Home Depot reported strong second-quarter sales, exceeding Wall Street expectations with revenue of $47.86 billion. This growth was driven by customers focusing on smaller home improvement projects over the summer months. Globally, comparable store sales increased by 1.7%, with U.S. comparable store sales rising 1.3%. While customer transactions slightly decreased, the average spending per receipt saw an increase. Analysts noted an encouraging rise in smaller projects, a positive shift from previous declines. However, larger projects continued to decline, impacted by concerns over financing and previous housing market activity. Elevated borrowing costs, significantly higher than in the early 2020s, are making home equity loans more daunting for homeowners. The U.S. housing market remains in a slump, with record prices and high mortgage rates hindering prospective buyers. Home Depot earned $4.77 billion, or $4.79 per share, surpassing analyst predictions. The company is also launching a nationwide express delivery service, promising orders within three hours or less. Despite current market challenges, Home Depot maintained its sales growth guidance for fiscal 2026.