NEW YORK, Jan 18, 2026, 11:08 EST — Market closed.
- A shareholder proposal urges Home Depot to evaluate privacy and civil-rights risks linked to its surveillance vendors
- HD shares ended Friday’s session at $380.17. U.S. markets will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Attention shifts to Feb. 24 earnings and the lead-up to the company’s anticipated annual meeting in May
Home Depot is now under pressure from a shareholder proposal urging the company to evaluate privacy and civil-rights risks linked to its surveillance vendors. This comes after reports revealed that license-plate camera data was used in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigations. Zevin Asset Management, holding over $7 million in Home Depot shares, is spearheading the proposal with backing from 17 co-sponsors ahead of the retailer’s annual meeting expected in May, Reuters said. Home Depot confirmed it employs Flock Safety’s license-plate readers but insists it does not provide federal agencies access. A company spokesperson added it “cannot legally interfere with federal enforcement agencies, including preventing them from coming into our stores and parking lots.” (Reuters)
HD shares closed Friday’s regular session up 0.27% at $380.17, then dipped slightly to $379.61 in after-hours trading, which tends to be thinner. With U.S. markets closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, investors will have to wait until Tuesday’s open to get a fresh price read. (MarketWatch)
This issue matters now because it touches on two key factors that can quickly shift a large retailer’s multiple: reputation and regulation. Even if a shareholder proposal is nonbinding, it can compel a response, drag management into an unwanted debate, and create noise ahead of proxy season.
The stock finds itself in a market that’s been quick to punish consumer names on any unexpected news. On Friday, Wall Street’s major indexes slid, with the S&P 500 falling roughly 0.1% as investors digested early earnings cues. (AP News)
Home Depot’s nearest listed rival, Lowe’s, ended Friday slightly higher, up 0.19% at $277.55. These two often move in tandem, seen as barometers for big-ticket home spending. Investors juggle the idea that repairs remain steady while remodels tend to bounce back only when the housing market shifts. (StockAnalysis)
Traders are poised to catch any moves from Home Depot—whether through filings, public comments, or shifts in how it handles store security and customer data. These stories often lie low before resurfacing when proxy materials are released.
Housing remains the main wildcard. If mortgage rates hold steady at high levels and homeowners don’t move, Home Depot usually gets more small repair jobs and fewer major renovations, limiting growth despite steady foot traffic.
Home Depot will release its fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. ET, per the company’s investor relations calendar. (Home Depot Investor Relations)
The governance risk might ease if the proposal doesn’t make the proxy ballot or if investors view it as mostly headline noise without significant financial consequences. A tougher downside scenario would emerge if the debate escalates into boycotts, lawsuits, or sales declines while housing demand remains sluggish.
For now, the focus is on Tuesday’s reopening after the holiday. The next key date comes on Feb. 24, when investors will hear directly from management once more.
