Home Depot
| File:Home Depot logo.svg Logo used since 2000 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Home improvement) |
| Founded | June 22, 1978 in Atlanta metropolitan area, Georgia, U.S. |
| Founder | Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, Pat Farrah, Ken Langone |
| Headquarters | Cobb County, Georgia , United States |
Area served | United States (including District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, Mexico |
Key people | Ted Decker (CEO), Craig Menear (Chairman) |
| Products | Tools, construction materials, appliances, fuel and equipment rentals |
Number of employees | 490,600 (2021) |
| Website | www |
The Home Depot, Inc., widely recognized as Home Depot, stands as a foremost American multinational retailer specializing in home improvement. Its product range includes tools, construction materials, appliances, and services like fuel and equipment rentals. It holds the distinction of being the largest home improvement retailer in the United States. In 2021, Home Depot's workforce numbered approximately 490,600 employees, with revenues surpassing $151 billion. The company’s headquarters are situated in Cobb County, Georgia, with an official mailing address in Atlanta.
Home Depot’s large-format stores are distributed throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as across all Canadian provinces and Mexico. Its subsidiary, Interline Brands (operating as The Home Depot Pro), oversees 70 distribution centers nationwide. Globally, it ranks as the seventh-largest employer based in the United States.
1978–1999
The Home Depot was established in 1978 by Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, Pat Farrah, and Ken Langone. Langone, an investment banker, played a crucial role in securing the necessary funding to launch the business, which pioneered large-scale home improvement superstores that outmatched competitors in size.
The inaugural two locations commenced operations on June 22, 1979, in the Atlanta metropolitan area by leasing former Treasure Island hypermarket sites. The company went public on NASDAQ on September 22, 1981, raising $4.093 million and later transitioned to the New York Stock Exchange in 1984.
Expansion beyond Georgia began in 1981 with new stores opening in Florida. By 1984, The Home Depot operated 19 outlets with sales exceeding $256 million. Its entry into the Dallas market was facilitated by acquiring Bowater Home Center for $40 million that same year. However, rapid expansion caused financial challenges; earnings declined by 42%, and debt escalated to $200 million. To address this, The Home Depot slowed store openings in 1986 and issued stock to restructure its debt load.
By 1989, it had overtaken Lowe’s to become the largest home improvement retailer in the U.S. During the 1990s, it diversified through ventures like EXPO Design Center, offering premium products and design services, and published Home Improvement 1-2-3 in 1995.
The first Utah store opened in Riverdale in 1994 featuring extensive retail space and a garden center. That year also saw The Home Depot acquire a controlling 75% interest in Canadian hardware chain Aikenhead's Hardware for $150 million; all locations were subsequently rebranded under The Home Depot name. By 1995, sales had reached $10 billion through a network of 350 stores.
In 2000, Robert Nardelli, formerly of General Electric, was appointed CEO and president, ushering in a new era focused on operational efficiency and strategic growth.
2000–2007
In 1997, The Home Depot expanded its reach by acquiring Maintenance Warehouse of San Diego for $245 million; this company specialized in direct-mail marketing of maintenance and repair supplies. In 1999, it further extended its capabilities by purchasing Apex Supply from Atlanta—a wholesale distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial pipe products. Both entities were consolidated under "The Home Depot Supply" brand by 2004.
In 2001, The Home Depot acquired Your Other Warehouse, a significant plumbing distributor emphasizing special order fulfillment that supported two Home Depot divisions plus EXPO Design Centers. Subsequently, EXPO was reorganized into three regional units covering the Northeast, West, and Southeast markets.
The company entered Mexico’s home improvement sector in 2002 by acquiring Del Norte chain and initiated store development in Mexicali and Tijuana. That year also marked the launch of Home Depot Landscape Supply aimed at professional landscapers and premium plants; however, this venture was discontinued by late 2007 due to limited operational scale.
To bolster its digital presence, Home Depot Direct launched two online specialty stores—10 Crescent Lane (home furnishings) and Paces Trading Company (lighting)—in 2005. The acquisition of Home Decorators Collection in 2006 further enhanced its e-commerce portfolio.
A pivotal strategic acquisition occurred in 2006 when The Home Depot purchased Hughes Supply for $3.2 billion—then the largest U.S. wholesaler for home construction products. Hughes Supply was integrated into The Home Depot Supply’s B2B division and rebranded as HD Supply in January 2007. However, just five months later HD Supply was divested to private equity firms including The Carlyle Group, Bain Capital, and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice—signifying a major restructuring within The Home Depot’s corporate framework.
2007–present
On January 2, 2007, Home Depot and CEO Robert Nardelli reached a mutual decision regarding his departure after six years at the helm. His tenure faced criticism due to his leadership approach and a $123.7 million compensation package over five years, despite underperformance relative to rival Lowe's. The $210 million severance he received sparked controversy amid rising executive pay alongside declining stock values.
Nardelli was succeeded by Frank Blake, who had served as vice chairman and executive vice president. Blake implemented a more restrained compensation framework closely aligned with company performance. Emphasizing collaborative decision-making, he reversed many of Nardelli’s policies. Since Nardelli’s exit, the two have reportedly had no communication.
During the housing market crisis of 2008–2009, Home Depot reduced its workforce by thousands and shuttered 54 stores, including the EXPO Design Center locations. Employees from EXPO were allowed to reapply without forfeiting their tenure. Sales in February 2009 totaled $71.3 billion, marking a decline exceeding $20 billion compared to two years earlier, influenced by the divestiture of HD Supply and lower revenues overall. By 2012, Home Depot withdrew from large-format stores in China but continued operating smaller specialty outlets.
In 2013, the company enhanced its e-commerce capabilities by establishing distribution centers in Atlanta and Los Angeles to improve online order fulfillment.
In August 2014, Frank Blake resigned as CEO and was replaced by Craig Menear, who had been with Home Depot since 1997 and held various merchandising leadership roles before assuming the CEO position on November 1, 2014. Blake retained his role as chairman.
A data breach occurred in September 2014, compromising customer credit card information caused by insecure processing methods at service desks and through online transactions. In response, Home Depot discontinued these practices and provided complimentary credit monitoring services.
On July 22, 2015, Home Depot completed the acquisition of Interline Brands for $1.6 billion from P2 Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs’ private equity division. The integration of Interline was finalized by August 2016, broadening Home Depot’s product range via its subsidiaries.
In 2017, Home Depot purchased the online segment of The Company Store from Hanover Direct; however, the acquisition did not include the five physical retail locations.
By December 2020, Home Depot reacquired HD Supply for $8 billion, strengthening its presence in the professional supply sector.
In January 2022, Craig Menear stepped down from his roles as CEO and president but continued as chairman; former executive vice president Ted Decker succeeded him as CEO.
In February 2023, Home Depot announced a $1 billion initiative aimed at raising hourly wages for employees, underscoring its dedication to workforce development.
Finances
| Year | Revenue in million USD$ |
Net Income in million USD$ |
Price per Share in USD$ |
Employees | Stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 73,094 | 5,001 | 25.46 | 325,000 | 1,890 |
| 2006 | 77,019 | 5,838 | 24.59 | 345,000 | 2,042 |
| 2007 | 79,022 | 5,761 | 23.70 | 364,000 | 2,147 |
| 2008 | 77,349 | 4,395 | 17.36 | 331,000 | 2,234 |
| 2009 | 71,288 | 2,260 | 17.61 | 322,000 | 2,233 |
| 2010 | 66,176 | 2,661 | 22.70 | 317,000 | 2,244 |
| 2011 | 67,997 | 3,338 | 27.06 | 321,000 | 2,248 |
| 2012 | 70,395 | 3,883 | 41.22 | 331,000 | 2,252 |
| 2013 | 74,754 | 4,535 | 58.48 | 340,000 | 2,256 |
| 2014 | 78,812 | 5,385 | 68.55 | 365,000 | 2,263 |
| 2015 | 83,176 | 6,345 | 95.33 | 371,000 | 2,269 |
| 2016 | 88,519 | 7,009 | 108.50 | 385,000 | 2,274 |
| 2017 | 94,595 | 7,957 | 132.80 | 406 ,000 | get 2 ,278 |
| get 2018 | get 100 ,904 | get 8 ,630 | get 164 ,89 | get 413 ,000 | get 2 ,284 |
| get 2019 | get 108 ,203 | get 11 ,121 | get 185 ,68 | get 413 ,000 | get 2 ,291 |
| get 2020 | get 110 ,225 | get 11 ,242 | get 228 ,67 | get 415 ,000 | get 2 ,296 |
| get 2021 | get 132 ,110 | get 12 ,866 | get 306 ,72 | get 504 ,800 | get 2 ,317 |
| get 2022 | get 151 ,157 | get 16 ,433 | get 297 ,81 | get490 ,600 | get2 ,322 |
| get2023 | get157 ,403 | get17 ,105 | get303 ,98 | get518 ,100 |
As of the year 2020 , Home Depot was positioned at #26 on the Fortune 500 ranking of largest U.S . companies by revenue and held the #67 spot on the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2023 .
During Q2 of 2020 , sales reached $38 .1 billion representing a year-over-year increase of 23 .4% . Net income climbed by 27% to $4 .3 billion . This growth was largely fueled by heightened demand as consumers remained home during the COVID-19 pandemic . For Q3 of that year , revenue totaled $33 .5 billion reflecting a year-over-year rise of approximately 24%.
Mascot
Since 1981, Home Depot has featured Homer D. Poe as its mascot, a welcoming and personable character created by illustrator Gwyn Raker. Homer represents the company’s values and is utilized in signage, promotional materials, awards, and as a full-sized costume for in-store events. The Homer Fund, a charitable program supporting employees, carries his name. Additionally, Homer is portrayed with a spouse named Daisy.
Operation
Home Depot locations typically encompass around 105,000 ft2 (9,755 m2) and are designed with warehouse-style layouts offering a broad assortment of products. The chain’s largest outlets are situated in Vauxhall, New Jersey (217,000 ft2) and Anaheim Hills, California (204,000 ft2). The company’s distinctive bright orange (PMS 165, HEX FF6600) prominently features in its branding and on employee aprons.
Contractors
Although contractors make up only 5% of Home Depot’s customer base, they contribute 45% to the company’s $132 billion yearly revenue. To better accommodate this important group, Home Depot is investing in specialized flatbed distribution centers designed to meet contractors’ specific requirements.
Marketing
The current slogan, "How Doers Get More Done," was launched in December 2019, replacing "More saving. More doing." which had been used since 2009. Earlier taglines such as "You can do it. We can help." from 2003 focused on affordability and leadership within the home improvement sector. These evolving slogans reflect strategic shifts to strengthen brand identity.
US Stores division
Marc Powers, a long-serving employee, managed Home Depot’s US stores division beginning in 2014 after Marvin Ellison left to become CEO of J.C. Penney. In January 2016, Ann-Marie Campbell succeeded Powers; she brought over three decades of experience at Home Depot and had previously served as president of the Southern division. Campbell began her career as a cashier in South Florida. This leadership transition was effective February 1, 2016.
Distribution centers
Home Depot runs more than 90 distribution centers throughout the United States to support its network of over 2,000 stores nationwide.
Online
By 2008, homedepot.com attracted upwards of 120 million visitors annually. The company operates five U.S.-based call centers located in Kennesaw, Atlanta, Marietta (GA), Ogden (UT), and Tempe (AZ). Its digital platform facilitates services such as in-store pickup and returns, enhancing customer convenience while expanding Home Depot’s e-commerce capabilities.
Fuel centers
In 2006, Home Depot introduced fuel centers at select outlets in Tennessee and Georgia as pilot locations. Although the concept expanded to five prototype sites initially, by 2012 the company confirmed it would not pursue further growth in fuel retailing.
Tool, vehicle and equipment rental
Most Home Depot stores provide rental services for tools, vehicles, and equipment. Available vehicles include flatbed trucks, cargo vans, and box trucks in various sizes. Customers can rent professional-grade construction tools, landscaping equipment, and household machinery ranging from hand tools to heavy-duty machines on flexible terms such as four-hour periods, daily rates, weekly rentals, or monthly leases.
Blinds.com
Blinds.com operates as an online retailer focused on window blinds and coverings. Established in 1993 by entrepreneur Jay Steinfeld, it was recognized by 2006 as the 10th fastest-growing e-commerce business and placed #186 on the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide. The company received the American Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year Award in 2009 for its groundbreaking marketing approach. Under the leadership of CMO Daniel Cotlar, Blinds.com introduced the patent-pending Instafit shade, engineered for simple installation without requiring tools or adhesives. In January 2014, The Home Depot acquired Blinds.com, broadening its product range and market presence.
Compact Power Equipment Inc.
Before being purchased by The Home Depot on July 6, 2017, Compact Power Equipment Inc. provided rental equipment to over 1,000 Home Depot store rental departments throughout North America.
Interline Brands
Now operating as The Home Depot Pro since its rebranding in 2018, Interline Brands manages more than 90 distribution centers across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It specializes in maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products. Its brand portfolio includes:
- Wilmar Industries (MRO supplies)
- Barnett (contractor supplies and MRO)
- Maintenance USA (MRO products)
- SupplyWorks (janitorial, packaging, and MRO)
- US Lock (security hardware)
- Hardware Express (hardware supplies)
- Leran Gas Products (propane accessories)
The Company Store
Originally established in 1911 as a home furnishings retailer, The Company Store operates as an online vendor offering home textiles and décor products. Its digital division was acquired by The Home Depot in 2017 to enhance its e-commerce capabilities.
Redbeacon
Founded in 2009 as an online platform for contractor referrals, Redbeacon now functions under the name THD Pro Referral to link customers with qualified service professionals.
HD Supply
HD Supply is a supplier and distributor serving infrastructure and construction industries across North America. Formerly known as The Maintenance Warehouse, it was reacquired by The Home Depot in December 2020 for $8 billion, strengthening THD’s position within the industrial supply market.
Exclusive brand names
The Home Depot features several exclusive brands that bolster its product offerings and market competitiveness:
- Chem-Dry – carpet and upholstery cleaning services
- Behr – paint products
- Homelite – outdoor power equipment and tools
- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia – outdoor furniture and indoor organization items
- Ryobi and Ridgid – power tool brands
- American Woodmark – cabinetry solutions
- Thomasville Furniture Industries – cabinetry products
House brands
Although The Home Depot does not manufacture these lines directly, it markets various house brands:
- Commercial Electric
- Glacier Bay (kitchen sinks and faucets)
- Hampton Bay (ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, outdoor furniture)
- HDX – a budget-friendly brand launched in February 2012 to replace Workforce; Consumer Reports noted generally poor quality in 2017 but showed mixed reviews for specific items in 2022
- Home Decorators Collection
- Husky (tools)
- Everbilt
Ownership
As of December 2023, institutional investors hold the majority stake in Home Depot, controlling approximately 70% of its shares. Prominent shareholders include:
- The Vanguard Group (9.49%)
- BlackRock (7.15%)
- State Street Corporation (4.35%)
- Capital World Investors (3.86%)
- Geode Capital Management (2.01%)
- Morgan Stanley (1.93%)
- Capital Research Global Investors (1.48%)
- Bank of America (1.45%)
- Charles Schwab Corporation (1.33%)
- Norges Bank (1.25%)
Philanthropy
Founded in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has contributed more than $200 million through donations of money, labor, and materials to organizations including Habitat for Humanity, City of Hope National Medical Center, and KaBOOM!. The company extends a 10% discount to U.S. military personnel and supports veteran-related efforts via the "Team Depot" initiative, which funds and organizes employee volunteer activities since 1993.
Partnering with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia initiative, Home Depot supplies resources and facilities to improve emergency preparedness for children across the state. Additionally, it sponsors safety-themed competitions aimed at raising awareness among Georgia's youth.
In March 2018, the company pledged $50 million to train 20,000 construction workers over a decade through the Home Builders Institute, focusing on veterans, active-duty soldiers, high school students, and underserved youth to help mitigate labor shortages in the construction sector.
Environmental record
Sustainability is central to Home Depot’s corporate strategy, emphasizing energy efficiency, responsible forestry practices, and water conservation through a product labeling system introduced in 2007. As the largest purchaser of building materials globally, Home Depot uses its influence to promote sustainable behavior among suppliers and customers alike. This commitment dates back to the late 1990s when the company ceased selling lumber sourced from endangered forests in countries such as Chile and Indonesia.
The retailer also advocates for compact fluorescent lighting and developed the largest recycling program for these bulbs in the United States; however, this recycling service was discontinued at Canadian locations in 2013.
Television
Since 2002, Home Depot has enhanced its brand recognition by sponsoring home improvement television programs including This Old House, Ask This Old House, and Trading Spaces.
Sports
Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, expanded his sports portfolio by acquiring the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in 2002 and MLS’s Atlanta United FC in 2014, aligning these investments with the company’s branding strategy. In 2017, Home Depot obtained naming rights for an 11-acre park adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium—known as the Home Depot Backyard—which functions as a public green space and event venue.
Home Depot is also an official sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, reinforcing its international market presence.
Previously, Home Depot supported Olympic teams from the U.S. and Canada by providing specialized employment programs for athletes until sponsorships concluded by 2009. Between 1999 and 2014, it was a major NASCAR sponsor with notable partnerships including Joe Gibbs Racing and drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.
From 2003 through 2013, Home Depot held naming rights to The Home Depot Center (currently Dignity Health Sports Park) in Carson, California—the home stadium of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy—strengthening its involvement in sports marketing.
In collaboration with Duke University’s engineering school in 2006, Home Depot helped establish "The Home Depot Smart Home," a live-in laboratory designed to advance innovations in residential technology.
Since 2007, Home Depot has served as ESPN's College Gameday's official home improvement sponsor, further connecting its brand with sports audiences.
Politics
During the 2005–2006 US election cycle, The Home Depot allocated 73% of its political contributions to Republican candidates. The company’s political action committee evaluates donations based on candidates’ legislative records, committee assignments, and leadership roles. In 2004, CEO Bob Nardelli, who maintained a personal relationship with President George W. Bush, hosted a fundraising event at his residence in Atlanta. The following year, The Home Depot was one of 53 organizations that donated the maximum allowed amount of $250,000 toward Bush’s second presidential inauguration.
In 2020, The Home Depot contributed $125,000 to the Rule of Law Defense Fund, which is connected to the Republican Attorneys General Association. In April 2021, a coalition of Black faith leaders in Georgia urged a nationwide boycott against the company due to its lack of response regarding the Election Integrity Act of 2021. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp condemned the boycott, asserting it placed partisan interests above employment concerns.
In 2023, Scott Glenn, Home Depot’s Vice President of Asset Protection, provided testimony before Congress supporting bipartisan legislation designed to tackle organized retail crime. This proposed law aims to improve federal collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies to more effectively address retail theft.
Canada
Home Depot Canada stands as a prominent home improvement retailer with 182 locations and a workforce exceeding 28,000 employees spread throughout all ten provinces. Headquartered in Toronto, the Canadian operation originated through the acquisition of Aikenhead's Hardware and competes primarily against RONA, which operates more stores but includes smaller formats. While Home Depot leads in the number of large-format stores compared to RONA, by 2007 RONA had surpassed Home Depot in total retail sales due to consolidation efforts and Home Depot’s sale of HD Supply. Lowe’s entered Canada in 2007 and now runs 35 outlets; after acquiring RONA in 2016, Lowe’s expanded its presence to over 500 locations. In Quebec, Home Depot operates 22 stores under the simplified name Home Depot (omitting "The"). The Canadian division also adheres to the voluntary Scanner Price Accuracy Code administered by the Retail Council of Canada.
Mexico
Since its market entry in Mexico in 2001, The Home Depot has expanded to 126 stores, establishing itself as one of the nation’s leading home improvement retailers. Growth accelerated following the 2004 purchase of Home Mart, Mexico’s second-largest chain in this sector. With a workforce exceeding 15,000 associates across the country, Home Depot Mexico achieved a milestone of 50 consecutive quarters of growth as reported in 2016.
China
The Home Depot launched operations in China in 2006 by acquiring The Home Way, which included 12 stores across six cities. However, by September 2012, all seven large-format stores had been closed as the company redirected its strategy away from big-box retailing in China. It maintained two specialty stores but approached further expansion cautiously due to significant re-entry expenses.
The business model faced challenges in China largely because of cultural preferences; Chinese consumers typically favor "do-it-for-me" services rather than the DIY approach central to Home Depot’s global strategy. This fundamental difference hindered market penetration despite attempts to tailor marketing strategies for Chinese clientele similar to adaptations made for other regions such as Canada.
United Kingdom
Home Depot expressed interest in acquiring B&Q, the leading DIY retailer across the UK, Ireland, and China, which had adopted Home Depot's large-scale "Warehouse" store concept and orange color scheme since the 1990s. Speculation about a potential acquisition increased following Walmart's purchase of Asda in 1999. To secure B&Q, Home Depot would have needed to buy its parent company, Kingfisher plc, which owns multiple European DIY brands. However, Home Depot's focus was solely on B&Q and it intended to divest the Castorama chain, operating in France, Italy, Poland, and Russia. Negotiations concluded in 2005 without reaching an agreement.
South America
Home Depot launched its first store in Peru in 1993 but shut it down a year later due to poor sales and ineffective brand promotion. The company expanded into Chile and Argentina in 1997 with high hopes from founders Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank, yet these efforts failed to generate profit. In 2001, Chilean partner Falabella purchased Home Depot’s shares in five Chilean locations, rebranding them as Home Store; after merging with Sodimac in 2003, all outlets were renamed under the Sodimac brand. Sodimac has since grown successfully throughout Latin America and is currently the largest home improvement retailer on the continent. In 2002, Argentina’s Home Depot stores were acquired by Chilean company Cencosud and rebranded as Easy, now ranking as South America’s second-largest home improvement chain.
Whistleblower case
The Home Depot was involved in whistleblower litigation under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act when former employee Michael Davis filed a lawsuit in July 2005, alleging retaliation after he refused to impose unjustified back charges on vendors. Davis asserted that staff were pressured to meet sales targets by billing suppliers for undamaged goods. The company maintained that Davis was dismissed due to absenteeism.
Although the trial ended in June 2006, it was reopened in April 2007 when Home Depot’s legal team revealed that two employee witnesses had provided false testimony. Upon requests from both sides, proceedings continued before U.S. Department of Labor Judge Pamela Lakes Wood.
In March 2008, a settlement was reached wherein The Home Depot amended some corporate governance practices and agreed to pay $6 million in cash plus $8.5 million worth of common stock to Davis’ attorneys.
Patent law controversy
In Powell v. Home Depot USA, Inc. (2008–2011), the company faced allegations of patent infringement related to a "safe hands" device created by Michael Powell, an independent contractor, designed to prevent hand injuries caused by radial arm saws. The district court ruled in favor of Powell.
Home Depot appealed the decision in 2011, disputing findings on infringement, willfulness, damages, claim interpretation, inequitable conduct, and attorney fees. The appellate court found no evidence of inequitable conduct or sufficiently severe misconduct by Powell’s counsel.
Tilt-up construction design of stores
After the 2011 Joplin tornado, engineers criticized Home Depot’s reliance on tilt-up construction for many of its large-format stores. Unlike nearby retailers built with concrete block walls—which lost roofs but retained their walls—Home Depot’s tilt-up walls collapsed when the tornado lifted the roof, triggering a cascading failure. This structural collapse caused seven fatalities at the front of the store, while 28 individuals survived at the rear where walls fell outward. Only two slab walls remained standing. Home Depot disputed this engineering assessment and confirmed plans to continue using tilt-up construction when rebuilding the Joplin location.
Payment system compromise
On September 2, 2014, investigative journalist Brian Krebs disclosed that credit card information associated with Home Depot transactions was being traded on the internet, signaling a breach of the retailer's payment infrastructure. The company officially acknowledged on September 8 that its payment systems had been infiltrated, impacting purchases made between April and September 2014. Home Depot provided affected customers with complimentary one-year credit monitoring services through AllClear ID and clarified that no online customer information had been compromised. By September 18, reports revealed that approximately 56 million credit card details were exposed. In response, Home Depot upgraded its security measures by deploying advanced encryption technology at cash registers and self-checkout stations. This incident led to a class-action lawsuit.
In March 2016, Home Depot reached a $19.5 million settlement agreement to compensate more than 50 million impacted consumers, allocating $13 million for reimbursements and $6.5 million towards identity protection programs.
EEOC disability discrimination lawsuit
In September 2012, Home Depot resolved a disability discrimination case by consenting to pay $100,000 along with additional remedial measures. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged the company with failing to accommodate a cashier diagnosed with cancer at its Towson, Maryland location, and subsequently terminating her employment due to her medical condition.
Lead paint violations
In December 2020, Home Depot was penalized $20.75 million for breaches of lead paint regulations, constituting the largest civil fine under the Toxic Substances Control Act to date. The violations included subcontracting renovation projects to uncertified contractors who ignored lead-safe work practices, neglecting mandatory post-renovation cleaning procedures, failing to distribute EPA-required lead paint informational pamphlets, and maintaining inadequate compliance documentation.
See also
- Menards, a privately owned American home improvement retailer competing with Home Depot in the Midwest region.
External links
- Home Depot, Inc. (corporate website)
- Home Depot USA (retail website)
- 'How I Built This'; podcast featuring co-founder Arthur Blank