Analysts Favor Lowe’s Over Home Depot Amid Stagnant Housing Market
Oppenheimer analysts suggest Lowe's shares present a more realistic valuation compared to Home Depot, despite both stocks trading at elevated levels. The housing market's prolonged slump continues to weigh on home improvement retailers, with a recovery likely trailing any Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Lowe's stands to benefit more from eventual market improvements, given its current pricing and operational upside potential. However, analysts caution that investor expectations for a near-term rebound may be overly optimistic, as housing turnover remains at historic lows due to high mortgage rates.