Before the opening bell on Tuesday, Home Depot (HD) released its fourth quarter financial results. Here’s what the results mean for mutual fund investors.
HD’s Earnings in Brief
Earnings
Home Depot reported earnings of $1.38 billion, or $1.05 per share, up from $1.01 billion, or 73 cents per share, a year ago. Excluding special items, EPS was $1.00, above analysts’ view of 89 cents.
Revenue
Revenue improved 8.3% to $19.16 billion from $17.70 billion. Analysts expected to see revenue of $18.70 billion.
Outlook
Looking forward, the company expects to see FY2015 EPS between $5.11 and $5.17. Analysts expect to see EPS of $5.23.
Shares Have Rallied, but the Strong Dollar Is a Concern
Shares of Home Depot have rallied nearly 50% in the last year and 15% YTD. The company benefited from an improved housing market during the fourth quarter, but management has expressed concerns over the strengthening dollar.
Despite its outlook concerns, there is good news for shareholders. HD has boosted its dividend by 26% to $2.36 annually – pushing its yield above 2%. The company also announced that its board has approved an $18 billion share buyback program.
Mutual Funds to Watch
Investors interested in HD may consider a mutual fund as an alternative to owning the individual stock. The funds below currently hold the largest stakes in HD.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| VTSMX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index | 1.72% |
| VFINX | Vanguard 500 Index | 1.10% |
| MBDVX | BlackRock Equity Dividend | 0.62% |
The Bottom Line
The funds listed above allow investors to gain exposure to HD while remaining diversified. Investors interested in HD may also be interested in Lowe’s (LOW).