Home Depot: Homeowners signaling signs of economic concerns

Home Depot reported a key sales metric that beat expectations in the latest quarter on steady demand, though the retailer cautioned that macroeconomic challenges remain.

Comparable sales, which track performance at locations open at least a year, rose 0.4% in the quarter ended Feb. 1, better than the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Earnings per share, excluding some items, also outpaced expectations in the period.

The results suggest that the appetite for home projects...