Home Depot CEO flags a disconcerting lack of faith in the American economy: ‘Our customers are telling us that they’re not investing’

Home Depot is struggling to beat a stalling housing market as customers delay their home improvement projects, CEO Ted Decker said. 

While the company defied analysts’ expectations on Tuesday’s Q4 earnings call—after three straight quarters of missing them—executives highlighted macro challenges to the business.

To start, the housing market is stalled. Despite mortgage rates remaining at a three-year low, homebuyers are not budging. Home sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell sharply in January...