Today: 28 June 2026
Home Depot stock edges higher after it rolls out a new AI tool for contractors

Home Depot stock edges higher after it rolls out a new AI tool for contractors

New York, January 26, 2026, 14:58 EST — Regular session

  • Shares gained roughly 0.7% after Home Depot introduced its “Material List Builder AI” tailored for Pro customers
  • Tool designed to accelerate job planning and ordering within the retailer’s digital Pro platform
  • Investors are focused on the Fed’s rate decision this week and Home Depot’s earnings report on Feb. 24

Shares of Home Depot inched up roughly 0.7% to $386.33 Monday afternoon following the rollout of a new AI tool targeting professional contractors. The stock fluctuated between $382.05 and $387.34 throughout the session.

The rollout arrives as Home Depot doubles down on its Pro customers, for whom speed and planning are just as crucial as price. The message is straightforward: spend less time making lists, cut down on store trips, and stop hunting for product codes.

Investors are gearing up for a week packed with rate news. The Federal Reserve is set to hold its benchmark policy rate steady between 3.50% and 3.75% at this week’s meeting. Attention will center on how long borrowing costs remain high, weighing on housing and renovation spending.

Home Depot unveiled its “Material List Builder AI,” which accepts voice commands, written descriptions, or pasted documents to generate a draft materials list organized by project phase. The tool is available at no extra cost to Pro Xtra members within the company’s Project Planning platform, offering product suggestions complete with pricing and stock information, Home Depot said. Mike Rowe, executive vice president of Pro, emphasized that for contractors, “the most valuable resource for any job is time.” Home Depot Investor Relations

Home Depot’s rally mirrored a wider uptick in U.S. equities Monday, as the SPDR S&P 500 ETF climbed roughly 0.7%. Lowe’s rose around 0.2%, Sherwin-Williams ticked up slightly, and Builders FirstSource slipped close to 3%.

Rates remain the headline for Home Depot. According to mortgage data company Optimal Blue, the average 30-year fixed conforming mortgage rate stood at 6.103% on Monday, barely moving from the previous report and up compared to last week.

The company is set to release its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 24, per its investor events calendar. Traders will focus on updates regarding demand for larger projects and same-store sales — which track growth at existing stores — as well as any insights into Pro spending.

The downside risk remains clear. If interest rates hold steady at elevated levels or home sales stay slow, expensive purchases could stay weak. Digital tools by themselves won’t be enough to boost spending ahead of time.

The next key event comes on Jan. 28, when the Fed will release its statement at 2:00 p.m. ET, with Chair Jerome Powell speaking at 2:30 p.m. ET. These moments often trigger sharp moves in rate-sensitive retail stocks.

Khadija Saeed is a financial markets reporter at TS2.tech, specializing in stocks, technology and emerging industries. She studied economics and finance at the London School of Economics and previously worked in market research before moving into financial journalism. Her coverage focuses on the companies, innovations and economic trends influencing global investors.

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    June 28, 2026, 3:57 PM EDT. Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved into a critical element underpinning multiple sectors worldwide. In the UK enterprise software market, firms like Cerillion (AIM:CER) and Bytes Technology Group (LSE:BYIT) are leading with strong margins and growth prospects. Cerillion, specializing in billing and customer management platforms primarily for telecoms, boasts a market cap of £325 million, forecast earnings growth of 15.26%, and a return on equity (ROE) of 22.6%. However, it faces concerns over accounting practices and funding reliance. Bytes, a £884.1 million market cap IT reseller and service provider, supports organizations with AI, cloud, and security solutions, mainly within the UK. These companies illustrate the intersection of AI-driven software growth and robust financial performance in the UK's tech sector.

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