Mortgage rates have surged above 7.5%, causing many homeowners to stay put with their low-rate mortgages rather than refinance or move. With home equity loans and HELOCs becoming too costly, homeowners are deferring major renovations and focusing on essential maintenance instead. This shift is reflected in declining sales of big-ticket home improvement items at Lowe's and Home Depot, signaling a broader pullback in discretionary spending on home upgrades. The trend may lead to less housing market turnover and increased vulnerability of aging homes to extreme weather damage if necessary repairs are postponed.
Home Depot's market cap stands at $282.20 billion with a dividend yield of 3.3%, while Lowe's market cap is $101.44 billion with a 2.77% dividend yield as of Oct 03, 2026 20:31 WIB. On Pluang, Home Depot shares are priced at USD 282.85, showing a slight 0.14% increase in the last day, whereas Lowe's shares are at USD 180.80, down 0.86%. The steady dividend yields and mixed price movements reflect ongoing investor interest despite the challenges in the home remodeling sector highlighted by rising mortgage rates and reduced discretionary spending on home improvements.
