Market Minute 8-18-26- Bonds Keep Bleeding, Yields Keep Rising

Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, NYSE, Charles Schwab, Nasdaq, and Citi are expanding their operations in Texas. Morgan Stanley plans a $587M building in Dallas by 2031, while Goldman Sachs is investing $500M in a new Dallas campus. Bank of America is moving to a new Dallas tower, and JPMorgan Chase has doubled its Plano campus workforce. NYSE is relocating its Chicago outpost to Dallas. Charles Schwab, Nasdaq, and Citi also have significant Texas operations. Wise

Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW) shares fell over 14% in the past year amid housing market volatility. Cramer commented positively on both, noting HD's renovation business and LOW's strong online and professional segments. HD reported $47.8B revenue (5.7% YoY growth) and $4.92 EPS (beating estimates), but faced transaction declines and operating income growth lag. LOW's revenue grew 8.3% with online sales up 15.7%.

Home Depot (HD) reported Q2 2026 sales of $47.9B, up 5.7%, with EPS of $4.92. Lowe’s (LOW) saw Q1 sales rise 0.2%, while Tractor Supply (TSCO) reported Q2 sales growth of 3.6%. Floor & Decor (FND) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) also posted mixed results. All firms face housing market and consumer spending pressures.

Home Depot (HD) reported Q2 revenue of $47.9B and EPS of $4.92, beating expectations. Shares rose despite unchanged guidance. The company offers a 2.67% dividend yield and has increased payouts for 17 straight years. However, growth is constrained by high mortgage rates and inflation, with analysts projecting modest revenue growth through 2028. HD remains profitable, with $4.8B in net income last quarter.

Retailers like Amazon (AMZN), Target (TGT), Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), and Lowe's (LOW) received tariff refunds totaling over $100 billion. Walmart plans to use its $2.9 billion refund to lower prices, while Target used its $994 million to boost margins. Amazon received $600 million and will issue refunds to some customers and lower prices. Home Depot offset costs with its $730 million refund, and Lowe's is considering options for its $80 million refund. The Supreme Court's ruling led to th

Home Depot (HD) CEO Edward P. Decker has taken a temporary medical leave. Interim leadership roles have been assigned to Ann-Marie Campbell and Richard V. McPhail. The company states this is a temporary arrangement, with no change in strategic direction. Investors will watch for operational impacts and capital expenditure management during this period. Home Depot has a market cap of approximately $333.5 billion.