First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. trimmed its position in Home Depot by 2.6% during the third quarter, selling 1,627 shares and ending the period with 61,599 shares valued at $24.959 million. In contrast, GDS Wealth Management increased its stake by 5.3%, acquiring 2,249 additional shares to reach a total holding of 44,784 shares worth $18.146 million. These shifts reflect divergent views among large investors, with hedge funds and other institutions controlling 70.86% of outstanding shares.

In the quarter ended November 18, Home Depot reported earnings per share of $3.74, falling $0.09 short of consensus estimates, on revenue of $41.35 billion—2.8% above year-ago levels but slightly below forecasts. Net margin stood at 8.77%, while return on equity reached 160.74%. Management set full-year 2025 earnings guidance at $14.478 per share, below the $15.13 per share that analysts currently anticipate, signaling a cautious stance on near-term profit growth.

On December 18, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $2.30 per share, representing an annualized payout of $9.20 and a yield of 2.4%. The dividend payout ratio is 62.7%, underscoring management’s commitment to returning capital even as free cash flow growth moderates. The December 4 record date ensured that eligible shareholders captured the full distribution as part of the firm’s regular capital allocation strategy.

During the past quarter, two executive vice presidents sold a combined 4,963 shares for proceeds of $1.75 million, reducing their individual holdings by 1.16% and 17.87% respectively. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts have recalibrated price targets downward: JPMorgan cut its forecast from $444 to $423, DA Davidson from $430 to $407, Citigroup from $422 to $407 and Argus from $450 to $425. Despite these revisions, the consensus rating remains a Moderate Buy with an average target of $404.50.