Customer Service

Home Depot deploys express delivery nationwide, Q2 earnings exceed expectations

Home Depot launches nationwide express delivery across all U.S. markets on the same day Q2 earnings reflect sales of $47.9 billion in Q2 2026, an increase of $2.6 billion or 5.7% growth compared to the second quarter of 2025.

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August 19, 2026 by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

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Home Depot is launching nationwide express delivery across all U.S. markets, using 2,000-plus stores as neighborhood fulfillment hubs. Customers can get items in three hours or less.

The service, available for a small flat fee, is available to both Pro and do it yourself consumers with no subscription or membership required, according to a press release.

"Customers expect products to be available when and where they need them, and express delivery helps us meet that expectation with a fast, reliable solution," Jordan Broggi, EVP of interconnected retail at Home Depot, said in the release.

At the end of the second quarter, the company operated a total of 2,364 retail stores across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico.

"Whether you're a DIYer who needs one more bag of fertilizer to finish the yard or a Pro running short on adhesives and caulk for a time-sensitive job, Express Delivery makes it easier than ever for our customers to get the supplies they need, right when they need them most," Broggi said in the release.

The news came on the same day the home improvement retailer announced its Q2 earnings exceeded analyst expectations and on the heels of CEO Ted Decker taking a temporary medical leave. Decker is expected to return within the next few months.

Home Depot hasn't provided details on the leave beyond stating the company had "made the decision to protect his medical privacy," according to a New York Times report.

Earnings exceed street projections

Home Depot sales were $47.9 billion in Q2 2026, an increase of $2.6 billion or 5.7% growth compared to the second quarter of 2025.

Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 were $4.8 billion, or $4.79 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $4.6 billion, or $4.58 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2025, according to a press release.

The retailer opened three new stores in the quarter, and plans to open approximately 15 new stores,

"Our second quarter results exceeded our expectations. We saw broad based demand across the business as customers continued to engage in smaller projects," Richard McPhail, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in the release.

The company stated that tariff refunds are expected to partially offset unplanned fuel, energy and other product input costs.

Home Depot is focused on investing in the store experience with teams focused on ensuring on-shelf availability and deploying technology across the stores to enhance the customer experience, Ann-Marie Campbell, senior executive vice president, said during the earnings call on Wednesday.

"This, coupled with all of our investments into our associate experience through technology-enabled tools, makes it easier than ever for associates to serve customers. We have seen greater associate engagement, better customer satisfaction scores, and stronger sales," Campbell said.

Home Depot said its Magic Apron initiative is an example of how the retailer is enhancing the store associate as well as the customer experience.

Magic Apron, which Home Depot rolled out in March 2025, is a suite of generative AI tools aimed at helping customers find answers. It's available on the Home Dept app well as millions of product pages on the company's e-commerce site.

"In addition to a website, now associates and customers can utilize this application in our aisles to navigate our stores more efficiently, find products within seconds, and ask questions about products and projects to feel more confident in their ability to complete a home improvement project," said Campbell.

Customer feedback has been "incredibly positive," she added.

Customers are continuing to engage in smaller repair and maintenance projects, according to Home Depot. The comp average ticket increased 2.8% and comp transactions decreased 1%. Big-ticket comp transactions, those over $1,000, were positive 2.4% compared to the second quarter of last year.

About Judy Mottl

Judy Mottl is the editor of RetailCustomerExperience.com and DigitalSignageToday.com at Connect Media. She is an award-winning editor, reporter and blogger who has worked for top media for nearly four decades, including AOL, InformationWeek and Internet News, as well as for leading technology providers including HP. She’s written everything from breaking news to in-depth industry trends and reported on technology long before the internet arrived, including the debut of the first smartphone. When she's not sharing insights on digital signage deployments and trends in retail customer experience she's on the beach or watching the latest live murder trial.

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