We recently published the best retirement portfolio for a 65-year-old. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) stands against other stocks in the best retirement portfolio.
The American retirement system is feeling the strain, with challenges like shrinking fees, underfunded plans, and an aging population slowing down industry growth. Over the last decade, 401(k) expense ratios have declined by a third, according to a PwC report, and recordkeeping fees dropped 8% between 2015 and 2019, making it harder for retirement firms to stay profitable. Some companies have had to merge or shut down, but there is still a big opportunity. Businesses that offer better retirement benefits, financial advice, and affordable plans for small companies could attract more people and unlock an extra $5 trillion in retirement savings.
The urgency is real. A quarter of US adults have no retirement savings at all, and only 36% feel on track. Even those who are saving may not have enough. For people nearing retirement, between the ages of 55 to 64, the median savings of $120,000 might provide less than $1,000 a month for 15 years. This is hardly enough, especially with longer life expectancies and rising healthcare costs.
For most Americans, retirement means either living off of savings or finding ways to generate passive income. While some can count on Social Security or a pension, many have to plan their own financial future. Savings usually involve withdrawing money over time, while passive income could mean anything from rental properties to online businesses. Brian Bollinger, founder of Simply Safe Dividends, believes dividend-paying stocks can be a game-changer. Instead of selling stocks to make money, retirees can rely on regular dividend payments, helping stretch their savings.
Dividends have been a huge part of stock market returns, making up about 45% of the broader market's total gains since 1900. But despite their importance, they are often overlooked when planning for retirement, especially as baby boomers look for reliable income sources. According to Thornburg Investment Management, retirees typically fund expenses through either a total return approach, investing for growth and selling assets as needed, or a high-income approach, relying on high-yield investments for steady income. The first risks selling in down markets, while the second limits portfolio growth. A better strategy combines both; investing in stocks that not only pay dividends but also increase them over time can provide a steady income while allowing retirees to grow their wealth. Unlike bonds with fixed returns, dividend stocks can grow income, offering both stability and long-term financial growth. Over 30 years, dividend income has outpaced bond payouts, making it a strong option for retirees. With that investing strategy in mind, let’s take a look at the best retirement portfolio for a 65-year-old.
The Home Depot (HD): A Top Pick For The Best Retirement Portfolio
A home improvement store overflowing with a variety of products and supplies.
Our Methodology
For this article, we searched the internet for widely recommended retirement stocks and selected those with at least a decade of consistent dividend growth and an average 5-year return of 50% or more as of March 24. We also selected stocks from different industries to make a well-rounded portfolio. Additionally, we have mentioned the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2024, and ranked the list based on that data.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth: 16
Average 5-Year Share Price Returns: 84.28%
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is a home improvement retailer offering building materials, décor, tools, and installation services. Serving both DIYers and professionals, HD operates online and in stores across the United States and internationally. On March 19, the company became the exclusive big-box retailer for KILZ primer products in the United States and Puerto Rico, strengthening its partnership with Behr Paint. This move ensures Pros have better access to trusted primers in stores, online, and through delivery.
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) closed out Q4 2024 with $39.7 billion in sales, up 14.1% from the previous year, due in part to an extra 14th week that added $2.5 billion. US comparable sales grew by 1.3%, and net earnings reached $3 billion, or $3.02 per share. Home Depot’s full-year revenue in 2024 was boosted by the $18.25 billion acquisition of SRS Distribution in June, contributing $6.4 billion in sales. In just seven months, SRS expanded with over 20 new locations and four tuck-in acquisitions. The company is also looking into cross-selling opportunities to drive further growth.
On February 25, The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) declared a $2.30 per share quarterly dividend, a 2.2% increase from the last dividend of $2.25, bringing the annual payout to $9.20. The dividend will be paid on March 27 to shareholders on record as of March 13. This marks the 152nd consecutive quarter of dividend payments, and the company has grown its payout for the last 16 years.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 88 hedge funds were bullish on The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD), compared to 82 funds in the last quarter. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management was the biggest stakeholder of the company, with 9.5 million shares worth $3.7 billion.
Overall, The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) ranks 5th on our list of the best retirement portfolio for a 65-year old. While we acknowledge the potential of HD to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than HD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
