade credit, and gift cards, and we may offer new payment options over time. As we offer new payment options to our customers, we may be subject to additional rules, regulations, and compliance requirements, and higher fraud losses. Acceptance of these payment options subjects us to rules, regulations, contractual obligations and compliance requirements, including payment network rules and operating guidelines, data security standards and certification requirements, and rules governing electronic funds transfers. These rules and requirements may change over time or be reinterpreted, making compliance more difficult, costly, or uncertain. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange fees and other costs to accept these payments, and we may also incur losses, all of which may increase over time and raise our operating costs. We rely on third parties to provide payment processing services, including the processing of credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of electronic payment. If these companies become unable to provide these services to us, or if their systems are compromised or do not operate as intended, it could disrupt our business. The payment methods that we offer, and the selling channels in which we operate, also subject us to fraud and theft by threat actors, who are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, including by using means such as AI, seeking to obtain unauthorized access to or exploit weaknesses that may exist in our sales, payments, and payment processing systems. If we fail to comply with applicable rules or requirements for the payment methods we accept, or if payment-related data is compromised due to a breach or misuse of data, we may be liable for costs incurred by payment card issuing banks and other third parties or we may be subject to fines and higher transaction fees, or our ability to accept or facilitate certain types of payments may be impaired.
Trade credit offerings are an important part of serving Pros, including SRS customers, and we anticipate expanding our Pro Trade Credit program as we further develop our capabilities. If we fail to offer attractive terms or services, or employ underwriting criteria that are not competitive, our ability to grow our sales to these Pros may be adversely impacted. If our Pros are unable to make their payments, we may experience losses. In addition, our customers could lose confidence in certain payment types, or may expect or demand payment methods that we do not currently offer, which could result in competitive disadvantages or require a shift to other payment types or potential changes to our payment systems that may result in higher costs or present other risks. As a result, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Natural disasters, unseasonable, unexpected or extreme weather conditions, as well as other catastrophic or uncharacteristic events, could impact our operations and financial results, seasonal events such as storms may impact sales compared to prior periods, and the potential impacts of catastrophic or uncharacteristic events may lead to changes in demand or availability of products or cause business interruptions.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, fires, floods, droughts or water scarcity, tornadoes, and earthquakes; unseasonable, unexpected or extreme weather conditions; acts of terrorism or violence, including active shooter situations; public health concerns, such as pandemics and quarantines and related impacts; civil unrest; geopolitical tensions or conflicts, or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; or similar disruptions and catastrophic events could have and on occasion have had an adverse effect on our operations and financial performance in a number of ways. These types of events can
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K17
Table of Contentsaffect consumer spending and confidence and consumers’ disposable income, particularly with respect to home improvement or construction projects. They can also adversely affect our work force and prevent associates and customers from reaching our stores, branches and other facilities. They can, temporarily or on a long-term basis, disrupt or disable the operations of stores, branches, other facilities and support centers, and portions of our supply chain and distribution network, including causing reductions in the availability of inventory and disruptions of utility services. In addition, these events may affect our information systems and digital platforms, resulting in disruptions to various aspects of our operations, including our ability to transact with customers and fulfill orders; to communicate with our stores, branches, other facilities or support centers or senior management; or to access financial or banking systems. Unseasonable, unexpected or extreme weather conditions such as excessive precipitation, warm temperatures during the winter season, or prolonged or extreme periods of warm or cold temperatures could render a portion of our inventory incompatible with customer needs and adversely impact our financial results.
Demand for certain of our products has historically been influenced by the occurrence of seasonal events, such as storms. The impact of these events on our sales varies depending on their location, frequency and magnitude. Sustained periods without such events can lead, and in the past have led, to lower sales compared to prior periods.
Furthermore, the potential long-term impacts of climate change, whether involving physical risks (such as extreme weather conditions) or transition risks (such as regulatory or technology changes), could be widespread and unpredictable. Over time, these changes could affect, for example, the availability and cost of or demand for certain products, commodities, and energy (including utilities), which in turn may impact our ability to procure certain goods or services for the operation of our business at the quantities and levels we consider optimal.
As a consequence of these or other catastrophic or uncharacteristic events, we may experience interruption to our operations, increased costs, changes in customer behavior or demand, or losses of property, equipment or inventory, any of which could adversely affect our sales and profitability.If we fail to identify and develop relationships with a sufficient number of qualified suppliers, or if our suppliers experience financial difficulties or other challenges, our ability to timely and efficiently access products that meet our high standards for quality could be adversely affected.We buy our products from suppliers located around the world, who in turn procure materials from across the globe. Our ability to continue to identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers who can meet our standards for quality and responsible sourcing, as well as our need to access products in a timely and efficient manner, is a significant challenge. Our ability to access products from our suppliers can be, and on occasion has been, adversely affected by economic or political instability; civil unrest; geopolitical tensions or conflicts, or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; acts of terrorism or violence; public health issues (including pandemics and related impacts); the financial instability of suppliers; suppliers’ noncompliance with applicable laws; contract disputes or inability to maintain favorable contract terms; trade restrictions; tariffs; currency exchange rates; disruptions in our suppliers’ logistics or supply chain networks or information technology systems; inability to sell certain products due to customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; raw material or other shortages; actual, potential or perceived noncompliance with our standards for suppliers or other controversies regarding suppliers’ business practices or operations; and other factors beyond our or our suppliers’ control. If we are unable to access products to meet our customers’ demands and expectations in a timely and efficient manner, our sales and gross margin may be adversely impacted.Failure to achieve and maintain a high level of product and service quality and safety and ensure compliance with responsible sourcing laws and standards could damage our reputation with customers, expose us to litigation or enforcement actions, and negatively impact our sales and results of operations.Product and service quality issues could negatively impact customer confidence in our brands and the Company. If our product and service offerings, including those of our suppliers, do not meet applicable product standards or our customers’ expectations regarding safety, quality , security, or responsible business practices, we could experience lost sales and increased costs and be exposed to legal, financial and reputational risks, as well as governmental enforcement actions. Actual, potential or perceived product safety or security concerns, including health- or privacy- related concerns, could expose, and in some cases have exposed, us to litigation or governmental enforcement actions, and could result in costly product recalls and other liabilities. For any actions related to actual, potential, or perceived product-safety concerns, we may not be successful in obtaining adequate contractual indemnification and insurance coverage from our suppliers and service providers, which may result in claims having an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, our delivery operations and reliance on third-party carriers expose us to potential liability for property damage, personal injury, or vehicular accidents, which
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K18
Table of Contentscould result in financial losses and reputational harm. Even with adequate insurance and indemnification, our reputation as a provider of high-quality products, including both national brand names and our proprietary products, and services could suffer, damaging our reputation and impacting customer loyalty.
In addition, we and our customers have expectations around responsible sourcing. Under our standard supplier buying agreements, our suppliers must comply with our responsible sourcing standards, which cover a variety of expectations across multiple areas, including supply chain transparency, health and safety, environmental laws and regulations, compensation, hours of work, and prohibitions on child and forced labor. Further, suppliers must comply with Company policies and applicable law, including applicable laws governing the sourcing of raw materials, such as timber and minerals, used in our products. However, we are also dependent on our suppliers to ensure that the products and services we provide to our customers comply with our standards and applicable law, including with respect to information provided by suppliers to government agencies about the source of the products or the constituent elements of those products. Further, the supply chain for some of the products we sell may be too attenuated for us to know with certainty the source of their components, such as timber, minerals, or other raw materials. Actual, potential, or perceived supplier non-compliance with our standards or applicable law — including allegations of non-compliance raised by non-governmental organizations or in third-party reports — could, and in certain instances in the past has, exposed us to litigation or governmental enforcement actions and resulted in costly product recalls; resulted in inability to sell certain products due to failure to meet our standards or due to customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; impacted our reputation; and resulted in termination of supplier relationships and/or other liabilities.Our proprietary products subject us to certain increased risks, including regulatory, product liability, intellectual property, supplier relations, and reputational risks.
In addition to other product-related risks discussed in this section, as we expand our proprietary product offerings, we may become subject to increased risks due to our greater role in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of those products. The risks include greater responsibility to administer and comply with applicable regulatory requirements, increased potential product liability and product recall exposure, and increased potential reputational risks related to the responsible sourcing of those products. To effectively execute on our product differentiation strategy, we must also be able to successfully protect our proprietary rights and successfully navigate and avoid claims related to the proprietary rights of third parties. In addition, an increase in sales of our proprietary products may adversely affect sales of our suppliers’ products, which in turn could adversely affect our relationships with certain of our suppliers. Any failure to appropriately address some or all of these risks could damage our reputation and have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.If we are unable to effectively manage our installation services business, we could lose sales and be subject to fines, lawsuits, reputational damage or the loss of our general contractor licenses.
We act as a general contractor to provide installation services to our DIFM customers through professional third-party licensed and insured installers. As such, we are subject to regulatory requirements and risks applicable to general contractors, which include management of background checks, licensing, permitting, and handling of environmental risks, as well as quality of work performed by our third-party installers. We have established processes and procedures to manage these requirements and manage customer satisfaction with the services provided by our third-party installers. However, as we experienced in part with the EPA investigation and the resulting consent decree in April 2021, and the subsequent discussions with the EPA regarding compliance with the consent decree, if we fail to manage these processes effectively, collect the appropriate documentation, perform regular job site inspections, or provide proper oversight of these services, we could lose sales or face fines or lawsuits, including governmental enforcement actions for violations of regulatory requirements, as well as claims for property damage or personal injury. In addition, we may suffer damage to our reputation or the loss of our general contractor licenses, which could adversely affect our business.
MARKET, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, REGULATORY, AND OTHER EXTERNAL RISKS
Adverse conditions in or uncertainty regarding the housing and home improvement markets, economic conditions, political and social climate, public health issues, and other factors beyond our control could adversely affect demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business, and our financial performance.
Our financial performance depends significantly on the stability of the housing and home improvement markets, as well as general economic conditions, including changes in gross domestic product. Adverse conditions in or uncertainty about these markets, the economy, or the political or social climate could adversely impact, and we believe in some cases has adversely impacted, our customers’ confidence or financial condition, causing them to
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K19
Table of Contentsdecide against purchasing home improvement products and services, causing them to delay purchasing decisions, or impacting their ability to pay for products and services. Other factors beyond our control – including unemployment and foreclosure rates; inventory loss due to theft (including as a result of organized retail crime); inflation or deflation; interest rate fluctuations, including central banks’ actions to control inflation; tariff and trade policy; fuel and other energy costs; raw material or other shortages; labor and healthcare costs; the availability of financing; the state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; changes in policy and regulations, including with respect to tax rates; prolonged government shutdowns; weather and natural disasters (including the potential impacts of climate change); acts of terrorism or violence, including active shooter situations; public health issues, including pandemics or quarantines and related impacts; geopolitical tensions or conflicts, or military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; civil unrest, and potential societal shifts in investment in large home improvement projects could further adversely affect, and in certain cases has adversely affected, demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business, and our financial performance. For instance, the high interest rate environment that persisted throughout fiscal 2025 and the significant increase in home prices in recent years have impacted housing affordability. Together, these factors have contributed to historically low levels of housing turnover, which has reduced demand for projects and other purchases associated with buying and selling a home.
Further, our specialty trade and MRO customers, who have higher spend and longer-term relationships than a typical retail customer, increasingly use trade credit to finance their purchases, as do some of our other Pros in order to purchase our products. Their ability to pay is highly dependent on the economic strength of the industry in which they operate. If these customers are unable to repay the trade credit invoice, we may face greater default risk, which could reduce our cash flow and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our costs of doing business could increase as a result of changes in, expanded enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state, local or international laws, regulations and executive orders.
We are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations, as well as international laws and regulations, that govern numerous aspects of our business. In recent years, a number of new laws and regulations have been adopted, new executive orders have been announced, there has been expanded enforcement and differing interpretations of certain existing laws and regulations by federal, state, local and international agencies, and the interpretation of certain laws and regulations has become increasingly complex. These laws and regulations, and related executive orders, interpretations and enforcement activity, may change as a result of a variety of factors, including political, economic or social events. Changes in, expanded regulatory investigations or enforcement of, litigation regarding, or adoption of new federal, state, local or international laws, regulations and/or executive orders governing minimum wage or living wage requirements; the classification of exempt and non-exempt employees; the distinction between employees and contractors; diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; immigration; and other human capital management matters; healthcare; data privacy, governance, and cybersecurity; the sale, marketing, sourcing, and pricing of our products; transportation, logistics and interstate delivery operations, including Department of Transportation regulations on vehicles and drivers; international trade and tariffs; supply chain transparency; the sourcing of raw materials, including timber and minerals, used in our products; taxes, including changes to corporate tax rates; restrictions on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; competition and antitrust requirements and enforcement; sustainability programs, transparency and reporting; unclaimed property; energy costs and consumption; or hazardous waste disposal and other environmental matters, including with respect to our installation services business, could increase our costs of doing business or impact our sales, operations or profitability.
In addition, regulators, customers, shareholders, associates, and other stakeholders remain focused on cybersecurity, data privacy, human capital management and sustainability matters and related disclosures. These changing rules, regulations and stakeholder expectations have resulted in, and may continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses, heightened risks of litigation and enforcement actions, and increased management time and attention spent complying with or meeting such regulations and expectations. Initiatives and goals related to these matters could be difficult and expensive to implement, the technologies needed to implement them may not be cost effective and may not advance at a sufficient pace or scale, and we could be criticized or face reputational or regulatory risks regarding the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the disclosures.
Regulators, customers, and other stakeholders are also increasingly focusing on federal, state, and local consumer-protection laws and regulations, including those that could relate to how Home Depot prices, discounts, or advertises the products that it sells. This increased attention has resulted in and may continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses, heightened risks of litigation and enforcement actions, and increased management time and attention spent on managing the Company’s response to those matters and its compliance with consumer-protection laws and regulations.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K20
Table of ContentsIf we cannot successfully manage the challenges presented by operating in international markets, we may not be successful in our international operations and our sales and profitability may be negatively impacted.
Our ability to successfully operate in, and source products and materials from, international markets is affected by many of the same risks we face in our U.S. operations, as well as other costs and difficulties specific to managing international operations. Our international operations, including any expansion in international markets, may be, and on occasion have been, adversely affected by local laws and customs, U.S. laws or administrative actions applicable to foreign operations and other foreign legal and regulatory constraints, as well as political, social and economic conditions. Risks inherent in international operations also include, among others, potential adverse tax consequences; international trade disputes, trade policy changes or tariffs and other import-related taxes, fees and controls; inability to sell certain products due to customs actions, including regulatory enforcement inquiries, holds, detentions, and exclusions; greater difficulty in enforcing intellectual property rights; limitations on access to ports; risks associated with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and local anti-bribery law compliance; geopolitical tensions or conflicts, military conflicts or acts of war, as well as any related sanctions or other government or private responses; compliance with forced labor laws; compliance with environmental and responsible sourcing laws and regulations; and challenges in identifying and gaining access to local suppliers. For example, trade tensions between the U.S. and numerous other countries have led to a series of tariffs on the importation of certain product categories since the beginning of fiscal 2025. Following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, there is additional uncertainty regarding the U.S. tariff regime, and the imposition by the U.S. government of new or different tariffs under different authority. For the retail products we source, directly or indirectly, outside of the U.S., including Mexico, Canada and China, major changes in tax or trade policies, tariffs or trade relations could significantly adversely impact the cost of, demand for, and profitability of retail product sales in our U.S. or other locations. Countries outside the U.S. may also change, and on occasion have changed, their business and trade policies in anticipation of or in response to increased import tariffs and other changes in U.S. trade policy and regulations, and consumers may seek to avoid goods not sourced domestically, all of which could significantly adversely impact the cost of, demand for, and profitability of retail products in our U.S., Mexico and Canada locations. In addition, our operations in international markets create risk due to foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates, which may adversely impact our sales and profitability.The inflation or deflation of commodity and other prices could affect our prices, demand for our products, our sales and our profit margins.Prices of certain commodity products, including lumber and other raw materials, are historically volatile and are subject to fluctuations arising from changes in domestic and international supply and demand, inflationary or deflationary pressures, labor costs, competition, market speculation, government regulations, tariffs and trade restrictions (including retaliatory tariffs), changes in trade and other policies of the U.S. and other countries, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions or conflicts, military conflicts or acts of war, and periodic delays in delivery. For example, in recent years, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and the related international responses exacerbated inflationary pressures, including causing increases in commodity prices, fuel and other energy costs, and shipping costs. Rapid and significant changes in commodity and other prices, such as changes in lumber prices, and our ability to pass them on to our customers or manage them through our portfolio strategy, may be limited by the competitive environment in which we operate, and may affect the demand for our products, our sales and our profit margins. If we are unable to mitigate the impact of product cost inflation through vendor negotiations and other strategic initiatives, we may need to increase prices to a point which could negatively impact consumer demand for our products.We may incur property, casualty or other losses not covered by our insurance.We are predominantly self-insured for a number of different risk categories, such as general liability (including product liability), property loss, workers’ compensation, employee group medical, employment practices liability and wage and hour claims, automobile claims, and cybersecurity and privacy liability, with third-party insurance coverage for certain catastrophic risks above the self-insurance levels. The types and amounts of insurance may vary from time to time based on our decisions with respect to risk retention and regulatory requirements. The incurrence of losses from significant claims, a substantial rise in costs to maintain our insurance, the failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage, or disputes with insurers regarding coverage could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K21
Table of ContentsChanges in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results or financial condition.
GAAP and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, such as asset impairment, inventories, lease obligations, self-insurance, vendor allowances, tax matters, business combinations, and litigation, are complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments. Implementation of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards or their application or interpretation, or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments, could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance or financial condition. The implementation of, or changes to, accounting standards could also require certain systems, internal processes, internal controls, and other changes that could increase our operating costs.
We are involved from time to time in a number of legal, regulatory and governmental enforcement proceedings. While we cannot predict the outcomes of those proceedings and other contingencies with certainty, certain of them could adversely affect our operations and reputation and/or increase our costs.
We are involved in a number of legal proceedings and regulatory matters, including government inquiries and investigations, and consumer, employment, tort and other litigation that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, and the outcome of some of these proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take or refrain from taking actions, which could adversely affect our operations or could result in excessive adverse verdicts, fines, or results. Additionally, as we have seen in the past, involvement in such lawsuits, investigations and inquiries, and other proceedings, as well as compliance with any settlements or consent decrees that result from those proceedings, could involve significant expense, divert management’s attention and resources from other matters, and impact the brand and reputation of the Company.
Item 7 · Management's Discussion & Analysis
+99 paragraphs −80 paragraphs ~80 changed
FY 2024-01-28 (earlier)
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.The following discussion provides an analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations from management's perspective and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. The discussion in this Form 10-K generally focuses on fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022. A discussion of our results of operations and changes in financial condition for fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021 has been omitted from this report, but can be found in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Form 10-K for fiscal 2022.TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
28
Results of Operations28Liquidity and Capital Resources
31
Critical Accounting Estimates33
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K27
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWe reported net sales of $152.7 billion in fiscal 2023. Net earnings were $15.1 billion, or $15.11 per diluted share. During fiscal 2023, we opened eight new stores in the U.S. and five new stores in Mexico, resulting in a total store count of 2,335 at January 28, 2024. At the end of fiscal 2023, a total of 320 of our stores, or 13.7% of our total store count, were located in Canada and Mexico. Total sales per retail square foot were $604.55 in fiscal 2023. Our inventory turnover ratio was 4.3 times at the end of fiscal 2023, compared to 4.2 times at the end of fiscal 2022.
We generated $21.2 billion of cash flow from operations and issued $2.0 billion of long-term debt, net of discounts, during fiscal 2023. This cash flow, together with cash on hand, was used to fund cash payments of $8.4 billion for dividends and $8.0 billion for share repurchases. In addition, we invested $3.2 billion in capital expenditures and $1.5 billion in acquisitions, and we repaid $1.3 billion of long-term debt during fiscal 2023. In February 2024, we announced a 7.7% increase in our quarterly cash dividend to $2.25 per share.
Our ROIC was 36.7% for fiscal 2023 and 44.6% for fiscal 2022. The decrease in ROIC was primarily driven by lower operating income along with an increase in average long-term debt over the respective periods. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for our definition and calculation of ROIC, as well as a reconciliation of NOPAT, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net earnings (the most comparable GAAP financial measure).RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents the percentage relationship between net sales and major categories in our consolidated statements of earnings:
Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal2023 2022 2021dollars in millions $ % of Net Sales $ % of Net Sales $ % of Net SalesNet sales $ 152,669 $ 157,403 $ 151,157
Gross profit 50,960 33.4 % 52,778 33.5 % 50,832 33.6 %Operating expenses:Selling, general and administrative 26,598 17.4 26,284 16.7 25,406 16.8
Depreciation and amortization 2,673 1.8 2,455 1.6 2,386 1.6
Total operating expenses 29,271 19.2 28,739 18.3 27,792 18.4
Operating income 21,689 14.2 24,039 15.3 23,040 15.2Interest and other (income) expense:Interest income and other, net (178) (0.1) (55) — (44) —
Interest expense 1,943 1.3 1,617 1.0 1,347 0.9
Interest and other, net 1,765 1.2 1,562 1.0 1,303 0.9Earnings before provision for income taxes19,924 13.1 22,477 14.3 21,737 14.4
Provision for income taxes 4,781 3.1 5,372 3.4 5,304 3.5
Net earnings $ 15,143 9.9 % $ 17,105 10.9 % $ 16,433 10.9 %—————Note: Certain percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.% Change
Selected financial and sales data: Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal2023 2022 2021 2023 vs. 2022 2022 vs. 2021
Comparable sales (% change) (3.2) % 3.1 % 11.4 % N/A N/A
Comparable customer transactions (% change) (1)
(2.9) % (5.4) % (0.1) % N/A N/A
Comparable average ticket (% change) (1)
(0.3) % 8.8 % 11.7 % N/A N/A
Customer transactions (in millions) (1)
1,621.8 1,666.4 1,759.7 (2.7) % (5.3) %
Average ticket (1) (2)
$90.07 $90.36 $83.04 (0.3) % 8.8 %
Sales per retail square foot (1) (3)
$604.55 $627.17 $604.74 (3.6) % 3.7 %
Diluted earnings per share $15.11 $16.69 $15.53 (9.5) % 7.5 %
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K
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Table of Contents—————(1) Does not include results for HD Supply.
(2) Average ticket represents the average price paid per transaction and is used by management to monitor the performance of the Company, as it represents a primary driver in measuring sales performance.
(3) Sales per retail square foot represents sales divided by retail store square footage. Sales per retail square foot is a measure of the efficiency of sales based on the total square footage of our stores and is used by management to monitor the performance of the Company’s retail operations as an indicator of the productivity of owned and leased square footage for these retail operations.
FISCAL 2023 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2022SalesWe assess our sales performance by evaluating both net sales and comparable sales.
Net Sales. Net sales for fiscal 2023 decreased $4.7 billion, or 3.0%, to $152.7 billion. The decrease in net s ales for fiscal 2023 primarily reflects the impact of a negative comparable sales environment, primarily driven by a decrease in comparable customer transactions as well as the impact from lumber price deflation.
Online sales, which consist of sales generated online through our websites and mobile applications for products picked up at our stores or delivered to customer locations, represented 14.8% of net sales and increased by 1.1% during fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022.
A weaker U.S. dollar positively impacted net sales by $276 million in fiscal 2023.
Comparable Sales. Comparable sales is a measure that highlights the performance of our existing locations and websites by measuring the change in net sales for a period over the comparable prior period of equivalent length. Comparable sales includes sales at all locations, physical and online, open greater than 52 weeks (including remodels and relocations) and excludes closed stores. Retail stores become comparable on the Monday following their 52 nd week of operation. Acquisitions are typically included in comparable sales after they have been owned for more than 52 weeks. Comparable sales is intended only as supplemental information and is not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with GAAP.
Total comparable sales decreased 3.2% in fiscal 2023, reflecting a 2.9% decrease in comparable customer transactions and a 0.3% decrease in com parable average ticket compared to fiscal 2022. The decrease in comparable customer transactions reflects the impact of macroeconomic factors, including the continued shift in consumer consumption trends away from goods and towards services and the impact of a higher interest rate environment, pressuring home improvement demand. The decrease in comparable average ticket reflects U.S. commodity price deflation, which negatively impacted average ticket by approximately 145 basis points, driven primarily by lumber. This was partially offset by inflation across several product categories, which slowed relative to prior years, along with demand for new and innovative products.
For fiscal 2023, four of our 14 merchandising departments—Building Materials, Outdoor Garden, Hardware, and Plumbing—posted positive comparable sales compared to fiscal 2022. All of our other merchandising departments posted negative comparable sales during fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, with our Lumber department posting a double-digit comparable sales decline primarily resulting from lumber price deflation, partially offset by higher unit sales.Gross ProfitGross profit decreased $1.8 billion, or 3.4%, to $51.0 billion in fiscal 2023. Gross profit as a percent of net sales, or gross profit margin, was 33.4% in fiscal 2023 compared to 33.5% in fiscal 2022. The decrease in gross profit margin primarily reflects price stabilization as well as reduction and optimization of our inventory position, partially offset by lower supply chain costs.
While we continue to experience shrink above historical averages, year-over-year pressure to gross profit margin from shrink decreased as we moved through fiscal 2023. As a result, shrink did not have a significant impact on our gross profit margin in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022.Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses are composed of SG&A and depreciation and amortization.Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K
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Table of Contents
Selling, General & Administrative. SG&A increased $314 million, or 1.2%, to $26.6 billion in fiscal 2023. As a percent of net sales, SG&A was 17.4% in fiscal 2023 compared to 16.7% in fiscal 2022, primarily reflecting deleverage from a negative comparable sales environment along with previously executed wage investments for hourly associates, partially offset by the one-time benefit from the favorable settlement of litigation with a vendor as well as lower incentive compensation.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortiz ati on increased $218 million, or 8.9%, to $2.7 billion in fiscal 2023. As a percent of net sales, depreciation and amortization was 1.8% in fiscal 2023 compared to 1.6% in fiscal 2022 , primarily reflecting increased depreciation expense from ongoing investments in the business and deleverage from a negative comparable sales environment.Interest and Other, netInterest and other, net increased $203 million, or 13.0%, to $1.8 billion in fiscal 2023. As a percent of net sales, interest and other, net, was 1.2% in fiscal 2023 compared to 1.0% in fiscal 2022 , primarily due to increased variable rate interest on floating-rate debt resulting from interest rate swaps, higher average debt balances, and deleverage from a negative comparable sales environment, partially offset by higher interest income.Provision for Income TaxesOur combined effective income tax rate was 24.0% in fiscal 2023 compared to 23.9% in fiscal 2022.Diluted Earnings per ShareDiluted earnings per share were $15.11 in fiscal 2023 compared to $16.69 in fiscal 2022. The decrease in diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2023 was primarily driven by lower net earnings during fiscal 2023, partially offset by lower diluted shares due to share repurchases.NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
To provide clarity on our operating performance, we supplement our reporting with certain non-GAAP financial measures. However, this supplemental information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may differ from similar measures used by other companies.
Return on Invested CapitalWe believe ROIC is meaningful for investors and management because it measures how effectively we deploy our capital base. We define ROIC as NOPAT, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the most recent twelve-month period, divided by average debt and equity. We define average debt and equity as the average of beginning and ending long-term debt (including current installments) and equity for the most recent twelve-month period.
The following table presents the calculation of ROIC, together with a reconciliation of NOPAT to net earnings (the most comparable GAAP measure):Fiscal Fiscal Fiscaldollars in millions 2023 2022 2021
Net earnings $ 15,143 $ 17,105 $ 16,433
Interest and other, net 1,765 1,562 1,303
Provision for income taxes 4,781 5,372 5,304
Operating income 21,689 24,039 23,040Income tax adjustment (1)(5,205) (5,745) (5,622)
NOPAT $ 16,484 $ 18,294 $ 17,418
Average debt and equity $ 44,955 $ 41,055 $ 38,946
ROIC 36.7 % 44.6 % 44.7 %—————(1) Income tax adjustment is defined as operating income multiplied by our effective tax rate for the trailing twelve months.Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K
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Table of ContentsLIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCESAt January 28, 2024, we had $3.8 billion in cash and cash equivalents, of which $1.0 billion was held by our foreign subsidiaries. We believe that our current cash position, cash flow generated from operations, funds available from our commercial paper program, and access to the long-term debt capital markets should be sufficient not only for our operating requirements, any required debt payments, and satisfaction of other contractual obligations, but also to enable us to invest in the business, fund dividend payments, and fund any share repurchases through the next several fiscal years. In addition, we believe we have the ability to obtain alternative sources of financing, if necessary.
Our material cash requirements include contractual and other obligations arising in the normal course of business. These obligations primarily include long-term debt and related interest payments, operating and finance lease obligations, and purchase obligations. In addition to our cash requirements, we follow a disciplined approach to capital allocation. This approach first prioritizes investing in the business, followed by paying dividends, with the intent of then returning excess cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases. During fiscal 2023, we invested approximately $3.2 billion back into our business in the form of capital expenditures. Additionally, we invested approximately $1.5 billion on three acquisitions during fiscal 2023, accelerating our strategic initiatives and providing us with better capabilities to serve our customers.
For fiscal 2024, in line with our expectation of approximately two percent of net sales on an annual basis, we plan to invest approximately $3.0 billion to $3.5 billion back into our business in the form of capital expenditures, with investments focused on new stores and improving the customer experience, including through technology and development of other differentiated capabilities. However, we may adjust our capital expenditures to support the operations of the business, to enhance long-term strategic positioning, or in response to the economic environment, as necessary or appropriate.
During fiscal 2023, we paid cash dividends of $8.4 billion to shareholders. In February 2024, we announced a 7.7% increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $2.09 to $2.25 per share. We intend to pay a dividend in the future; however, any future dividend is subject to declaration by the Board of Directors based on our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors.
In August 2023, our Board of Directors approved a $15.0 billion share repurchase authorization that replaced the previous authorization of $15.0 billion, which was approved in August 2022. The August 2023 authorization does not have a prescribed expiration date. As of January 28, 2024, approximately $12.3 billion of the $15.0 billion share repurchase authorization remained available. During fiscal 2023, we had cash payments of $8.0 billion for repurchases of our common stock through open market purchases.
DEBT
We have a commercial paper program that allows for borrowings up to $5.0 billion. In connection with our program, we have back-up credit facilities with a consortium of banks for borrowings up to $5.0 billion, which consist of a five-year $3.5 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in July 2027 and a 364-day $1.5 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in July 2024. In July 2023, we completed the renewal of our 364-day $1.5 billion credit facility, extending the maturity from July 2023 to July 2024. All of our short-term borrowings during fiscal 2023 were under our commercial paper program, and the maximum amount outstanding at any time was $1.5 billion. At January 28, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings under this program, and we were in compliance with all of the covenants contained in our credit facilities, none of which are expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources.
We also issue senior notes from time to time as part of our capital management strategy. In November 2023, we issued $2.0 billion of senior notes. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of our 3.75% senior notes due February 15, 2024 and repurchases of shares of our common stock. In April 2023, we repaid $1.0 billion of senior notes at maturity. At January 28, 2024, we had an aggregate principal amount of senior notes outstanding of $42.2 billion, with $1.1 billion payable within 12 months. Future interest payments associated with these senior notes total $23.7 billion, with $1.7 billion payable within 12 months, based on current interest rates, which include the impact of our active interest rate swap agreements.
The indentures governing our senior notes do not generally limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness or require us to maintain financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. The indentures governing the notes contain various customary covenants; however, none are expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources. See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our debt arrangements.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K31
Table of ContentsLEASESWe use operating and finance leases largely to obtain a portion of our real estate, including our stores, distribution centers, and store support centers. At January 28, 2024, we had aggregate remaining lease payment obligations of $14.6 billion, with $1.7 billion payable within 12 months. Aggregate lease obligations include approximately $450 million of obligations related to leases not yet commenced. See Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our operating and finance leases.PURCHASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHERPurchase obligations include all legally binding contracts such as firm commitments for inventory purchases, media and sponsorship spend, software and license commitments, and legally binding service contracts. We issue inventory purchase orders in the ordinary course of business, which are typically cancellable by their terms, therefore we do not consider purchase orders that are cancellable to be firm inventory commitments. At January 28, 2024, we had aggregate purchase obligations of $2.5 billion, with $1.0 billion paya ble within 12 months.
At January 28, 2024, we had aggregate liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits totaling $689 million, of which approximately $25 million are expected to be paid in the next 12 months. The timing of payment, if any, associated with our long-term unrecognized tax benefit liabilities is unknown. See Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our unrecognized tax benefits.We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.
CASH FLOWS SUMMARY
Operating Activities
Cash flow generated from operations provides us with a significant source of liquidity. Our operating cash flows result primarily from cash received from our customers, offset by cash payments we make for products and services, associate compensation, operations, occupancy costs, and income taxes. Cash provided by or used in operating activities is also subject to changes in working capital. Working capital at any point in time is subject to many variables, including seasonality, inventory management and category expansion, the timing of cash receipts and payments, vendor payment terms, and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $6.6 billion in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, primarily driven by changes in working capital, partially offset by a decrease in net earnings. Changes in working capital were primarily driven by lower inventory purchases in fiscal 2023 relative to fiscal 2022, as well as timing of vendor payments. Inventory levels normalized in fiscal 2023 as we adjusted purchasing activity to align with demand and continued to sell through existing inventory.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K
32Table of Contents
Investing ActivitiesNet cash used in investing activities increased by $1.6 billion in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, primarily resulting from cash paid for acquired businesses as well as increased capital expenditures primarily due to investments in new store growth. See Note 1 3 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of acquisitions.Financing ActivitiesNet cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2023 primarily reflected $8.4 billion of cash dividends paid, $8.0 billion of share repurchases, and $1.3 billion of repayments of long-term debt, partially offset by $2.0 billion of net proceeds from long-term debt.
Cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2022 primarily reflected $7.8 billion of cash dividends paid, $6.7 billion of share repurchases, $2.5 billion of repayments of long-term debt, and $1.0 billion of net repayments of short-term debt, partially offset by $6.9 billion of net proceeds from long-term debt.CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. The following discussion addresses our most critical accounting estimates, which are those that are both important to the representation of our financial condition and results of operations, and that require significant judgment or use of significant assumptions or complex estimates.MERCHANDISE INVENTORIESWe value the majority of our inventory under the retail inventory method, with the remainder of our inventories valued under a cost method, primarily the first-in, first-out method. Under the retail inventory method, inventories are stated at cost, which is determined by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories.The retail value of our inventory is adjusted as needed to reflect current market conditions. Because these adjustments are based on current prevailing market conditions, the value of our inventory approximates the lower of cost or market. The valuation under the retail inventory method is based on a number of factors such as markups, markdowns, and inventory losses (or shrink). As such, there exists an inherent uncertainty in the final determination of inventory cost and gross profit. We determine markups and markdowns based on the consideration of a variety of factors such as current and anticipated demand, customer preferences and buying trends, age of the merchandise, and weather conditions.We calculate shrink based on actual inventory losses identified as a result of physical inventory counts during each fiscal period and estimated inventory losses between physical inventory counts. The estimate for shrink occurring in the interim period between physical inventory counts is calculated on a store-specific basis and is primarily based on recent shrink results. A 10% increase in the shrink rate used to estimate our inventory shrink reserve would have increased cost of sales by approximately $104 million for fiscal 2023. Historically, the difference between estimated shrink and actual inventory losses has not been material to our annual financial results.We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood of a material change in the estimates or assumptions we use to value our inventory under the retail inventory method. We believe that the retail inventory method provides an inventory valuation which approximates cost and results in valuing our inventory at the lower of cost or market.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFor information on our accounting policies and on accounting pronouncements that have impacted or are expected to materially impact our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows, see Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.
Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K
33
Table of Contents
FY 2026-02-01 (later)
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.The following discussion provides an analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations from management's perspective and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. The discussion in this Form 10-K generally focuses on fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024. A discussion of our results of operations and changes in financial condition for fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 has been omitted from this report, but can be found in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Form 10-K for fiscal 2024. For purposes of comparison, fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2023 include 52 weeks and fiscal 2024 includes 53 weeks.TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
28
Results of Operations29Liquidity and Capital Resources
31
Critical Accounting Estimates34
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K27
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWe reported net sales of $164.7 billion in fiscal 2025. Net earnings were $14.2 billion, or $14.23 per diluted share.
During fiscal 2025, we generated $16.3 billion of cash flow from operations, received $4.1 billion of proceeds from commercial paper borrowings, net of repayments, and received $2.2 billion of proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts. This cash flow, together with cash on hand, was used to fund $9.2 billion in cash dividends, repay $5.0 billion of long-term debt, and fund $3.7 billion in capital expenditures. As described below, we also completed the GMS acquisition for aggregate cash consideration totaling approximately $5.5 billion , including the repayme nt of certain of GMS’s outstanding debt.
In February 2026, we announced a 1.3% increase in our quarterly cash dividend to $2.33 per share.
Our inventory turnover ratio was 4.4 times at the end of fiscal 2025, compared to 4.7 times at the end of fiscal 2024. The decrease in our inventory turnover ratio was primarily driven by higher average inventory levels during fiscal 2025.
Our ROIC was 25.7% for fiscal 2025 and 31.3% for fiscal 2024. The decrease in ROIC was primarily driven by higher average equity due to our ongoing pause in share repurchases and higher average long-term debt largely due to the financing of the SRS acquisition. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures sec tion below for our definition and calculation of ROIC.
During fiscal 2025, we opened ten new stores in the U.S. and two new stores in Mexico, resulting in a total store count of 2,359 at February 1, 2026. A total of 324 of our stores, or 13.7%, were located in Canada and Mexico. At the end of fiscal 2025, we also operated over 1,250 locations within our SRS non-reportable operating segments throughout the U.S. and Canada.
GMS Acquisition
On June 29, 2025, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GMS, a leading distributor of specialty building products, including drywall, ceilings, steel framing and other complementary construction products, through branches located across the U.S. and Canada. Under the terms of the merger agreement, we, through a wholly owned subsidiary, made a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of GMS common stock for $110 per share. All conditions of the offer were satisfied, including receipt of the requisite regulatory approvals, and the merger was completed on September 4, 2025. As a result of the merger, GMS became a direct subsidiary of SRS and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. We believe the GMS acquisition will enhance SRS's position as a leading multi-category building materials distributor, bringing differentiated capabilities, product categories and customer relationships that are highly complementary to SRS's existing business. Refer to Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion on the acquisition.
Tariffs and Other Trade Policy Matters
We continue to monitor developments with respect to tariffs and other trade policy matters closely, including impacts from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. We have worked, and continue to work, diligently to diversify our global supply chain and to implement other cost mitigation initiatives. While we experienced increased costs as a result of tariffs in fiscal 2025, our actions, including diversification efforts and some price increases, along with our scale, vendor relationships, experienced internal teams, and other initiatives allowed us to effectively mitigate the impact on our results of operations. We plan to continue to assess our sourcing and other mitigation strategies to maintain a strong value proposition for our customers and believe we remain well positioned to manage the impact that tariffs in effect as of the date of this filing are expected to have on our business.
As trade policy discussions are ongoing and related developments continue to evolve, we cannot predict with certainty their ultimate impact on our business in future periods, including our results of operations and cash flows. For more information on these risks and uncertainties see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Facto r s . ”
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K
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Table of ContentsRESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents the percentage relationship between net sales and major categories in our consolidated statements of earnings:
Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal2025 2024 2023dollars in millions $ % of Net Sales $ % of Net Sales $ % of Net SalesNet sales $ 164,683 $ 159,514 $ 152,669
Gross profit 54,865 33.3 % 53,308 33.4 % 50,960 33.4 %Operating expenses:Selling, general and administrative 30,702 18.6 28,748 18.0 26,598 17.4
Depreciation and amortization 3,273 2.0 3,034 1.9 2,673 1.8
Total operating expenses 33,975 20.6 31,782 19.9 29,271 19.2
Operating income 20,890 12.7 21,526 13.5 21,689 14.2Interest and other (income) expense:Interest income and other, net (124) (0.1) (201) (0.1) (178) (0.1)
Interest expense 2,412 1.5 2,321 1.5 1,943 1.3
Interest and other, net 2,288 1.4 2,120 1.3 1,765 1.2Earnings before provision for income taxes18,602 11.3 19,406 12.2 19,924 13.1
Provision for income taxes 4,446 2.7 4,600 2.9 4,781 3.1
Net earnings $ 14,156 8.6 % $ 14,806 9.3 % $ 15,143 9.9 %—————Note: Fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2023 include 52 weeks. Fiscal 2024 includes 53 weeks. Certain percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.% Change
Selected financial and sales data: Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal2025 2024 2023 2025 vs. 2024 2024 vs. 2023
Comparable sales (% change) (1)
0.3 % (1.8) % (3.2) % N/A N/A
Comparable customer transactions (% change) (1) (2)
(1.0) % (1.0) % (2.9) % N/A N/A
Comparable average ticket (% change) (1) (2) (3)
1.4 % (0.9) % (0.3) % N/A N/A
Customer transactions (in millions) (2)
1,601.5 1,637.2 1,621.8 (2.2) % 0.9 %
Average ticket (2) (3)
$90.56 $89.31 $90.07 1.4 % (0.8) %
Diluted earnings per share (4)
$14.23 $14.91 $15.11 (4.6) % (1.3) %—————(1) Does not include results from the 53 rd week of fiscal 2024.
(2) Customer transactions and average ticket measures do not include results from HD Supply or SRS (including GMS).
(3) Average ticket represents the average price paid per transaction and is used by management to monitor the performance of the Company, as it represents a primary driver in measuring sales performance.
(4) The 53rd week of fiscal 2024 increased diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2024 by approximately $0.30.
FISCAL 2025 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2024SalesWe assess our sales performance by evaluating both net sales and comparable sales. Fiscal 2025 consisted of 52 weeks compared to 53 weeks in fiscal 2024. For purposes of the following discussion, comparable sales, comparable customer transactions, and comparable average ticket are based upon the comparable 52-week period from fiscal 2024.
Net Sales. Net sales for fiscal 2025 increased $5.2 billion, or 3.2%, to $164.7 billion. The increase in n et s ales for fiscal 2025 was primarily driven by SRS, which was acquired on June 18, 2024, and GMS, which was acquired on September 4, 2025. In aggregate, these acquisitions contributed approximately $6.3 billion of incremental net sales during fiscal 2025. Net sales also increased due to sales from new stores and the impact of a positive comparable sales environment. These increases were partially offset by the additional week in fiscal 2024 which contributed approximately $2.5 billion in net sales in fiscal 2024.
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Online sales represented 15.9% of net sales during fiscal 2025 and increased by 8.7% compared to fiscal 2024. Calculated on a comparable week basis relative to fiscal 2024, online sales increased by 10.4%. Online sales consist of sales of products generated through websites and mobile applications and does not include results from HD Supply or SRS (including GMS).
A stronger U.S. dollar compared to fiscal 2024 negatively impacted net sales by $307 million in fiscal 2025.
Comparable Sales. Comparable sales is a measure that highlights the performance of our existing locations and websites by measuring the change in net sales for a period over the comparable prior period of equivalent length. Comparable sales includes sales at locations, physical and online, open greater than 52 weeks (including remodels and relocations) and excludes closed stores. Acquisitions are typically included in comparable sales after they have been owned for more than 52 weeks. For our calculation of comparable sales in fiscal 2025, we compare weeks 1 through 52 in fiscal 2025 against weeks 2 through 53 in fiscal 2024. Comparable sales is intended only as supplemental information and is not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with GAAP. The method of calculating comparable sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our method of calculating comparable sales may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Total comparable sales increased 0.3% in fiscal 2025, primarily reflecting a 1.4% increase in comparable average ticket, partially offset by a 1.0% decrease in comparable customer transactions compared to fiscal 2024. Our comparable sales results reflect customer engagement with smaller home improvement projects, which was offset by the impact of continued macroeconomic uncertainties and other macroeconomic factors, including a persisting high interest rate environment, that continue to pressure broader home improvement demand.
For fiscal 2025 , our Storage & Organization, Electrical, Bath, Plumbing, Indoor Garden, Outdoor Garden, Kitchen & Blinds, Hardware, Power, Building Materials, and Appliances merchandising departments within our Primary segment posted positive comparable sales compared to fiscal 2024. Our other merchandising departments within our Primary segment posted negative comparable sales during fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024.Gross ProfitGross profit increased $1.6 billion, or 2.9%, to $54.9 billion in fiscal 2025. Gross profit as a percent of net sales, or gross profit margin, was 33.3% in fiscal 2025 compared to 33.4% in fiscal 2024. The decrease in gross profit margin reflects the inclusion of SRS and GMS in our consolidated results, partially offset by lower shrink and certain supply chain benefits within our Primary segment.Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses are composed of SG&A and depreciation and amortization.Selling, General & Administrative. SG&A increased $2.0 billion, or 6.8%, to $30.7 billion in fiscal 2025. As a percent of net sales, SG&A was 18.6% in fiscal 2025 compared to 18.0% in fiscal 2024, which primarily reflects higher payroll and related costs in fiscal 2025 along with the impact of a non-recurring legal-related benefit recognized during fiscal 2024 within our Primary segment.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased $239 million, or 7.9%, to $3.3 billion in fiscal 2025. As a percent of net sales, depreciation and amortization was 2.0% in fiscal 2025 compared to 1.9% in fiscal 2024 , which primarily reflects increased intangible asset amortization expense resulting from our acquisitions of SRS and GMS.Interest and Other, netInterest and other, net increased $168 million, or 7.9%, to $2.3 billion in fiscal 2025. As a percentage of net sales, interest and other, net, was 1.4% in fiscal 2025 compared to 1.3% in fiscal 2024, primarily due to higher average long-term debt balances and lower interest income in fiscal 2025.Provision for Income TaxesOur combined effective income tax rate was 23.9% in fiscal 2025 compared to 23.7% in fiscal 2024.Diluted Earnings per ShareDiluted earnings per share were $14.23 in fiscal 2025 compared to $14.91 in fiscal 2024. The decrease in diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2025 was primarily driven by lower net earnings during fiscal 2025. The 53rd week of fiscal 2024 increased diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2024 by approximately $0.30.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K
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Table of ContentsNON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
To provide clarity on our operating performance, we supplement our reporting with certain non-GAAP financial measures. However, this supplemental information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may differ from similar measures used by other companies.
Return on Invested CapitalWe believe ROIC is meaningful for management, investors and ratings agencies because it measures how effectively we deploy our capital base. ROIC is a non-GAAP profitability measure, not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. We define ROIC as NOPAT, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the most recent twelve-month period, divided by average debt and equity. We define average debt and equity as the average of beginning and ending long-term debt (including current installments) and equity for the most recent twelve-month period.
The following table presents the calculation of ROIC, together with a reconciliation of NOPAT to net earnings (the most comparable GAAP financial measure):Fiscal Fiscal Fiscaldollars in millions 2025 2024 2023
Net earnings $ 14,156 $ 14,806 $ 15,143
Interest and other, net 2,288 2,120 1,765
Provision for income taxes 4,446 4,600 4,781
Operating income 20,890 21,526 21,689Income tax adjustment (1)(4,993) (5,102) (5,205)
NOPAT $ 15,897 $ 16,424 $ 16,484
Average debt and equity $ 61,914 $ 52,431 $ 44,955
ROIC 25.7 % 31.3 % 36.7 %—————Note: Fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2023 include 52 weeks. Fiscal 2024 includes 53 weeks. Consistent with our consolidated financial statements, periods presented only include operating results for acquisitions since their respective acquisition dates.(1) Income tax adjustment is defined as operating income multiplied by our effective tax rate for the trailing twelve months.LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCESAt February 1, 2026, we had $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents, of which $1.0 billion was held by our foreign subsidiaries. We believe that our current cash position, cash flow generated from operations, funds available from our commercial paper program, and access to the long-term debt capital markets should be sufficient not only for our operating requirements, any required debt payments, and satisfaction of other contractual obligations, but also to enable us to invest in the business, fund dividend payments, and fund any share repurchases through the next several fiscal years. In addition, we believe we have the ability to obtain alternative sources of financing, if necessary or appropriate.
Our material cash requirements include contractual and other obligations arising in the normal course of business. Our contractual obligations include long-term debt and related interest payments, operating and finance lease obligations, and purchase obligations. In addition to our cash requirements, we follow a disciplined approach to capital allocation. This approach first prioritizes investing in the business, followed by paying dividends, with the intent of then returning excess cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases. In March 2024, we paused share repurchases in connection with the SRS acquisition and do not have plans to resume share repurchases in fiscal 2026 as we seek to reduce our outstanding debt.
On July 4, 2025, the legislation commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “OBBBA”) was signed into law in the U.S., which contains a broad range of tax provisions, including the allowance to expense 100% of the cost of qualified property and immediate expensing of domestic research and experimental expenditures. The above mentioned provisions resulted in a reduction in our fiscal 2025 cash tax payments.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K31
Table of ContentsDuring fiscal 2025, we invested approximately $3.7 billion back into our business in the form of capital expenditures. We plan to invest approximately $4 billion back into our business in the form of capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, in line with our expectation of approximately 2.5% of projected fiscal 2026 net sales. We expect to make these investments across initiatives supporting our strategy of driving our core and culture, including building new stores and maintaining existing stores, delivering a frictionless, interconnected experience, and winning with Pros. However, as in the past, we may adjust our capital expenditures to support the operations of the business, to enhance long-term strategic positioning, or in response to the economic environment, as necessary or appropriate. We may also utilize strategic acquisitions to help accelerate our strategic initiatives.
During fiscal 2025, we paid cash dividends of $9.2 billion to shareholders. In February 2026, we announced a 1.3% increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $2.30 to $2.33 per share. We intend to pay a dividend in the future; however, any future dividend is subject to declaration by our Board based on our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other factors considered relevant by our Board.
In August 2023, our Board approved a $15.0 billion share repurchase authorization that replaced the previous authorization of $15.0 billion, which was approved in August 2022. The August 2023 authorization does not have a prescribed expiration date. As of February 1, 2026, approximately $11.7 billion of the $15.0 billion share repurchase authorization remained available.
DEBT
At the beginning of fiscal 2025, we had a commercial paper program that allowed for an aggregate of $7.0 billion in borrowings, and was supported by $7.0 billion of back-up credit facilities. These back-up credit facilities consisted of a five-year $3.5 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in July 2027, a 364-day $2.0 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in May 2025, and a 364-day $1.5 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in July 2025.
In May 2025, we terminated all three back-up credit facility agreements and simultaneously entered into a new five-year $3.5 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in May 2030 and a new 364-day $3.5 billion credit facility scheduled to expire in May 2026.
In July 2025, we increased our commercial paper program by $4.0 billion in connection with the anticipated financing of the GMS acquisition (see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements). In July 2025, in connection with the increase in the commercial paper program, we also entered into a new three-year $3.0 billion back-up credit facility scheduled to expire in July 2028, and a new 364-day $1.0 billion back-up credit facility scheduled to expire in July 2026, as well as amended and restated our existing 364-day $3.5 billion credit facility to extend the maturity from May 2026 to July 2026. In the aggregate, as of February 1, 2026, our commercial paper program allows for borrowings up to $11.0 billion and is supported by $11.0 billion of back-up credit facilities.
On September 4, 2025, we utilized approximately $2.0 billion of commercial paper borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the GMS acquisition. These borrowings were subsequently repaid with the $2.0 billion of proceeds from our September 2025 senior notes issuance. We also utilized commercial paper borrowings in fiscal 2025 to support general liquidity, including the repayment of senior note maturities.
During fiscal 2025, all of our short-term borrowings were under our commercial paper program, and the maximum amount outstanding during that period was $5.8 billion. At February 1, 2026, we had outstanding borrowings under our commercial paper program of $4.5 billion with a weighted average interest rate of 3.7%. At February 1, 2026, we had no outstanding borrowings under our back-up credit facilities, and we were in compliance with all of the covenants contained in our back-up credit facilities, none of which are expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources.
We also issue senior notes from time to time. As discussed above, in September 2025, we issued $2.0 billion of senior notes, which were used to repay commercial paper borrowings used to fund the GMS acquisition. Separately, during fiscal 2025, we repaid an aggregate of $4.25 billion of senior notes at maturity.
At February 1, 2026, we had an aggregate principal amount of senior notes outstanding of $48.8 billion, with $4.6 billion payable within 12 months. Future interest payments associated with these senior notes total $25.4 billion, with $2.0 billion payable within 12 months, based on current interest rates, which include the impact of our active interest rate swap agreements.
The indentures governing our senior notes do not generally limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness or require us to maintain financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. The indentures governing our notes contain various covenants, none of which are expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources. We were in compliance with all such covenants at February 1, 2026. See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our debt arrangements.
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Table of ContentsLEASESWe use operating and finance leases largely to obtain a portion of our real estate, including our stores, distribution centers, branches, and support centers. At February 1, 2026, we had aggregate remaining lease payment obligations of $15.9 billion, with $2.2 billion payable within 12 months. Aggregate lease obligations include approximately $675 million of obligations related to leases not yet commenced. See Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our operating and finance leases.PURCHASE OBLIGATIONS AND OTHERPurchase obligations include all legally binding contracts such as firm commitments for inventory purchases, media and sponsorship spend, software and license commitments, and legally binding service contracts. We issue inventory purchase orders in the ordinary course of business, which are typically cancellable by their terms, therefore we do not consider purchase orders that are cancellable to be firm inventory commitments. At February 1, 2026, we had aggregate purchase obligations of $1.9 billion , with $1.2 billion paya ble within 12 months.
At February 1, 2026, we had aggregate liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits totaling $559 million, nearly all of which are recorded as non-current liabilities. The timing of payment, if any, associated with our long-term unrecognized tax benefit liabilities is unknown. See Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our unrecognized tax benefits.We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.
CASH FLOWS SUMMARY
Operating Activities
Cash flow generated from operations provides us with a significant source of liquidity. Our operating cash flows result primarily from cash received from our customers, offset by cash payments we make for products and services, associate compensation, operations, occupancy costs, and income taxes. Cash provided by or used in operating activities is also subject to changes in working capital. Working capital at any point in time is subject to many variables, including seasonality, inventory management and category expansion, the timing of cash receipts and payments, vendor payment terms, and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $3.5 billion in fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024, primarily due to changes in working capital. Changes in working capital were primarily driven by the timing of vendor payments and increased inventories during fiscal 2025, along with the deferral of our fourth quarter fiscal 2024 estimated federal tax payment to the first quarter of fiscal 2025, resulting in fewer estimated tax payments in fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2025. This was partially offset by a reduction to our fiscal 2025 cash tax payments resulting from the OBBBA.
Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K
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Investing ActivitiesNet cash used in investing activities decreased by $12.1 billion in fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024, primarily resulting from higher cash paid for acquisitions during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2025.Financing ActivitiesNet cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2025 primarily reflected $9.2 billion of cash dividends paid and $5.0 billion of repayments of long-term debt, partially offset by $4.1 billion of proceeds from commercial paper borrowings, net of repayments, and $2.2 billion of net proceeds from long-term debt.
Net cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2024 primarily reflected $8.9 billion of cash dividends paid, $1.5 billion of repayments of long-term debt, and $649 million of share repurchases prior to pausing share repurchases in March 2024, largely offset by approximately $10.0 billion of net proceeds from long-term debt, which were used to finance the SRS acquisition, and $316 million of proceeds from commercial paper borrowings, net of repayments.CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. The following discussion addresses our most critical accounting estimates, which are those that are both important for the representation of our financial condition and results of operations, and that require significant judgment or use of significant assumptions or complex estimates.
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that once control is obtained, all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of the acquisition date fair values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when fair value is not readily available and requires a significant amount of management judgment. For the valuation of intangible assets acquired in a business combination, we typically use an income approach. Specifically, we utilize the multi-period excess earnings method to determine the estimated acquisition date fair values of the customer relationships intangible assets. The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair values of customer relationships included forecasted revenues, expected customer attrition rates, and the discount rate applied. Although the Company believes its estimates of acquisition date fair values are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions could have a significant impact on the determination of the fair values of the customer relationships intangible assets acquired.
The excess of the purchase price over fair values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. During the measurement period, which is up to one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill due to the use of preliminary information in our initial estimates. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to earnings.MERCHANDISE INVENTORIESWe value the majority of our inventory under the retail inventory method, with the remainder of our inventories valued under a cost method, primarily th e moving average cost and first-in, first-out methods. Under the retail inventory method, inventories are stated at cost, which is determined by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories.The retail value of our inventory is adjusted as needed to reflect current market conditions. Because these adjustments are based on current prevailing market conditions, the value of our inventory approximates the lower of cost or market. The valuation under the retail inventory method is based on a number of factors such as markups, markdowns, and inventory losses (or shrink). As such, there exists an inherent uncertainty in the final determination of inventory cost and gross profit. We determine markups and markdowns based on the consideration of a variety of factors such as current and anticipated demand, customer preferences and buying trends, age of the merchandise, and weather conditions.Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K
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We calculate shrink based on actual inventory losses identified as a result of physical inventory counts during each fiscal period and estimated inventory losses occurring between physical inventory counts. The estimate for shrink occurring in the interim period between physical inventory counts is calculated on a store-specific basis and is primarily based on recent shrink results. A 10% increase in the shrink rate used to estimate our inventory shrink reserve would have increased cost of sales by approximately $79 million for fiscal 2025. Historically, the difference between estimated shrink and actual inventory losses has not been material to our annual financial results.We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood of a material change in the estimates or assumptions we use to value our inventory under the retail inventory method. We believe that the retail inventory method provides an inventory valuation which approximates cost and results in valuing our inventory at the lower of cost or market.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFor information on our accounting policies and on accounting pronouncements that have impacted or may materially impact our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows, see Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.