Figures as of the Nov 13, 2026 close. Updated after each trading day. Not a recommendation or a forecast.
From Nov 14, 2016 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, $1,000 in Home Depot (HD) became $3,486 and $1,000 in Lowe's (LOW) became $3,930, with dividends reinvested.
From Nov 14, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, Home Depot grew 13.3% a year and Lowe's grew 14.7%. The higher rate, Lowe's', came with wider daily swings. Volatility was 25.4% for Home Depot and 29.6% for Lowe's. The Sharpe ratio is the yearly return above a fixed 5% risk-free rate, per unit of volatility.
Sharpe ratios were 0.33 for Home Depot and 0.33 for Lowe's, the same at two decimals. Over the same dates, the price record shows deepest falls of 38.0% for Home Depot and 48.6% for Lowe's. From Nov 15, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, betas to the S&P 500 were 0.94 for Home Depot and 1.01 for Lowe's.
The $1,000 in Home Depot and the $1,000 in Lowe's swapped places 5 times at month ends. The latest swap came at the end of Jul 2020. Since then, the $1,000 in Lowe's has been worth more at every month end. Across all 121 month ends, Home Depot's value was the higher one at 40 and Lowe's' at 81.
At the end of Jun 2023, $1,000 had become $2,857 in Home Depot and $3,628 in Lowe's. In relative terms, that was the widest gap between them at any month end. The $1,000 in Home Depot first doubled to $2,000 at a month end in May 2020. The $1,000 in Lowe's did so in Jun 2020.
Every row ends at the Nov 13, 2026 close. The "a year" columns give the yearly rate from each start date. The yearly rates were furthest apart over the full span since Sep 1981. Over that span, Home Depot grew 24.7% a year and Lowe's grew 15.5%.
The rates were closest over the last 5 years: 1.2% for Home Depot and 1.3% for Lowe's.
Both had a lower rate over the last year than their 10-year rate. For Home Depot it was −2.6% against 13.3%, and for Lowe's 0.5% against 14.7%. $1,000 in Home Depot ended below $1,000 over the last year ($974). $1,000 in Lowe's ended within 1% of where it started over the last year ($1,005).
| Period | $1,000 in Home Depot | $1,000 in Lowe's | Home Depot a year | Lowe's a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since both startedfrom Sep 22, 1981 | $21,277,845 | $678,656 | 24.7% | 15.5% |
| Last 20 yearsfrom Nov 13, 2006 | $15,951 | $11,213 | 14.8% | 12.8% |
| Last 10 yearsfrom Nov 14, 2016 | $3,486 | $3,930 | 13.3% | 14.7% |
| Last 5 yearsfrom Nov 12, 2021 | $1,062 | $1,065 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Last yearfrom Nov 13, 2025 | $974 | $1,005 | −2.6% | 0.5% |
At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Home Depot was 14.9% below its Nov 2024 month-end high. At the same close, Lowe's was 13.2% below its Jan 2026 month-end high. On daily closes, the deepest falls of Home Depot and Lowe's came in the same stretch. Home Depot fell 38.0% from Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 20, 2020.
Lowe's fell 48.6% from Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020. Home Depot closed back at its old high on May 27, 2020, 2 months after the low. Lowe's closed back at its old high on May 27, 2020, 2 months after the low. Home Depot was 20% or more below its high at 23 of 121 month ends.
Lowe's was 20% or more below its high at 18.
The S&P 500's COVID fall ran from its Feb 19, 2020 high to its Mar 23, 2020 low. Over those dates, Home Depot fell 32.9% and Lowe's 45.1%. The S&P 500's 2022 fall ran from its Jan 3, 2022 high to its Oct 12, 2022 low. Over those dates, Home Depot fell 30.0% and Lowe's 23.1%.
The bars cover 9 full calendar years, 2017 to 2025. Home Depot rose in 6 of them and Lowe's in 7. Home Depot's yearly change was higher in 2 years and Lowe's' in 7. Both rose in 6 and both fell in 2. In 1 year, one rose while the other fell.
Both had their lowest year in 2022: Home Depot −22.0%, Lowe's −21.5%. Both had their highest year in 2021: Home Depot +59.5%, Lowe's +63.3%. The widest one-year gap between them was 2020: Home Depot +24.5%, Lowe's +36.4%. In 2025, the latest full year, Home Depot fell 9.3% and Lowe's fell 0.3%.
These counts cover 119 full months, Dec 2016 to Oct 2026. Home Depot rose in 74 of them and Lowe's in 65. Both rose in 56, both fell in 36, and in 27 one rose while the other fell. Home Depot's largest monthly fall was −15.1% in Oct 2018, and Lowe's' −19.3% in Mar 2020.
Home Depot's largest monthly rise was +18.9% in Mar 2021, and Lowe's' +24.4% in May 2020. Home Depot's longest run of falling months was 3, ending in Jul 2017. Lowe's' longest run of falling months was 6, ending in Jun 2022.
The latest cell is a part month, from the Oct 30, 2026 close to the Nov 13, 2026 close. Over those days, Home Depot changed +5.9% and Lowe's +8.9%.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +8.9 | +1.6 | −13.0 | −0.0 | −3.5 | +12.0 | −5.9 | −1.2 | −12.6 | +15.7 | +5.9 | |
| 2025 | +5.9 | −3.7 | −7.0 | −1.6 | +2.2 | +0.2 | +0.2 | +10.7 | +0.2 | −6.3 | −6.0 | −3.0 |
| 2024 | +1.8 | +7.8 | +1.4 | −12.9 | +0.9 | +2.8 | +6.9 | +0.7 | +10.0 | −2.8 | +9.6 | −9.4 |
| 2023 | +2.6 | −8.5 | +0.2 | +1.8 | −5.0 | +9.6 | +7.5 | −0.4 | −8.5 | −5.8 | +10.9 | +10.5 |
| 2022 | −11.6 | −13.9 | −4.7 | +0.4 | +0.8 | −8.8 | +9.7 | −3.5 | −4.3 | +7.3 | +10.1 | −2.5 |
| 2021 | +2.0 | −4.6 | +18.9 | +6.0 | −1.5 | +0.5 | +2.9 | −0.6 | +1.1 | +13.2 | +7.8 | +4.0 |
| 2020 | +4.5 | −4.5 | −13.7 | +17.7 | +13.0 | +1.4 | +6.0 | +7.4 | −2.1 | −4.0 | +4.0 | −3.7 |
| 2019 | +6.8 | +0.9 | +4.4 | +6.2 | −6.8 | +10.3 | +2.8 | +6.7 | +2.4 | +1.1 | −6.0 | −0.3 |
| 2018 | +6.0 | −9.3 | −1.7 | +3.7 | +1.5 | +4.6 | +1.2 | +2.2 | +3.2 | −15.1 | +3.1 | −4.7 |
| 2017 | +2.6 | +5.3 | +1.9 | +6.3 | −1.1 | −0.1 | −2.5 | +0.8 | +9.1 | +1.4 | +9.0 | +5.4 |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +11.2 | −0.9 | −10.7 | +1.5 | −10.2 | +2.9 | −5.2 | −1.5 | −10.0 | +14.2 | +8.9 | |
| 2025 | +5.8 | −4.4 | −6.2 | −3.6 | +1.0 | −1.7 | +1.3 | +15.4 | −2.6 | −4.8 | +1.8 | −0.5 |
| 2024 | −3.9 | +13.1 | +5.8 | −10.1 | −2.9 | −0.4 | +11.9 | +1.2 | +9.0 | −2.9 | +4.0 | −9.4 |
| 2023 | +5.1 | −1.2 | −2.8 | +4.5 | −3.2 | +12.2 | +4.3 | −1.6 | −9.8 | −7.8 | +4.3 | +11.9 |
| 2022 | −7.9 | −6.9 | −8.5 | −1.8 | −1.2 | −10.6 | +10.3 | +1.4 | −3.3 | +4.4 | +9.0 | −6.3 |
| 2021 | +4.3 | −4.3 | +19.0 | +3.5 | −0.7 | −0.4 | −0.2 | +5.8 | −0.5 | +15.7 | +4.6 | +5.7 |
| 2020 | −2.5 | −8.3 | −19.3 | +22.4 | +24.4 | +3.7 | +10.6 | +10.6 | +0.7 | −4.4 | −1.4 | +3.0 |
| 2019 | +4.6 | +9.3 | +4.2 | +3.8 | −17.6 | +8.2 | +1.0 | +10.7 | −2.0 | +2.0 | +5.1 | +2.1 |
| 2018 | +13.1 | −14.5 | −2.1 | −5.6 | +15.3 | +0.6 | +4.4 | +9.5 | +5.6 | −16.7 | −0.9 | −2.1 |
| 2017 | +3.3 | +1.8 | +10.5 | +3.7 | −7.2 | −1.6 | +0.4 | −4.5 | +8.2 | +0.5 | +4.3 | +11.5 |
The rolling 1-year return is the change over the 12 months to each month end. From Nov 2017 to Nov 2026, Home Depot's rolling 1-year return ran from −27.8% (12 months to Sep 2026) to +67.3% (to Mar 2021). Over the same months, Lowe's' ran from −25.2% (12 months to Sep 2026) to +124.7% (to Mar 2021).
Home Depot's 12-month change was below zero at 31 of those 109 month ends, and Lowe's' at 29. Home Depot's 12-month change was the higher one at 46 month ends and Lowe's' at 63.
These measures cover Nov 14, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026. Over those dates, volatility was 25.4% for Home Depot and 29.6% for Lowe's. The Sortino ratio counts only falling days as risk. Against the same 5% rate, Sortino ratios were 0.46 for Home Depot and 0.46 for Lowe's. The Calmar ratio is the yearly return divided by the deepest fall.
Calmar ratios were 0.35 for Home Depot and 0.30 for Lowe's.
Beta shows how much Home Depot and Lowe's tended to move on the days the S&P 500 (SPY) moved. A beta of 1 means moving by the same amount as the index. From Nov 15, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, Home Depot's beta was 0.94, so it tended to move less than the index.
Over the same dates, Lowe's' beta was 1.01, so it tended to move about as much as the index. The correlation of Home Depot's and Lowe's' daily moves was 0.83, a close link. A correlation of 1 would mean they always moved together, 0 no link and −1 always opposite.
| Measure | Home Depot | Lowe's |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility, a year | 25.4% | 29.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.33 | 0.33 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.46 | 0.46 |
| Calmar ratio | 0.35 | 0.30 |
| Deepest fall | 38.0% | 48.6% |
| Beta to the S&P 500from Nov 15, 2016 | 0.94 | 1.01 |
| Upside capturemonths from Dec 2016 | 98% | 112% |
| Downside capturemonths from Dec 2016 | 95% | 109% |
| Biggest one-day rise | +13.75%Mar 24, 2020 | +14.01%Mar 24, 2020 |
| Biggest one-day fall | −19.79%Mar 16, 2020 | −24.77%Mar 16, 2020 |
| Price against its 50-day average | +11.7% | +14.4% |
| Price against its 200-day average | +5.9% | +3.0% |
| Correlation of daily movesfrom Nov 15, 2016 | 0.83 | |
What Home Depot and Lowe's do, from each company's latest annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Home Depot, Inc. is a home improvement retailer. It sells home improvement products, building materials, lawn and garden products, décor products and facilities MRO products in stores and online. MRO stands for maintenance, repair and operations. It also provides services, including home improvement installation and tool and equipment rental.
The filing combines its U.S., Canada and Mexico retail operations into one reportable segment, the Primary segment. It reports SRS, a residential specialty trade distributor acquired in June 2024, outside that segment. The company is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1978. Its corporate headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia.
Its fiscal year ends on the Sunday nearest January 31, so fiscal 2025 ended on February 1, 2026.
Source: 10-K (fiscal 2025, ended February 1, 2026), filed Mar 18, 2026 (SEC EDGAR)
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a home improvement retailer. As of January 30, 2026, it operated 1,759 home improvement stores and outlets in the United States. It also operated over 540 branch locations in the United States and Canada, including those of Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group, acquired during fiscal 2025. The company reports one segment, Retail Home Improvement.
Lowe's was founded in 1921 with the opening of its first hardware store in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It was incorporated in North Carolina in 1952 and has been publicly held since 1961. Its principal executive offices are in Mooresville, North Carolina. Its fiscal year ends on the Friday nearest the end of January.
Source: 10-K (fiscal 2025, ended January 30, 2026), filed Mar 23, 2026 (SEC EDGAR)
It depends on the period. Home Depot had the higher total return over the full span since Sep 1981 and the last 20 years. Lowe's had the higher total return over the last 10 and 5 years and the last year. From Sep 22, 1981 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, Home Depot returned +2,127,684% in total and Lowe's +67,766%.
Both include reinvested dividends, before taxes and fees. Over the last 10 years, Home Depot returned +249% and Lowe's +293%. Over the last 5 years, Home Depot returned +6.2% and Lowe's +6.5%. Over the last year, Home Depot returned −2.6% and Lowe's +0.5%. None of these Home Depot and Lowe's figures is a forecast.
SmartFin does not say which to buy. This page reports what Home Depot and Lowe's prices did. From Nov 14, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026, Home Depot grew 13.3% a year and Lowe's grew 14.7%. The record shows deepest falls of 38.0% for Home Depot and 48.6% for Lowe's.
Past returns for Home Depot and Lowe's do not show what either will do next.
Yes. Every HD and LOW figure here uses closing prices adjusted for stock splits and dividends, so dividends count as reinvested. Taxes, fees and trading costs are left out of the Home Depot and Lowe's figures.
At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Home Depot was 14.9% below its highest month-end value, set in Nov 2024. At the same close, Lowe's was 13.2% below its highest month-end value, set in Jan 2026. Home Depot's deepest fall on daily closes was 38.0%, from Feb 2020 to Mar 2020.
Lowe's' deepest fall was 48.6%, from Feb 2020 to Mar 2020.
Compare Home Depot and Lowe's with your own amount and dates in Compare Two Stocks
Daily closing prices adjusted for stock splits, with dividends reinvested, before taxes and fees. Both amounts are invested at the same close and valued at the Nov 13, 2026 close. See also: What if you invested in Home Depot · What if you invested in Lowe's.
This page presents historical market data and calculated results for a defined period. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the security, fund, or index shown. Past performance is not indicative of future results.