Home Depot Has Raised Its Dividend for 17 Consecutive Years and Reports Earnings Aug. 18. Is It the Smarter Dow Stock to Buy Over Walmart?

Despite dealing with cyclical pressures, Home Depot has paid a dividend in 157 straight quarters.

Walmart’s success in online shopping and advertising demonstrates how its business has evolved.

Valuation is the critical determining factor that investors will consider when choosing the better retail stock.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) shares haven't been performing well. In the past five years, they have risen only 5% (as of Aug. 6). Following a pandemic-fueled surge in demand that saw revenue rise double-digit percentages in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021, the home improvement giant has been dealing with tighter macroeconomic conditions that have negatively impacted the business.

However, Home Depot continues to prioritize its investors, having raised the dividend payout in 17 straight years. And it's set to report second-quarter 2026 financial results on Aug. 18, which will provide a fresh glimpse at how the company is performing.

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If you're looking to buy a Dow Jones stock , should you choose Home Depot? Or does Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) deserve your hard-earned capital?

Home Depot has shown that it's a cyclical business. In recent years, higher interest rates and inflationary pressures have hurt the company's growth profile. Home Depot's same-store sales (SSS) decreased 3.2% in fiscal 2023, fell 1.8% in fiscal 2024, and rose by just 0.3% in fiscal 2025. And they are expected to increase 1% (at the midpoint) this fiscal year.