When big boxes battle

Could 2015 be the year in which Lowe’s overtakes Home Depot in the comp-store sales race?



After years of Orange domination (see chart), it’s going to be close, based on the two companies’ guidance.



Comps — or sales at stores open at least a year — are widely considered the best measure of the overall health of a retailer. And the latest metrics show the two home center giants are running on all cylinders. Home Depot’s 7.9% comp-store gain in the fourth quarter was closely followed by Lowe’s at positive 7.3%.



Depot reported full-year comps at 5.3%, but don’t expect a repeat performance. The company’s guidance calls for 2015 comps of 3.3% to 4.5%. Lowe’s forecasted comparable-sales growth of a slightly less-pessimistic 4% to 4.5% in fiscal 2015.