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LGIH vs HD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Home Improvement
LGIH vs HD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Residential Construction | Home Improvement |
| Market Cap | $1.08B | $321.11B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.67B | $164.68B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $71M | $14.16B |
| Gross Margin | 20.3% | 33.3% |
| Operating Margin | 4.7% | 12.7% |
| Forward P/E | 16.6x | 21.5x |
| Total Debt | $1.66B | $19.01B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $61M | $1.39B |
LGIH vs HD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH) | 100 | 55.5 | -44.5% |
| The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) | 100 | 129.8 | +29.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LGIH vs HD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LGIH is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.70, Low D/E 79.0%, current ratio 223.39x
- Lower P/E (16.6x vs 21.5x)
HD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 16 yrs, beta 0.84, yield 2.8%
- Rev growth 3.2%, EPS growth -4.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.5%
- 185.4% 10Y total return vs LGIH's 66.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.2% revenue growth vs LGIH's -22.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.6x vs 21.5x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.6% margin vs LGIH's 4.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.84 vs LGIH's 1.70 | |
| Dividends | 2.8% yield; 16-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -7.5% vs LGIH's -12.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 13.5% ROA vs LGIH's 1.8%, ROIC 32.1% vs 1.7% |
LGIH vs HD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LGIH vs HD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HD leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HD is the larger business by revenue, generating $164.7B annually — 98.4x LGIH's $1.7B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.6% (HD) to 4.2% (LGIH). On growth, HD holds the edge at -3.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.7B | $164.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $82M | $24.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $71M | $14.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$69M | $12.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.3% | +33.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.7% | +12.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.2% | +8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.1% | +7.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.0% | -3.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -47.1% | -14.6% |
Valuation Metrics
LGIH leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.0x trailing earnings, LGIH trades at a 34% valuation discount to HD's 22.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HD's 14.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LGIH's 31.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.1B | $321.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.7B | $338.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.00x | 22.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.56x | 21.47x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 6.36x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 31.85x | 14.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.63x | 1.95x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.52x | 25.14x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 25.39x |
Profitability & Efficiency
HD leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HD delivers a 110.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $110 in annual profit, vs $3 for LGIH. LGIH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.79x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HD's 1.48x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HD scores 4/9 vs LGIH's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.4% | +110.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.8% | +13.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +32.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.1% | +29.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.79x | 1.48x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $17.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $61M | $1.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $19.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 8.71x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HD five years ago would be worth $10,797 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,670 for LGIH. Over the past 12 months, HD leads with a -7.5% total return vs LGIH's -12.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HD at 6.7% vs LGIH's -26.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.2% | -5.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -12.0% | -7.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -59.7% | +21.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -73.3% | +8.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +66.0% | +185.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.2% | +6.7% |
Risk & Volatility
HD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HD is the less volatile stock with a 0.84 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LGIH's 1.70 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HD currently trades 75.7% from its 52-week high vs LGIH's 67.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.70x | 0.84x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $69.50 | $426.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $33.59 | $310.42 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.3% | +75.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.9 | 36.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 493K | 3.6M |
Analyst Outlook
HD leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LGIH as "Buy" and HD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 89.7% upside for LGIH (target: $89) vs 26.3% for HD (target: $408). HD is the only dividend payer here at 2.84% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $88.80 | $408.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 62 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 16 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $9.18 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
HD leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). LGIH leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
LGIH vs HD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGIH or HD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Home Depot, Inc.
(HD) is the stronger pick with 3. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 6% for LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH). LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (16. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH) a "Buy" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — LGIH or HD?
On trailing P/E, LGI Homes, Inc.
(LGIH) is the cheapest at 15. 0x versus The Home Depot, Inc. at 22. 7x. On forward P/E, LGI Homes, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LGIH or HD?
Over the past 5 years, The Home Depot, Inc.
(HD) delivered a total return of +8. 0%, compared to -73. 3% for LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HD returned +184. 0% versus LGIH's +56. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LGIH or HD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Home Depot, Inc.
(HD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 84β versus LGI Homes, Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning LGIH is approximately 103% more volatile than HD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 79% versus 148% for The Home Depot, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LGIH or HD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Home Depot, Inc.
(HD) is pulling ahead at 3. 2% versus -22. 6% for LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Home Depot, Inc. grew EPS -4. 6% year-over-year, compared to -62. 4% for LGI Homes, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HD leads at 1. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — LGIH or HD?
The Home Depot, Inc.
(HD) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus 4. 3% for LGI Homes, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HD leads at 12. 7% versus 4. 7% for LGIH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HD leads at 33. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is LGIH or HD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, LGI Homes, Inc.
(LGIH) trades at 16. 6x forward P/E versus 21. 5x for The Home Depot, Inc. — 4. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LGIH: 89. 7% to $88. 80.
08Which pays a better dividend — LGIH or HD?
In this comparison, HD (2.
8% yield) pays a dividend. LGIH does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LGIH or HD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Home Depot, Inc.
(HD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 84), 2. 8% yield, +184. 0% 10Y return). LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH) carries a higher beta of 1. 70 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HD: +184. 0%, LGIH: +56. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between LGIH and HD?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: LGIH is a small-cap deep-value stock; HD is a large-cap quality compounder stock. HD pays a dividend while LGIH does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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