NEW YORK, Jan 26, 2026, 20:14 EST — The market has closed.
Home Depot shares ticked up Monday following the launch of a new AI tool designed to help contractors assemble project shopping lists faster. The stock wrapped the day 0.7% higher, closing at $386.53.
The timing is crucial. Investors want proof that home improvement demand can hold steady amid fluctuating borrowing costs and housing turnover. Home Depot, meanwhile, is relying heavily on its professional customers to offset weaker spending from do-it-yourself buyers.
A new digital feature won’t transform the entire business on its own, but it’s a key piece of a larger effort: integrating more of the “planning” process into Home Depot’s systems and converting that into reliable orders.
The company introduced “Material List Builder AI,” which creates grouped material lists from voice commands, text, or existing documents, and saves them for repeat projects. It’s available at no cost to Pro Xtra members within Home Depot’s Project Planning tool. Once a list is approved, the AI also offers product suggestions complete with pricing and stock status. “Their most valuable resource for any job is time,” said Mike Rowe, executive vice president of Pro at Home Depot. (Homedepot)
Executives have pitched the AI initiative as more than just a productivity boost—it’s a customer-experience priority. Home Depot’s CIO Angie Brown called being “part of the learning experience” “critical.” Jordan Broggi, president of online and EVP of customer experience, added that AI “represents our brand well” only if it meets the same standards as an in-store associate. (CX Dive)
The stakes are well-known in the home improvement sector. Contractors often return with bigger orders, and both Home Depot and competitor Lowe’s have been battling to capture a larger share of that spending through delivery, credit options, and services tailored to job sites.
Traders are weighing macro factors this week as the Federal Reserve kicks off its two-day policy meeting Tuesday, wrapping up Wednesday. Any surprises on interest rates could rattle rate-sensitive parts of the retail sector. (Federal Reserve)
Still, the AI wager carries risks. If tools misinterpret tasks or overlook critical materials, adoption could stall. The bigger question for Home Depot is whether customers trust enough to launch—or relaunch—major remodeling jobs.
Home Depot will report its fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Investors will be zeroing in on comparable sales—those from stores open at least a year—and looking for insights on demand trends among Pro customers versus DIY shoppers. (Homedepot)
