Home Depot misses quarterly estimates on muted demand for big-ticket projects

(Reuters) -Home Depot missed analysts' estimates for second-quarter sales and profit on Tuesday, as price-conscious homeowners reined in spending on large-scale renovations and focused on do-it-yourself projects. The top U.S. home-improvement chain's results kick off a busy earnings week for big-box retailers, including Walmart and Target, offering early clues on U.S. consumer spending and how these companies are navigating the turbulence of President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Home Depot and Lowe's are grappling with soft demand as higher mortgage rates discourage home purchases.