Why Home Depot Was More Profitable than Lowe’s in Q1 2018
In the first quarter, Home Depot (HD) posted a gross margin, EBIT margin, and net margin of 34.5%, 13.6%, and 9.6%, respectively. The expansion in Home Depot’s gross margin was driven by its implementation of new accounting standards, a favorable mix, and recent acquisitions. The company’s EBIT margin contracted 0.4% due to an increase in its operating expenses, which was partially offset by improved productivity in its core business.