Jefferies downgrades Home Depot to Hold amid Q2 profit concerns and CEO medical leave.

Jefferies downgraded Home Depot from Buy to Hold due to worries over minimal profit growth despite expected revenue rise in Q2. Customer transactions have declined for five quarters, indicating growth relies on bigger purchases, not more customers. Market sentiment is bearish, with a high put-to-call ratio signaling expected price drops. CEO Ted Decker's temporary medical leave adds leadership uncertainty, contributing to cautious analyst outlook ahead of earnings release.